How one military spouse’s idea has grown into an amazing program that unites military families.
By Jessica Hall, Director of Marketing and Communication, United Through Reading
Isabelle Richards was 7 years old when she learned that she had dyslexia. Reading was difficult but she wanted to enjoy books just like her five brothers. Then a familiar package showed up in the mail. Her dad, a Navy sailor, sent home a video recording with the “Cupcake Diaries” book series via United Through Reading while he was deployed. He’d been sending these packages home during each deployment over the years to his six children, captivating everyone’s attention, even the family dog.
“He started reading the first book and then read several chapters throughout but left some unread so I would read them and we could talk about the book’s adventures when he was finally able to call,” Isabelle said. “This may not seem like a normal thing to do but it was the best way my dad could help me learn to read and love it while he was so far away serving our country. It was a connection I would have been lost without.”
United Through Reading (UTR), a nonprofit, was founded 30 years ago by the wife of a Navy flight surgeon whose daughter didn’t recognize her dad upon his return from a deployment. A reading specialist, she knew the power and importance of exposing children to literature from an early age, and, thus, a powerful concept emerged propelling UTR to life. Their mission is to unite military families facing physical separation by facilitating the bonding experience of reading aloud together. Starting on the piers in San Diego, sailors were video-recorded reading books before deploying.
The VHS tape (yes, this was a long time ago!) and book went home with their children to watch over and over again while their parent was away. Today utilizing modern technology, including the United Through Reading app, UTR serves all branches of the military and veterans during any family separation, including deployments, TDYs, and overnight work shifts. Service members are encouraged to make recordings for any special children in their lives, such as younger siblings, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. UTR strengthens military families by providing the opportunity for shared storytime and a daily routine in military households, two important practices of positive
parenting according to the National Academies’ Parenting Matters Report. Studies show reading aloud to children is the single most important activity for building knowledge, including science, technology, engineering, and math skills.
Additionally, daily storytime supports children’s literacy development, which is a predictor of academic success. UTR video-recorded storytime is an essential tool for the establishment and maintenance of a read-aloud routine in military households to bolster educational outcomes for military children, like Isabelle, who now loves reading and is an honor student at her high school.
“Isabelle is a very challenged reader. I feel like without UTR, she probably wouldn’t have the love of books she has now,” said her mom, Lorraine. “She could follow along while her dad was reading, she’d watch the video, had the book in her lap. It was easier for her to find the words because he was reading the words to her.”
As the military enters its 18th year of war, military families experience times of separation often, and studies from RAND indicate military children’s educational development is at risk due to the unique challenges encountered in military life. These include stress due to separations like repeated deployments, changes in routine because of irregular work schedules, and academic disruptions due to frequent moves.
“With just one video, service members can remain part of their children’s daily routines and education no matter where their military service takes them,”
said Dr.Sally Ann Zoll, CEO of UTR.
And caregivers at home enjoy having the support of their service member in maintaining a daily reading routine.
“While our son proved to be extremely resilient throughout his mother’s deployment, every time we received a new UTR DVD in the mail, he was excited for what he referred to as ‘Mommy Time’. This also became what I referred to as ‘Cooking Through Reading’ and occasionally ‘Doing the Laundry Through Reading,’”
said Eddy Mentzer, the husband of an Air Force officer.
And while video chat is on the rise, it is still important to make video recordings and continue storytime. Why? Video chat isn’t always reliable because of connectivity issues or time zones. Recorded stories can be watched on-demand whenever the child wants to see or be with the service member, all while building those valuable literacy skills. UTR is offered free to service members of all ranks and in any duty status. Veterans can also participate without charge. The service is available at more than 200 Story Stations around the world.
They are embedded in units onboard Navy ships; at a specific location like select Armed Services YMCA locations; at events, including Yellow Ribbon events; at the Mobile Story Station, currently serving the San Diego area; and through the new, UTR app. The app is available on Android and iOS and has a secure login with TroopID. It allows service members to make video recordings and upload them to the cloud so their families can watch over and over again in their web browser. The service member can record a favorite book from home, go to a UTR Story Station or event to receive a complimentary book, or go to their local library to check out a book to read and record. If the service members or families at home don’t have a book, it can be requested for free from the UTR website, www.utr.org/appt.