Raise a Reader campaign: Share in the magic of reading
More parents are signing up their newborns for a library card to give the gift of reading to their children even before they start school. You too can help Raise a Reader with our book giveaway.
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It’s the best career – and life – hack you can ever gift your child and it all starts with a “reading rocket” from you.
We have partnered with Goodstart Early Learning Centres and the Australian Library and Information Service (ALIA) for the annual Raise a Reader campaign – highlighting the need to read with children from birth.
According to Goodstart general manager pedagogy and practice Sue Robb, you can’t read enough to your children, especially newborns.
“We know that sharing books and reading to children help their early communication and acquisition of language, their vocabulary, and also the rhyme and rhythm in books helps their brain and cognitive development,” Ms Robb said. “It helps their neurons to connect.
“The more we can engage babies and children in books and literature, the better. It’s such a magic experience.”
ALIA chief executive Sue McKerracher said signing your newborn up for a library card is a free and easy way to provide essential exposure to literature.
“Reading as a life skill has never been more important,” Ms McKerracher said.
“Library story times are free events that take place regularly, are great fun for the kids and give parents the chance to get together with others.
“By taking it up a notch and becoming library members, families can borrow books, take them home and share the fun of reading with their little ones every day.
“One of our mantras is ‘10 minutes a day’ – just 10 minutes with a book every day can make all the difference to a child’s future.”
Bronte mum Sandra Muret has been taking her four-month-old daughter Tara to Waverly Library since she was born.
“Reading is a special moment you share with your baby,” she said. “You can see that they search the books and follow yourfinger while listening to your voice. You can see as they grow and understand more and more what’s going on.
“Being at the library is more than sitting there and reading a book and chatting with her. It’s also lovely way to meet othermums and their bubs. It’s important to have support and share the same experiences. You can share your vision of how you wantto stimulate and develop your baby’s brain.”
Hayley Schwarze loves exploring new books with her 13-week-old son Mitchell at Craigieburn Library.
“We started reading to my son the night he was born,” she said.
“He may not be able to understand what is happening right now but hearing the same words and sounds as we go through the bookswill hopefully have him structuring his sentences from an early age. The bonding time that goes along with it is a bonus.”
Collect your free copy of Thelma the Unicorn and collector case with Saturday’s newspaper and start your Great Australian Storybook collection.
The remaining 14 books of this collection are $2.70 with the corresponding day’s token. Kidsbookcollection.com.au
Originally published as Raise a Reader campaign: Share in the magic of reading