Family Literacy Day: January 27

Family Literacy Day: January 27
To raise your child to be a reader, start early
Times Colonist: January 27, 2001 by Dave Obee

Once upon a time, it was possible to find success with only rudimentary reading skills. But those days are gone.

Strong reading skills are critical for a successful, full life. Literacy needs to start at an early age and real progress must be supported by parents, grandparents and other responsible adults.

That might seem obvious to you, but you can read.

Too many adults don't have that ability, and that puts their own children at a disadvantage. If children don't see their parents reading, and if parents are not reading to them, they are less likely to develop the essential skills.

The Raise-a-Reader program, sponsored by the Times Colonist and other PostMedia newspapers, notes that more than 40 per cent of Canadian adults have literacy skills below the level needed to succeed. A lot of children are at risk.

That's why we are celebrating Family Literacy Day today. Yes, hundreds of special days are declared every year by all levels of government -- but this one really matters. The benefits of literacy pay off for decades.

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The theme this year is "play for literacy," and it's meant to reinforce the idea that literacy can be developed in many different ways. It's not just about reading books to children -- although that certainly helps. The seed of literacy can grow through singing to children, playing games with them and even helping them to colour.

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Don't miss it. And don't miss a chance to read to your children, your grandchildren or even the neighbour's kid. They need it. READ MORE !