Family Literacy Week is happening January 26 – February 2 and this year’s theme is “Let’s Read Together!” I love this theme, as I am passionate about reading books with children. I see reading as not only an essential part of building early literacy skills, but also as a way to connect as family, share some laughs and explore new places and people together.
Both of my kids, who are now 22 and 18, still remember their favourite books from when they were little. For my son, it was Where the Wild Things Are. For my daughter, it was the Bare Bear. Both of these books were gifts given to them by their grandma, and I still have both of them on my bookshelf. Every once in awhile, they will pick up those books and we take a trip down memory lane.
Reading with my children was always something that I enjoyed doing with them. Now that they are grown, I realize that it was a great way to create connections and spend quality time together. At the end of a long, busy day we all looked forward to piling into one of the kids’ beds for a cuddle and a few stories. It was an opportunity to come together, enjoy each other’s company and end the day with an enjoyable experience.
Having books in your home and reading at home increase school success and encourage positive feelings about reading. Borrowing books from your local library is a great way to provide a variety of choices for reading.
These days, there are ways to enjoy a story together digitally. There is a wonderful selection of stories read by astronauts (cool, eh?) on the website Story Time from Space. Or, how about a FaceTime story time? A grandma that I know does a FaceTime bedtime story with her grandchildren who live far away. It is that creative use of technology that keeps her connected with her family, gives them something to look forward to and is creating long-lasting memories.
This Family Literacy Week (and beyond), “Let’s Read Together” with the little people in our lives. Everyone will be better for it!
For more information on what is happening in your CBAL community during Family Literacy Week, contact your local community literacy coordinator.
Happy reading!
Sandy Kalesnikoff
Community Literacy Coordinator – Invermere Valley
Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy.
Both of my kids, who are now 22 and 18, still remember their favourite books from when they were little. For my son, it was Where the Wild Things Are. For my daughter, it was the Bare Bear. Both of these books were gifts given to them by their grandma, and I still have both of them on my bookshelf. Every once in awhile, they will pick up those books and we take a trip down memory lane.
Reading with my children was always something that I enjoyed doing with them. Now that they are grown, I realize that it was a great way to create connections and spend quality time together. At the end of a long, busy day we all looked forward to piling into one of the kids’ beds for a cuddle and a few stories. It was an opportunity to come together, enjoy each other’s company and end the day with an enjoyable experience.
Having books in your home and reading at home increase school success and encourage positive feelings about reading. Borrowing books from your local library is a great way to provide a variety of choices for reading.
These days, there are ways to enjoy a story together digitally. There is a wonderful selection of stories read by astronauts (cool, eh?) on the website Story Time from Space. Or, how about a FaceTime story time? A grandma that I know does a FaceTime bedtime story with her grandchildren who live far away. It is that creative use of technology that keeps her connected with her family, gives them something to look forward to and is creating long-lasting memories.
This Family Literacy Week (and beyond), “Let’s Read Together” with the little people in our lives. Everyone will be better for it!
For more information on what is happening in your CBAL community during Family Literacy Week, contact your local community literacy coordinator.
Happy reading!
Sandy Kalesnikoff
Community Literacy Coordinator – Invermere Valley
Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy.
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