This month, the Toronto Public Library is celebrating “Family Literacy Month“, and on January 27th ABC Life Literacy Canada celebrates a national awareness initiative, Family Literacy Day, to raise awareness of the importance of reading and engaging in other literacy-related activities as a family.
Did you know that early literacy begins before a child can read? According to research by the Canadian Language and Literacy Research Network, children who are successful readers have usually engaged in many early language and literacy activities before starting school. In fact, hearing and engaging with books read aloud to them is one of the most important activities for infants, toddlers, and pre-school children.
Until the last 30 years, children were seen as non-readers until they entered school. Now, children’s attempts to read and write before they reach school age are seen as important steps in developing reading and writing abilities.
It takes a village to raise a child – so we invite you to join us each Monday at 9:30am at Creating Together for “Literacy Mondays“, where we all work together to support healthy, fun literacy development in children. This program is designed for one-on-one or small group storytelling, featuring developmentally appropriate books and CDs. It gives children the opportunity to read and sing along with parents/caregivers and a staff member, and children also have a choice to listen to a story with headphones on their own.
Also, please get involved with our ongoing Toy and Book drive, where you can donate and purchase books – and all funds raised go towards supporting the work we do at Creating Together.
In addition to Literacy Mondays at Creating Together, take a look at these opportunities to promote literacy in your children:
- Parkdale Library offers a Baby Time on Fridays from 10:30-11am as part of the “Ready for Reading” series. Baby Time brings bouncing and tickling rhymes, songs and stories for babies from birth to 18 months with their parent or caregiver.
- Children’s Book Bank provides free books and literacy support to children living in low-income neighborhoods across Toronto.
- Toronto’s ReadUP‘s mission is to provide children with access to free reading support that complements and consolidates the literacy learning they receive in school.
- Enjoy your favourite children’s stories any time with Dial-a-Story and OverDrive eBooks & eAudiobooks for Kids.
- Barbara Reid, award-winning Canadian author and illustrator, is the Honourary Chair of Family Literacy Day for ABC Life Literacy Canada. Read a Q&A with Barbara Reid and download Barbara’s activity sheets for ways to learn at play with modelling clay: English Français
- Handbook of Language and Literacy Development