Brimbank families are being urged to pop on their reading glasses as part of a statewide push for families to read more books to their youngsters before they start school.
The 1000 Books Before School initiative aims to promote early literacy as a way of combating adult illiteracy by starting kids reading books, and being read to, from an early age.
Studies have shown that children who are read to every day from an early age develop extended vocabularies, and are reading ready with improved cognitive skills when they start school.
Brimbank mayor John Hedditch said all city libraries would be promoting the challenge for children to be read 1000 books from birth to their start at primary school.
“The more a child is read to in their pre-school years, the better prepared they are when they start to learn how to read and write,” Cr Hedditch said.
“We encourage all families to join the program at a Brimbank library and begin their reading journey with their children, and have lots of fun doing it.”
The 1000 Books Before School program is a joint initiative of State Library Victoria and Public Libraries Victoria Network. Brimbank libraries are among 200 across Victoria participating in this early literacy campaign.
Parents and caregivers who wish to participate in the program can register at any Brimbank library.
Ewen McRae
