Tomorrow (Jan. 27) is Family Literacy Day in Canada.
Family Literacy Day celebrates adults and children reading and learning together. The purpose of this special day is to encourage families to spend at least 15 minutes a day enjoying and participating in a learning activity.
Parents who read to their children and have fun while learning a new activity will keep their own literacy skills sharp, while encouraging lifelong learning in their children.
The theme for Family Literacy Day 2011 is “Play for Literacy!”
There are many ways a family may strengthen their literacy skills, and all it takes is practicing for 15 minutes every day. So try to set aside time every day for the family and make this time spent together fun.
Anything you do as a family gives you a chance to learn from your children and your children learn from you.
Literacy is much more than reading, writing and math. Learn by playing.
There are many games you can play together as a family. Playing games is not only fun, but it will also help create a strong family bond.
Some suggestions for your family’s time together:
• Have a family game night. Play a different game each week.
• Play fun games like Simon Says.
• Make cookies, follow a recipe together.
• Sing songs.
• Tell family stories.
• Play cards.
• Read a classic adventure story together, such as Tom Sawyer, or for a more modern story, try the Harry Potter adventures.
• Write a family adventure. Have fun while writing your family adventures and take pictures to create a scrapbook.
• Read a book together, and then watch the movie.
Both parents and children will enjoy this time spent together, form strong bonds, make great childhood memories and build on everyone’s literacy skills.
Mel Newcombe is a literacy support worker.