Bright Minds Foundation recently partnered with Healthy Little Cooks and the Howard County Library System to deliver a Little Books…Little Cooks Playgroup event on February 21, 2024.
Healthy Little Cooks
Thanks to the Howard County Government’s Youth Engagement Program (YEP) Grant, Healthy Little Cooks
collaborated with The Bright Minds Foundation and Howard County Library to host a distinctive “Read With Me” Family
Playgroup. This initiative brought together parents and guardians and their children, ages 0-5, to prepare a nutritious
snack while enjoying the book “A Coat of Many Colors” from the Bright Minds Foundation’s literacy program, Dolly
Parton’s Imagination Library.
Engaging in shared reading sessions helps parents enhance their children’s language skills, fosters a deeper
understanding of the world, and promotes empathy and emotional intelligence. These abilities are crucial in
preparing children for Kindergarten. Furthermore, research indicates that preschoolers who dine with their families
learn seven times as many new, uncommon words compared to those who solely engage in reading activities.
This partnership, supported 17 families with a new book and 40 cooking experiences. Approximately 57 pounds of
food were provided.
Stories and Testimonies
#1
Kids With Allergies
“Both of my older children (ages
8 & 11) were just diagnosed with
celiac’s disease. I had them
signed up for cooking and
baking classes but with this new
allergy I withdrew them. This
was a great class that we could
participate in. Thank you”
– Mom
#2
Grandma With Son
This is was fun. I’m the
grandma and I’m always
looking for ways to keep him
busy. We get the books. But,
it was nice to read and do
this activity.
Thank you.
– Grandmother
#3
Dolly Parton Lover!!
Dolly Parton is my
daughter’s favorite
singer! This was great.
She’s so excited. You
made her day.
Thank you.
– Mom & Daughter
