The Quebec English Literacy Alliance (QELA) invites all Quebecers to celebrate Family Literacy Day on January 27th by reading and engaging in literacy-related activities. Launched in 1999 by ABC Life Literacy Canada, Family Literacy Day encourages families to read and learn together for at least 15 minutes a day.
ABC’s Journey to Learning Passport (available for download at www.FamilyLiteracyDay.ca) shows families how easy and fun it is to share these moments and start learning together. It offers suggestions for family learning activities such as following a recipe, counting items in a load of laundry and finding things that begin with each letter of the alphabet at the grocery store.
Many literacy-learning centres across Quebec are also marking the occasion with activities to encourage adults to read to their children including:
- The Centre for Literacy will again collaborate with the Lire/Imagine/Read program at the Montreal Children’s Hospital. Parents and children, who visit certain pediatric clinics on Wednesday January 25th, will receive books and information about the importance of reading and the role of libraries.
- In South-West Montreal, RECLAIM Literacy Learning Centre will be cooking up ‘alphabet pancakes’ for children participating in the Club des petits déjeuners du Quebec program at Verdun Elementary School. Children will also receive a can of Heinz Alpha-Getti as well as suggestions for fun reading activities they can do at home.
- Literacy Unlimited in Pointe-Claire will be hosting a drop-in for families at Riverdale High School where they can visit various stations and get their Journey to Learning Passports stamped while doing activities such as participating in a treasure hunt and making paper airplanes.
- The Western Quebec School Board and Western Quebec Literacy Council have joined forces by inviting parents and grandparents to share some special time with their children in reading activities at the Onslow Elementary School in Quyon Quebec.
- The Littoral School Board’s St. Theresa School will have a series of stations for the children and their parents to rotate through including cooking, crafts and games, music and reading together.
Taking time every day to read or do a learning activity with children is crucial to a child’s development. Remember just 15 minutes a day of reading, playing a game or writing a grocery list can improve a child’s literacy skills dramatically, while helping parents keep their own skills sharp.
For more information on family and adult literacy programs in your area call us toll-free 1.866.942.7352.
