
You can also celebrate by entering the Decoda Literacy Solutions’ Family Literacy Week photo contest (#FLW2016)! Start by participating in a literacy activity with your family. Snap a picture and send it in for your chance to win a $150 Best Buy Gift Certificate. Need some ideas? Go to Decoda’s website and download your free family literacy resources! There are fantastic ideas based on this year’s family literacy week theme “Let’s Play Together!”
Decoda has pulled together some great ideas for fun family activities - from getting active and getting messy to sparking imagination and snuggling up for some quiet time. Did you know that playing follow the leader, singing, or kicking a ball help to develop skills that are important for learning to read, write and use numbers? The activity sheets have interesting information on the skills children are learning when they play. Check out it out here.: http://decoda.ca/support-us/events/family-literacy-day/ !
This year’s theme is a great reminder of all of the amazing learning that happens when children play. There is strong research that links play to learning, literacy and language development. Play is a child’s ‘work’ and allows opportunities to investigate, explore, experiment, mimic and learn! When children are playing, they are developing all areas of skill, including physical (fine and gross motor) as well as social, emotional and cognitive. Children transfer their love of playing to their love of learning.
Children will naturally play, but did you know that parents, grandparents and caregivers have a very special role? Family members take play to a whole new level of learning! Think of these special people as play coaches or play ambassadors. When adults share in play, they help introduce new words, help guide social interactions, model sharing and help children understand choices and the problem solving process.
So, once you have had a chance to dress up, freeze dance, play cards, make cloud dough and try golf ball painting take a photo of all the fun. Send your picture to Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/familyliteracyweek or Tweet to @decodaliteracy using #FLW2016.
To learn more about Family Literacy Week 2016 events in the Columbia Basin and Boundary visit our website at www.cbal.org or call your local community literacy coordinator.
Tracy Spannier
Community Literacy Coordinator
Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy - Revelstoke