Charity encourages parents to read with kids

(CNS): More than 75 parents and several grandparents recently took part ina series of district workshops organized by a local charity to encourage parents to read with their young kids and offer them tips on how to make reading fun. During this school year Literacy Is For Everyone (LIFE) has hosted several other Partners in Print (PIP) workshops in nine of the 10 government primary schools. To mark child month it ran three one-off workshops at Sir John A. Cumber, George Town and Prospect Primary Schools when parents, teachers, and children worked together to improve literacy among kids aged 4-7 years old.

Organisers said the workshops are aimed at encouraging parental involvement in the development of their child’s literacy at a critical stage in their development. George Town Primary Literacy Coach, Sarah Douglas, said the programme helps teachers “explain and model specific strategies to support literacy development” in a supportive environment in which to practice these strategies.

“It’s a worthwhile programme,” said Faedrene McLaughlin, a teacher at Sir John A. Cumber Primary who assisted with the workshops. “It is very informative and helps parents to understand and appreciate the value of reading. It also helps to demonstrate the value of working with their children in building literacy.”

Su Mander, the Executive Manager of LIFE said the charity has received a lot of positive feedback about the programme. “We hope that the fun and engaging workshops have encouraged parents to give their children more focused reading and learning support at home,” she added.