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Getting the word out to fathers about the importance of reading to their children on a regular basis is the purpose of the Fathers Reading Every Day (FRED) program. A FRED event, sponsored by the Bemidji Early Childhood Initiative, a community action group supported by the Northwest Minnesota Foundation that includes collaboration with Bemidji Community Education ECFE, Bi-County CAP Head Start, Public Health, Bemidji Public Library, private preschools and child care [providers, as well as other family agencies, was held April 8 at J.W. Smith School.

FRED was developed in 2002 by Texas Cooperative Extension to encourage fathers to read to their children. The goal of the program is to institute a new habit for fathers/male caregivers of reading/sharing stories with children as often as possible.

The program was soon expanded to other states and, in 2004-05; the Minnesota Humanities Center (MHC) made FRED a regular program component – due to positive feedback from program participants, according to Tom Fitzpatrick, MHC program director.

The benefits of the reading activity are many and well documented. Studies have shown those involved in the FRED program have demonstrated significant improvements in the amount of time fathers spend reading with children, the level of involvement in their children’s education, the quality of time spent with their children and the level of satisfaction with the father-child relationship.

The Bemidji event attracted about 40 fathers and their children. Upon signing in, the fathers/children were treated to a pizza dinner. The first activity, sponsored by Home Depot, involved the father/children working together on a project that ranged from building a model car to constructing a bird house.

Following a short meeting with the adults explaining the FRED program, the families were reunited for a reading session. At the conclusion of the program free books were distributed to the fathers and their children. A follow up FRED activity has been scheduled for Tuesday, May 13 at J.W. Smith School. Once again free books will be presented to participants as part of a special Wheels! event. Children will have the opportunity to touch, look at and climb on various vehicles, plus listen to readers in uniform.

Vicki Wangberg, Bemidji ECFE Coordinator, said the message of the FRED program is extremely important. “This is a great opportunity to talk to Dads about how important it is to read to their kids on a regular basis,” she said. “The program also gives Dad ideas on how to incorporate the reading activity into a daily routine at home.

“The program offers a great opportunity to break down the stereotypes of the roles Dads and Moms have in the home. Reading is so vitally important. Interaction between fathers and their children through reading is one of the biggest indicators of success in kindergarten. Strong reading skills also set the tone for all future learning.

“This is a great program and (ECFE) is very happy to be a part of it.”

A total of 60 FRED events sponsored through MHC were held across Minnesota in 2007, attracting over 6,000 participants. Every family received a copy of a choral reading book and each child selected two books of his/her choice – meaning nearly 10,000 books were distributed to families/children. MHC purchased some of the books, while many others were donated by various groups including Lerner Publishing Group, Coughlan Publishing, Galde Press, First Book, the Volunteers of America and the Junior League of Minneapolis, according to Fitzpatrick.

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