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SALT LAKE CITY — Utah parents can start the school year off right by reading each day with their children. And now there is extra incentive — free dinner.
KSL TV's Read Today initiative has teamed up with Papa Murphy's to provide a free pizza for every Utah family that reads.
The Jensen family of Clearfield took the Pizza Pledge. They already try to read together at home but so many activities compete for their time. The pledge helps prioritize, both for kids and parents.
"So we took the challenge, he says because of the pizza, but I say it's a good learning time for them," said mom Hendy Jensen.
Educators agree that reading 20 minutes a day is the ideal amount of time to help children succeed in school and beyond.
Jensen sees added benefits to reading through bonding with her children.
"It's a great opportunity to cuddle with them," Jensen said. "There are so many distractions that go on in our lives. This is a time that I get to spend sharing a quiet moment with them."
(Reading is) a great opportunity to cuddle with them. There are so many distractions that go on in our lives. This is a time that I get to spend sharing a quiet moment with them.
–mother Hendy Jensen
The Read Today initiative helps struggling readers by pairing them with volunteer tutors to get extra one-on-one reading time but a child's first teacher is in the home.
"We recognize that parents have many demands," said Initiative Director Lizzy Johnson. "But reading is one of the best gifts a parent can give their child and we want to support that."
To that end, every family that completes the Pizza Pledge through Oct. 11, qualifies for a free pizza.
And Papa Murphy's Utah Co-Op President Greg Dumas is prepared to give away thousands of pizzas, if it motivates helps motivate parents .
"Papa Murphy's is thrilled to work with Read Today and Utah schools in support of Gov. Herbert's challenge to get Utah families reading together," Dumas said. "That's why we want students throughout our state to take the Pizza Pledge."
It's a challenge that unites two family staples—pizza and reading. And for Jensen, it will help her establish habits that her children need.
"I think it's important for them to know that reading will give them the successful stepping stones in life," she said. "It's a foundation that will help them throughout their lives."
