Let’s Read it for the children
A new early literacy program, Let’s Read, has been introduced by The Smith Family Roebourne.
The program encourages parents to read aloud to their children from as young as four months and is a joint initiative of the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute’s Centre for Community Child Health and The Smith Family.
Let’s Read aims to give families the information and tools they need to introduce their children to books from a very young age in a bid to improve Australia’s literacy levels.
The program was coordinated in Roebourne by The Smith Family and delivered through community- based professionals including Yaandina Family Centre, Mawarnkara Aboriginal Medical Services, Best Start Coordinators and other local community organisations.
It provides families with special Let’s Read resources including tips and information on how to read to babies and toddlers, a suggested book list, a DVD demonstrating ways to read and have fun with books and an age appropriate book.
Exposing children to books and reading in their pre-school years is thought to assist in the development of emergent literacy skills (the ability to identify and manipulate sounds), the building blocks that are needed to help children learn to read later in life.
The Smith Family Learning for Life team leader Daphne Trevurza said Let’s Read was a unique opportunity for communities to make a real investment in the future of our children.
“It has taken a lot of planning and hard work to get to this stage and we’re thrilled to see it all come to fruition,” she said.
“Our children will have the chance to be part of a new generation who are better placed to learn to read when they reach school.”
The Let’s Read program was provided to the community free of charge, thanks to McConnell Dowell.
Members of the Smith Family and locals of Roebourne enjoying the Let's Read program
