Six quick tips for promoting family and community literacy
Can you imagine seeing people around you reading every day? Adults reading magazines and books on the train or in the taxi on their way to work; children enjoying books from the school library together as they wait for their lifts at the school gate; teenagers glued to the next chapter of a story on […]
Playing with books to develop children’s literacy skills
Helping young children to develop the ability to read and write is a serious business because being literate is extremely important in our daily lives. But we also need to remember that we don’t have to actively teach or tell children aboutbooks and reading. Instead, we need to allow our children to learn about books by […]
What makes a good children’s book?
You can’t discover the joy of reading without having good books to read! And, the more books that children have around them, the more likely they are to pick one to try. But how do you know whether the books you choose for your children are “good” ones? Maya Angelou, an American author and poet, […]
How to get kids interested in reading books
We know that reading lots of books helps to make children better readers. We also know that to spend a lot of time reading and to keep reading throughout your life, you’ve got to want to read! If we want to get our children reading and then keep them reading, it’s really helpful to understand what motivates […]
The value of picture books
Picture books are an imaginative introduction to the world of literature for children, which plays a critical part in their development. Picture books are meant to be read aloud so this makes them the perfect reading resource for sharing stories with children. As we read aloud, we are also able to have conversations with our […]
Five ways to make the most of your community library
When you were growing up were you lucky enough to have a library at your school or near where you lived? Did you ever visit it and use it? And, what experiences of using the library are you offering your children as they grow up? In South Africa, far too many people still do not […]
Why is literacy important for children?
All children deserve the opportunity to learn to use reading and writing meaningfully in their lives – to become literate! A lifelong literacy journey can begin with small but exciting steps as your children experience the thrill of getting lost in a story, or the power of expressing their own ideas in writing. Learning to […]