At the Harlem Parents as Teachers (PI) program, storytime is more than just a fun way to end the day—it’s helping children build a lifelong love of learning.
The program focuses on supporting families with children from birth through age three, offering home visits, parenting education, and emotional support. Families also gather for weekly playgroups filled with hands-on activities that boost kids’ social, emotional, language, cognitive, and physical development.
Each playgroup centers on a theme and wraps up with storytime, where every child gets to take home a book connected to that week’s topic. It’s become a highlight for both kids and parents.
“The kids get so excited at the end of the group to see what book they’ll be getting that week,” said a program leader.
Kayle, a mom in the program for the past year, says the books provided through United Way have made a real difference in her family’s home.
“We are so grateful for the books we receive from United Way,” she said. “They’ve added so much to our home library. Our kids are developing a love for reading, and reading aloud has become one of my favorite parts of our daily routine. This morning, the first thing my son wanted to do was read with his dad. I can’t help but feel a little proud of the bookworm he’s becoming.”
Through partnerships like this, families in the Harlem PI program are discovering that small moments—like storytime together—can spark big growth.