Novel approach to Book Week — less time on elaborate costumes, more actual reading of books
PARENTS stressing over costumes for Book Week parades this week are being urged to focus more on reading and less on the biggest, best and brightest outfit for their child.
PARENTS stressing over costumes for Book Week parades this week are being urged to focus more on reading and less on the biggest, best and brightest outfit for their child.
“Book Week is not meant to be a competition – it’s about reading and children’s books,” Centacare Catholic Family Services family relationships educator Kay Buckley said.
“It’s much more fun to sit down and read a book together than to stay up all night sewing on sequins.”
Ms Buckley said research had shown reading helped parents and children build strong relationships.
“It can be part of the glue that keeps families together,” she said.
Erindale mum Sarah Marshall said time-poor parents were “definitely” struggling to meet ever increasing social and self-imposed expectations for the best and most appropriate Book Week costume.
Social media was also adding to the competitive strain.
“We’re all so busy working and juggling life and we don’t have a lot of time to think or create costumes, so there’s a lot of anxiety around preparing for Book Week and that can be stressful,” she said.
Children's Book Council of Australia (SA Branch) secretary Nola Uzzell said while not all schools would celebrate with the traditional Book Week parade, those that did would dissuade parents from spending too much time or money on costumes and, rather, use creative ideas based on available materials.
“Book Week is a great opportunity for parents to connect their children with whatever it is that they enjoy reading,” Ms Uzzell said.
“If a child has a superhero costume that they are desperate to wear let them wear it, but then connect them back to a superhero literary experience with the help of their school or librarian.”
School Library Association of SA president Hajnalka Molloy said the best costumes were those made cheaply and simply and in reference to a favourite book character.
“Kids and parents working together making a costume and talking about the book and the character is a great way to honour Book Week,” she said.
Book Week is run annually by the Children’s Book Council of Australia.
Themed “Find our Treasure” for 2018, it runs until Friday.
