On Jan. 30, the Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy’s Creston branch and the Creston Valley Public Library will host an event to raise awareness of the importance engaging in play-based literacy activities as a family.
Play a Story, which starts at 1 p.m. at the library, is an improvisational and playful adventure that uses reading and storytelling to act out the classic fairy tale Hansel and Gretel. Using imagination, voices, props and costumes, participants will travel through the forest with two lost children on an exciting journey which leads them back to home. It promises to be fun for the whole family.
Play a Story celebrates Family Literacy Week (Jan. 24-31), an annual campaign that honours family literacy in B.C. Family Literacy Week builds on ABC Life Literacy Canada’s Family Literacy Day, a national awareness initiative created in 1999 and celebrated annually across Canada on Jan. 27.
Literacy is important for all British Columbians, including children and families. Families who engage in play-based literacy activities when children are young see positive effects on both the children and parents/caregivers. Simple activities offer rich opportunities for interaction and learning. These activities help create healthy relationships and help prepare children to enter school.
In addition, Decoda Literacy Solutions (decoda.ca) is celebrating with a provincewide online photo contest (#FLW2016) to encourage people to share family literacy activities. It has also developed free “Let’s Play Together!” activity sheets for families and programs that work with young children.
—COLUMBIA BASIN ALLIANCE FOR LITERACY