5 Ways to promote literacy at home this International Literacy Day.

Friday 8th September is International Literacy Day. This day is designed to highlight the importance of literacy on not just an individual level but also a community one too. International Literacy Day focuses on remembering that education is a basic human right that every single person should be entitled to, although this is still not the case. In addition to wanting to create a more literate world, it also aims to improve societies' sustainability. Every year there is a theme this year it is:

Sadly, it is approximated that there are around 773 million illiterate people across the globe today. There is much we can do to help promote the literacy of our own little ones and that of others.

1. Support libraries - use them, but also if you can donate to them. Using them means your children not only get to access more books and reading materials, they also begin to learn how to care for items that aren't theirs. They can develop knowledge around how libraries work; where to find books, how to borrow them and how to ask for help. If we don't use our libraries we will loose them. Donating any unwanted books shares the love. It also helps libraries with very small, (if any) budgets to stock their shelves.

2. Model reading at home. Put down the phone occasionally and let children see you enjoy reading. They will become curious and more inclined to pick up a book, because our children, especially the younger ones want to emulate us.

3. Incorporate literacy throughout the day. Look at road signs or maps. Read recipes together. Turn the subtitles on when they are watching TV, this further increases their exposure to the written word. Talking. It may seem obvious but the more awe talk together, the more exposure to language they get. They learn how it is structured, grammar, vocabulary, listening and turn taking skills and more.

4. Sing songs, listen to music and nursery rhymes. These are beneficial in acquiring language as well as introducing and developing skills such as rhyme and rhythm.

5. Play. A cornerstone to all development. Using their interests to develop language, read and write based on in the moment play is more likely to be successful than writing a list of words out. Play, particularly sensory is a great tool for developing fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination, as they mould, pinch, roll, pour, scoop etc.

There we have five ways to help promote literacy at home this International Literacy Day and beyond all by using what we already have available.

Have a great day,

Kelly