Giving Your Child a Love of Reading
Better Beginnings aims to put research into practice by supporting parents of new born babies to enjoy books, rhyme and song with their young children. To give their children a love of reading and language.
Research has shown that seventy-five per cent of brain development occurs between birth and the age of three. Being read to from the day they are born helps children develop essential pre-literacy skills needed to learn to read and this is one of the most important factors in school success.
Better Beginnings has been developed by the State Library of WA as a family literacy program that aims to support parents as their children’s first teacher.
It works through strong partnerships with health professionals, local governments and public libraries to:
- Build awareness in the whole community, particularly amongst parents and other adults who care for children, of the value and pleasure of reading and sharing stories with young children
- Encourage and support parents in sharing books and activities that foster language and a love of reading with their young children
- Assist parents in selecting and getting books and activities suited to their young child’s age and needs
- Promote the vital role of public libraries as community hubs that provide ongoing support to parents and caregivers in giving their children a love of reading.