If you’re a grandparent who loves reading and wants to foster a love of books in your grandchildren, you might be wondering if you can sign them up for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. This popular program, which mails free books to children from birth until age five, has delighted over a million kids across the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. But who can enroll kids in the Imagination Library, and what are the eligibility requirements?
What is Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library?
Before we dive into whether grandparents can sign up for the Imagination Library, let’s briefly recap what it is and how it works. The Imagination Library is a literacy program founded by country singer Dolly Parton in 1995, in honor of her father, who couldn’t read or write. The program aims to inspire a love of reading in young children by mailing them a free, age-appropriate book every month from birth until age five. The books are carefully selected by a team of educators, librarians, and child development experts, and they cover a wide range of topics and genres, from classic fairy tales to nonfiction books about animals and science.
Who is Eligible for the Imagination Library?
Now, let’s get to the big question: can grandparents sign up for the Imagination Library on behalf of their grandkids? The short answer is: it depends. The Imagination Library is primarily aimed at parents and legal guardians of young children who want to encourage their love of reading. However, there are some circumstances in which grandparents, aunts, uncles, or other relatives or caregivers may be able to enroll a child in the program.
Firstly, it’s important to note that the Imagination Library is not available in every community or region. The program operates through local affiliates, which partner with schools, libraries, and other organizations to distribute the books. You can check if the Imagination Library is available in your area by visiting the program’s website and entering your zip code or postal code.
Enrolling Your Grandchild in the Imagination Library
If the Imagination Library is available in your area, the next step is to find out if you are eligible to enroll your grandchild. The program’s eligibility requirements vary slightly depending on the local affiliate, but in general, the child must be:
- a resident of the affiliate’s service area
- under the age of five
- registered under the name of a parent or legal guardian
If you are the grandchild’s legal guardian, you can register them for the Imagination Library using your own name and contact information. However, if you are not the legal guardian, you may still be able to enroll the child in the program if you have their parent’s permission and can provide their contact information. Some affiliates may also allow other relatives or caregivers to register a child, as long as they can demonstrate that they are responsible for the child’s care and education.
How to Sign Up for the Imagination Library
If you meet the eligibility requirements for the Imagination Library and want to sign up your grandchild for the program, the process is relatively simple. You can visit the program’s website and select your affiliate from the map or list of locations. Then, you’ll be asked to fill out a registration form with your contact information, the child’s name and birthdate, and their parent or legal guardian’s contact information. You’ll also need to agree to receive emails from the Imagination Library and select a “reading buddy” who will read the books with your grandchild each month.
Once you’ve completed the registration form, you should receive a confirmation email from the Imagination Library within a few days. From then on, your grandchild will begin receiving a free book in the mail every month, addressed to them by name. You can help them develop their love of reading by reading the books together, talking about the stories and pictures, and encouraging them to explore other books and stories on their own.
Conclusion
So, can grandparents sign up for the Imagination Library? The answer is yes, in many cases. As long as you meet the eligibility requirements and have the permission of the child’s parent or legal guardian, you can enroll them in this wonderful program and help inspire a lifelong love of reading.
Related video of Can Grandparents Sign Up for Dolly Parton Imagination Library?
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