Family Literacy Day is a national awareness initiative created by ABC Life Literacy Canada in 1999 and held annually on January 27. This special day promotes the importance of reading and engaging in other literacy-related activities as a family. Developing early childhood reading and writing skills helps develop the learning skills necessary for good communication skills later in life, and can ultimately contribute to a child鈥檚 chances for future success.
Family literacy 鈥� the intergenerational sharing of experiences, skills, and knowledge 鈥� is a critical foundation upon which children build their literacy skills. However, 40 per cent of British Columbian adults do not have sufficient literacy skills to fully participate and succeed in the modern, knowledge-based economy, and 14 per cent are at the lowest skill level where they struggle to cope with basic printed materials.
This means that we as parents and grandparents, aunts and uncles, neighbours and teachers, must continue to develop our literacy skills alongside our children.
This year Canadians will Play for Literacy on Family Literacy Day. Playing games that encourage literacy and numeracy 鈥� such as board games, card games and word games 鈥� is a great way for adults and children to practice their literacy skills and have fun.
Games, and the carefree act of playing, provide a fun outlet in which individuals of all ages can engage in activities that inherently provide new learning opportunities to improve one鈥檚 reading, writing, math and comprehension skills.
Celebrate literacy on Jan. 27 by participating in fun and engaging learning activities and games at the Courtenay library, in the community, or at home.
Visit www.cvliteracy.ca or contact the Courtenay library at 250-334-3369 for more information.
