PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WJHG\/WECP) – A local non-profit is helping kids turn the page in learning how to read. <\/p>\n
Around 44% of children in Bay County are not reading at grade level by third grade, according to United Way of Northwest Florida. <\/p>\n
\u201cTablets have taken over lives and so when you have consistent adult showing up for these students, showing them how fun reading a book can be, it can make a huge impact on that data,\u201d said Gina Littleton, the president and CEO of United Way of Northwest Florida.<\/p>\n
Littleton said their program ReadingPals is working to improve the data.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo be able to see a child when you come in at the beginning of the year and perhaps, they\u2019re struggling and then at the end of the year they\u2019re reading the book to you, that\u2019s a pretty impactful thing to do,\u201d Littleton told NewsChannel7.<\/p>\n
As of now, ReadingPals is only offered for Bay and Washington County, but Littleton said they would expand it, to their other four counties if they get volunteers. <\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s a heavy volunteer component so any of those counties that would like to have a ReadingPals program, we just need the volunteers.\u201d<\/p>\n
United Way of Northwest Florida is also working with parents, so their children don\u2019t experience the \u201csummer slide.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSometimes sitting home and reading for an hour it\u2019s not on the table, so read united is an effort to meet with those parents and give them little tips and tricks that they can do with their student that are super easy,\u201d Littleton said.<\/p>\n
Those activities can include asking a child to point out a specific letter while in the car or playing slap jack with flash cards.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are very simple quick things that parents can do with their kids to help keep them engaged and learning when they\u2019re at home,\u201d Littleton continued.<\/p>\n
Information to volunteer for ReadingPals can be found here<\/a>. <\/p>\n To stay up to date on all the latest news as it develops, follow WJHG on Facebook<\/a>, Instagram<\/a> and X<\/a> (Twitter<\/a>).<\/p>\n Have a news tip or see an error that needs correction? Email news@wjhg.com<\/a>. Please include the article\u2019s headline in your message.<\/p>\n Keep up with all the biggest headlines on the WJHG News app<\/a>, and check out what\u2019s happening outside using the WJHG Weather app<\/a>.<\/p>\n Copyright 2026 WJHG. All rights reserved.<\/p>\n