TIMMINS -- A partnership between the Timmins Public Library and the city’s EarlyON centres looks to improve early childhood literacy by bringing the “1000 Books Before Kindergarten” program to northern Ontario.
The two groups held an information session for parents explaining the program and had community leaders read to children in attendance.
“(The program is) a great way of teaching parents how to read to their children and give children the opportunity to build those basic literacy skills,” said Shannon Costello, children’s services director for the local social services board.
“This is an easy way to prepare your child to have those skills to be able to read along and learn even more reading concepts when they get to kindergarten.”
Giving children a head start
According to Costello, 32 per cent of kindergarten-aged children lack basic literacy skills like reading, writing, holding a book and oral communication.
The “1,000 Books” program, originally from the United States and adopted by around 19 libraries in Canada, has parents read their children one book per night in the years leading up to kindergarten. Parents then record each read in a notebook or online.
Starting from birth, parents would reach at least 1,000 books in four-to-five years, with EarlyON and the library celebrating each milestone along the journey.
Costello said developing literacy skills as soon as possible will give children a head start in life.
“If they are already prepared in their basic literacy skills before Kindergarten, then they should be able to be very successful in any kind of numeracy activity, literacy activity,” she said. “Any language or social development comes from being able to communicate, and reading is one of those ways,” said Costello.
(Timmins Mayor George Pirie reads to children at library event. Jan. 27, 2020. Sergio Arangio/CTV Northern Ontario)
Strengthening the parent-child bond
With EarlyON taking on much of the financial and operational responsibility, the library is providing the books. Erin Auger, assistant library director at Timmins Public Library, said the program can help children start their first day of Kindergarten with confidence and can strengthen the parent-child relationship.
“It’s an opportunity for them connect and read together,” Auger said. “Children model the behaviour that their parents show them. So when they see their parent reading, they’re going to want to read.”
EarlyON is offering the program in English and French.
