Grandfather Uses YouTube to Read Bedtime Stories to Thousands
By Movieguide® Contributor
A Kentucky grandfather is using YouTube to share bedtime stories with thousands around the world.
“[Joe] Fiorelli said his home has always been filled with books and estimates he has around 3,000. He decided to pick up the hobby to better himself and connect with his long-distance family, including 14 grandchildren. He added introducing books to children at a young age teaches life lessons,” Spectrum News 1 reported.
Fiorelli created his YouTube channel, “PJs and Pillows,” eleven months ago to stay in touch with his family members, who are spread around the world. The channel now has nearly 900 subscribers, and many of his videos have thousands of views.
“A book with a good story will take a child on an adventure, whether it be an imaginary place or a real place,” Fiorelli told WLWT5 News. “Some that give a cultural perspective that they might not have otherwise have, those are my favorite stories.”
However, the grandfather never thought his channel would grow into what it has. But now that he has a platform, he wants to use his resources to help children learn and increase language development.
According to the Kids Kingdom Early Learning Center, “Storytime has many benefits for children other than promoting early literacy and language development. It can help develop their concentration, social skills, communication skills, and encourages their imagination and creativity.”
Fiorelli has personally seen the impact reading had on his children.
“Their writing skills will improve; their grades will improve in school,” he told Spectrum News 1. “I’m a father of 10, and all my kids are pretty darn smart…and I think they love to read as well.”
He also loves to read because books teach children life skills and important values.
“There’s lots of good information in kids’ books,” Fiorelli explained, “and it just so happens that some of them deal with morals and personal challenges.”
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