A few days ago, Huffington Post Black Voices reported some obvious information: parents should read to their children everyday. But it’s news because it’s the first time that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended pediatricians to promote literacy to parents.

Reading is more than just a bonding activity between a parent and their child. It helps your children’s skills, especially in the biggest developmental years of their lives: infant to 5 years old. The amount of children entering kindergarten without language skills is too high, and once a child is behind in reading, it’s hard to catch up.

As you can imagine, the statistics are notably worse in the African American community, especially with poverty and low-income families being a huge issue. Kids in these situations don’t have the access or resources that their wealthier counterparts have, but even when they do, many parents do not read aloud to them. Reading aloud to your child increases their language skills in reading, (eventually) writing, and comprehension.

You may have heard by now that LeVar Burton is bringing his popular program Reading Rainbow back to children everywhere. The TV show was instrumental in many children’s interest in books, and he and his team have a Kickstarter campaign to raise $5 million to reach children in more than 7,500 classrooms. The campaign hit over $1 million in the first day alone, and they’re 4 days away from what is called their Stretch Goal.

But this isn’t just LeVar’s problem. Children’s literacy shouldn’t just be left in the hands of a TV program host, or even just their teachers. First, it starts at home. It should go without saying, but parents should be their child’s biggest advocate. Read early and read often. And of course, it takes a village. There are numerous reading and literacy programs and nonprofits out there that can use your volunteer help. When children don’t have the support at home, they definitely need the support in their community.

As an avid reader, it frustrates me to no end that so many of our children are not reading at the appropriate grade level, or have a disdain toward reading. Even more so because not too long ago, it was illegal for us to read. Not too many generations ago, we would have to sneak to read, and put our lives in jeopardy. The tools and resources are there, but the children can’t get to them by themselves.

So what can we do? Of course, start with your children if you have them. If you don’t, volunteer your efforts. Libraries may be disappearing slowly, but they are still there. They’re sometimes the only place a child in poverty has access to books. Donate books to classrooms. Teachers need help financially, and often have to replace books out of their own pockets. Get involved with community service projects that put an emphasis on literacy. It’s very hard to get by when you can’t read.

I’m trying to do my part by coming up with a reading program for kids in my community. I’ve been planning it for about a year now, but the action has to come sooner rather than later. Let’s make literacy and reading a priority again.