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Colorado Senate proclaims Feb. 14 ‘Colorado Read to Your Child Day’
Summary
Senators adopted Senate Joint Resolution 007 on Feb. 14, 2025, declaring Feb. 14 as Colorado Read to Your Child Day to promote early literacy; sponsors highlighted programs such as Reach Out and Read and Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.
The Colorado Senate adopted Senate Joint Resolution 007 on Feb. 14, 2025, declaring Feb. 14 as Colorado Read to Your Child Day to highlight birth-to-age-5 early literacy and childhood development.
The resolution, moved by Senator Bridges and read at length, cites research on early brain development and the impact of reading aloud, and directs that copies be sent to Reach Out and Read Colorado and the Imagination Library of Colorado. The adoption was announced as 30 yeas, 0 nays, 0 absent and 5 excused.
Senator Bridges, who moved the resolution, framed the measure as a low-cost way to boost school readiness and long-term outcomes. "Every kid deserves the chance to succeed no matter where they come from," Bridges said, noting that programs that get books into homes and pair them with encouragement from caregivers improve kindergarten readiness and third-grade reading.
Senator Bridal, a co-sponsor, described personal experience reading with family members and thanked nonprofit partners. "Reading to kids, reading with children is extremely important," Bridal said, adding that any kind of book—comic, cookbook or storybook—helps build vocabulary and attachment. Reach Out and Read and the Imagination Library had representatives in the chamber; Bridges named "Jack and Laura" from Imagination Library and "Patty, Amy and Katie" from Reach Out and Read.
The resolution text details the case for early literacy, including language that skills learned between birth and age 5 predict later literacy and that reading aloud accelerates language and social-emotional development. The resolution specifically recognizes Feb. 14, 2025, in alignment with National Read to Your Child Day.
Senators added the current roll call as cosponsors before final adoption. Copies of SJR007 will be sent to the two nonprofit organizations named in the resolution.
The measure is a symbolic proclamation and does not by itself create a funding stream or new program; it encourages awareness and partnership with existing literacy organizations.
