Today is Family Literacy Day — and what better way to celebrate than with a visit to your local library.
South Grey Bruce Youth Literacy Council Coordinator Dyan (Dianne) Jones encourages parents to take some time out today to read to their little ones.
The Walkerton, Hanover, and Durham libraries have been marking the event all week with displays, and today they will be handing out free children’s books.
Jones says parents have a strong influence on the literacy development of their children, and the more they read to them, the more likely their children will develop a love for literacy.
She adds that while we embrace technology, we are also limiting some of our learning opportunities.
Jones notes that many children are lacking basic life skills — such as not being able to tell the time without a digital clock, or being able to make simple change on their own.
By instilling a love of reading in children early, Jones says parents are arming their children with valuable skills that will last them a lifetime.
After all, she says the reading habits we develop at an early age set the stage for our success later in life.
The local Literacy Council provides a volunteer tutoring service to youth and those with English as a second language.
If your child could benefit from their volunteer tutoring service contact the South Grey Bruce Literacy Council at 519-364-0008.
