Family Literacy Day activities planned this week

Supporting Island families -

Activities across the province are planned this week for families to have fun together while building their literacy skills.

To celebrate Family Literacy Day this Saturday (January 27), public libraries, schools, and the PEI Literacy Alliance are raising awareness of the importance of reading and learning together as a family. The theme for Family Literacy Day this year is “Learn at Play, Every Day!”

“When families engage in literacy activities, children feel that reading and learning are important and valued,” said Education, Early Learning and Culture Minister Jordan Brown. “By building literacy into children’s everyday activities, parents and extended family members can dramatically improve their children’s literacy skills and sharpen their own skills at the same time.”

Research consistently shows that young children learn best through interactions with parents, grandparents, and other family members. Reading, singing, or playing together for even 15 minutes each day enriches family relationships while helping to develop vital early literacy skills.

The provincial Family Literacy Day event will be January 27 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Summerside Rotary Library (Inspire Learning Centre). Sponsored by the PEI Public Library Service and the PEI Literacy Alliance, the free event will offer families storytimes in English and French, music, puppet shows, and healthy snacks along with face painting and great giveaways.

Several library branches are holding special programs this week in addition to their regular programming.

Tuesday, January 23

• Toasty Tales, Kinkora Public Library, 6 p.m.; winter stories for families accompanied by hot chocolate and cookies
• PJ Party, Alberton Public Library, 6:30 p.m.; wear pajamas and listen to a bedtime story
• Family Fun Board Games, Alberton Public Library, 7 p.m.

Saturday, January 27

• Provincial Family Literacy Day Event, Summerside Rotary Library, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
• Family Literacy Day Celebration, Tyne Valley Public Library, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
• Family Fun Board Games, O'Leary Public Library, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
• Play Dough and Learn, Stratford Public Library, 11:30 a.m.; stories and art based around the books of Barbara Reid
• Family Literacy Day Read-In, Montague Rotary Library, 1 p.m.; how many people can we get reading in the Montague library at once?

Activities are also being organized in Island schools. For example, on January 26 Westwood Primary School students will take part in “Dress Up As Your Favourite Literary Character" to celebrate Family Literacy Day.

Mount Stewart Consolidated students and staff will have many opportunities to drop and read on January 26. There will be literacy stations for K to grade 3 students that focus on word games, digital literacy, storytelling through movement, post card writing, and art. The school hopes to celebrate literacy with the community by inviting families to the school at noon for a reading picnic, where they can and bring a lunch and a blanket to get cozy while reading lots of books.

Media contact:
Jean Doherty
jmdoherty@gov.pe.ca