Family literacy

Ever since 1999, January 27th has marked Family Literacy Day in Canada.

Family literacy is meant to help bring children and adults together to develop and maintain language skills.

Families have many options available to them; they can choose to read books aloud, sing songs, play board or online word games, write letters or cards, type text messages or emails, visit library programs, and take part in other formal or informal activities to support listening, comprehension and literacy.  

During the past few weeks, I’ve seen my sister, brother-in-law and mom reading English and French stories to my 18-month-old niece. She counts along, mimics sounds, anticipates parts of her favourite books, bonds, wiggles, giggles, touches, etc.

According to non-profit group Literacy BC, kiddos are likely to enter grade school “with several thousand hours of one-to-one pre-reading experience behind them” if they’ve been raised by literate families and caregivers.  

So my niece is getting a head start for school and experiencing the joy of reading together with family. Now I say family literacy is both important and  

      AWESOME!

For contests, free downloads and more information about Family Literacy Day, visit http://abclifeliteracy.ca/family-literacy-day.

Pour mes lecteurs francophones, voici un lien au site de la Journée de l’alphabétisation familiale : http://abclifeliteracy.ca/journee_de_lalphabetisation_familiale.

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