![\"Portrait](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/ashlyn-grotegut.jpg\")
<\/p>\n This Texas Tech project promotes literacy and bonding by pairing Lubbock County inmates
\n with recordable devices so their children can play audio of them reading.<\/p>\n
\t\tCREATORS<\/p>\n
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Curling up with a picture book in the lap of a parent after a warm bath is an expert-recommended
\n bedtime routine.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The act is much more than story time. It\u2019s strengthening bonds and building early
\n literacy skills that will help the baby or toddler learn to read easier once they
\n start school.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But not all children are provided these vital moments each night. Some are coping
\n with the absence of a parent who is incarcerated.\u00a0<\/p>\n
This lack of connection can be detrimental as learned by Kyle Roberson<\/a>, Texas Tech University<\/a> assistant professor of Family & Consumer Sciences Education<\/a>. As a retired educational administrator with the Federal Bureau of Prisons who earned Through this work, he has become concerned about the futures of children with incarcerated \u201cWe know that kids who stay in school generally do better in society, and we find Roberson found a creative way to promote literacy and build stronger bonds among families She applied for and received a Toniebox through a partnership between tonies and the Roberson was unfamiliar with the device, described as a screen-free audio system. It was the Creative Tonies that caught Roberson\u2019s attention, though, giving users He imagined inmates recording messages and picture book stories onto the tonies, which \u201cOnce we record, families who have these tonies at home will hear their parent reading Roberson pitched his idea to Vernon, who was eager to explore a collaboration in line \u201cAs I got to know Kyle and learned about his work with the detention center, it became Roberson and Vernon determined the pilot project would take place with 10 Lubbock As these emergent readers listen to their tonies, they lessen their screentime and \u201cI think giving them the right tools is going to help increase their chances for success Roberson provides two foundational books for the inmates to read: \u201cThe Invisible String\u201d He also monitors their personal messages recorded to the tonies, which can be erased \u201cWe have to think about security measures, but we\u2019re right there recording with them,\u201d Roberson will work out the logistics of the tonies collaboration starting this fall \u201cThe idea is to keep the content flowing,\u201d he said. \u201cThe more you can send books home Roberson acknowledges this positive outreach would not be possible without the cooperation \u201cThat way they understand why we\u2019re coming in,\u201d Roberson said. \u201cWe\u2019re not pampering Vernon is thankful Texas Tech is leading such an important charge for others to follow. \u201cWe\u2019re doing this as a pilot to see where it can go and how it can grow within this Roberson has received praise about how impactful his project will be in Lubbock County. Roberson was pleased to be selected as part of the campaign, after which he received \u201cFunding is crucial to getting a good program up and running,\u201d he said. \u201cThat support
\n his doctoral degree in family and consumer sciences education from Texas Tech in May
\n 2019, Roberson\u2019s research is focused on educational programming within prisons and
\n jails and the well-being of incarcerated individuals\u2019 families.\u00a0<\/p>\n![\"Kyle](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/kyle-roberson.jpg\")
Kyle Roberson<\/p>\n
\n parents who are missing a critical influence to read.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n that the kids who don\u2019t drop out of school are good readers,\u201d Roberson said. \u201cIf they\u2019re
\n not reading on level by fourth grade, they\u2019re more likely to be justice-involved when
\n they get older. So, we\u2019re trying to catch them early.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n separated by jail bars through an interesting technology he discovered from his wife,
\n a third-grade reading and writing teacher at Lubbock Independent School District.\u00a0<\/p>\n![\"Toddler](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/VHC-Lifestyle002.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\n American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (AAFCS). Roberson attended the
\n 2025 AAFCS Conference with her and met Drew Vernon, the director of education for
\n tonies, who was giving Toniebox demonstrations.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n Children can place a small figurine onto a speaker called a Toniebox that will play
\n a prerecorded storybook along with songs, ranging from Disney adaptations to classic
\n fairytales. The simple user experience allows the story to be paused if the character
\n is removed and resumed when it is replaced onto the box \u2013 easy enough for babies as
\n young as 1 year old to operate.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n the ability to record up to 90 minutes of content onto a blank figurine. He believed
\n such technology would be transformational for his Community Engaged Scholarship work
\n at the Lubbock County Detention Center, in which he provides opportunities for incarcerated
\n parents to connect with their kids through literacy.<\/p>\n
\n would then be given to their children and played on repeat.\u00a0<\/p>\n![\"Tonies](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/tonies_NatGeoKids_Collection_1-002.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\n to them on their Toniebox,\u201d Roberson explained. \u201cIt\u2019s just helping create that connection
\n and when they miss their parent, they can hear their voice at any given time without
\n waiting for a phone call.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n with the company\u2019s mission and values.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n clear that there was an opportunity for us to use the Toniebox and Creative Tonies
\n in this type of setting,\u201d Vernon said. \u201cMy hope with tonies in this particular program
\n is it can be more than a toy \u2013 it can actually be a tool for families to connect together
\n intergenerationally and to make a really strong social impact as well.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"elementary](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Tonies_lifestyle.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\n County Detention Center inmates who have children ages 10 and under. Each family unit
\n would receive a Toniebox along with several tonies, and they worked with local libraries
\n to ensure additional tonies could be checked out. Roberson gathered even more content
\n to share with the participants through a partnership with Texas Tech Public Media<\/a> and PBS KIDS, which provided activities to pair with the audiobooks.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n strengthen their minds and creativity. Furthermore, they have the unique opportunity
\n to hear positive encouragement from their incarcerated parent to engage in literacy,
\n which supports the reading skills they need to reach graduation. \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n as they grow older,\u201d Vernon said. \u201cWe are making sure that they\u2019re educated and have
\n the lively imaginations they need to grow up and be productive members of society
\n so they do not end up in the justice system.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n by Patrice Karst and \u201cLily & Stanley: Making Friends and Helping Others,\u201d which he
\n authored himself.\u00a0<\/p>\n![\"AI](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/AI-tonies-meme71.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\n and rerecorded as the program continues.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n Roberson said. \u201cThey can do a personal message like, \u2018Hey, I picked this book out
\n for you because it made me think of you\u2019 and those kinds of things.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n and into summer 2026, after which he will analyze the program data.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n to kids, especially during the summer months, the more emergent readers they become.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n from the Lubbock County Detention Center. Alongside his work with the inmates, he
\n was permitted to provide empathy training for staff and correctional officers at the
\n facility.\u00a0<\/p>\n![\"Lubbock](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1681294790179451_o.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\n the inmates \u2013 we\u2019re trying to do something to help better their lives, their situation
\n and their families.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n \u00a0<\/p>\n
\n particular system, but my hope is that we\u2019ll also provide inspiration to other correctional
\n systems and other types of institutions across the country,\u201d he noted.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n In fact, he was recently encouraged to apply for a giving initiative called Onward<\/a>, Texas Tech\u2019s inaugural crowdfunding cohort.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n support and training through Advancement<\/a>. Tonies even agreed to match the raised funds of up to $5,000.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n will help curb some of the costs for our partners as we work to make this a program
\n that can be easily replicated. That way, we can impact communities outside our own.\u201d<\/p>\n