Children will get all kinds of gifts this year. The presents will come in all different shapes and sizes and will hopefully all bring a little joy.

A football or basketball will at least get them on their feet. A video game may not get them moving — although some do — but may give them a way to spend a rainy day or boring afternoon.

Others, like Legos or stuffed animals, will be just as welcomed.

However, none of those toys can compete with what Reading is Fundamental is providing to children Saturday at the Carl C. Morgan Convention Center. RIF plans to show area youth that reading can be fun.

The program knows where to look for endorsements, as Santa, Clifford the Big Red Dog, Curious George and Franklin the Turtle will be at the RIF celebration Saturday.

There’s a lot going on this time of the year with the Christmas rush officially underway. Even the shoppers that wait until the last minute are starting to feel the need to shop now, but we feel this is a program worth checking out.

Excelling at reading can open up a lot of doors for our youth, as they enhance their vocabulary and learn to improve their writing skills. As they read, they are  using their imagination and learning without even realizing it.

Reading and writing is key when it comes to making a resume or writing a cover letter and being able to adequately present oneself through paper. Without being able to do that, it’s hard to get a job.

All of those skills start at an early age, which is why we commend RIF for finding a way to combine the excitement of the holidays with one of the most important skills for our youth.

Breakfast for Santa is a great way to spend time with your kids, see the jolly ‘ole man before he heads back to the North Pole and see what books interest your child.

The breakfast served will be straight from Dr. Suess — green eggs and ham.

Christmas will soon come and go for another year, but the joy of reading will be here to stay and will keep giving back over an entire lifetime.