Hello from the Parent-Child Home Program. It's difficult to write a "newsy" piece for the October newsletter because the fallout from September 11th is still so real and overwhelming, and the repercussions seem so infinite. While we, as adults, are feeling off-balance in a crazy world, I think it's imperative that we do everything we can to make our children feel safe. Since this feels like such a daunting task, start with something simple. Set aside a half-hour each evening to read with your children.

Since you have to be still to read, you get a moment (every night!) to relax while your children feel the safety and pleasure of your closeness. You can do the reading (you're modeling behavior that just might last a lifetime), or you can let your children "read" to you. If they are really young, they make up their own stories using the pictures as a guide.

By working this time consistently into your schedule, and reminding them how much you look forward to spending reading time with them, you are letting your children know that reading is an important and pleasurable activity. Let us keep them safe and treasured for as long as possible.

Tina Toran is a coordinator for the Falmouth Parent-Child Home Program and a part-time family literacy teacher. She is an advisory board member for Field Notes for 2001-2002. She can be reached by e-mail at: ttoran@cs.com  This article is reprinted from the newsletter for her program.