The Fort Frances Public Library Technology Centre (FFPLTC) is challenging families with young children to read 1,000 books together before the first day of Kindergarten.
The new program, appropriately being called “1,000 Books Before Kindergarten” is exactly what it says on the label. Parents and caregivers are tasked with reading 1,000 books to their newborns, infants, and toddlers before they reach Kindergarten.
FFPLTC children’s services clerk Miss Sam Manty says the goal is to help encourage a lifelong love of reading and impart critical skills to young children.
“It’s an innovative yet fun approach to establishing strong early literacy skills,” Manty said.
“It’s meant to help parents and caregivers give their young children the confidence necessary to become strong readers and successful in school and life.”
The program is being run through the library and parents will have to call or visit the library to register. Once registered in the program, the child’s progress can be tracked using paper log sheets that are available both at the library and online at www.ffpltc.ca/1000-books. For every 100 books a child reads there will be a reward, with a final reward and diploma presentation once the 1,000 book milestone has been reached.
While the library has many excellent books for children of all ages available to borrow and read, parents and caregivers are not limited to those books.
“Any age-appropriate books count toward your goal,” Manty said.
“No matter where you get it from or how many times you read it.”
Parents can also count the same title for each individual child in the event if more than one is participating in the program.
For more information about the “1,000 Books Before Kindergarten” program at the Fort Frances Public Library Technology Centre, or to sign up to take part, call Miss Sam at 274-9879 or send an email to smanty@ffpltc.ca.
