Program to encourage reading

A new program to encourage young children to read has been launched at Umina with an hour of listening, talking and singing.

Umina Public School Mr John Blair, Mingaletta Aboriginal elder Aunty Anita and members of the Peninsula Sit Together and Read for Ten minutes (START) reading project launched the Let's Read program.

"Imaginations were stimulated as children created their own touch and feel experience to produce collage animals that were then made into an 'I love reading' book," said parent Ms Jodie McCarthy.

"All families attending the launch received a Let's Read baby book bag containing: a book, a DVD featuring Andrew Daddo and Monica Trapaga modelling how to read to babies and children, and lots of information about the local library and ways to help teach your child to read.

Beachside Family Centre facilitator Ms Debbie Notara said: "The Smith Family Let's Read initiative matched dollar for dollar with the Peninsula START Reading Project to provide families within the community with 500 Baby Book Bags with another 700 books available for borrowing.

"These books will be distributed on the Peninsula through the Early Childhood Clinic, supported playgroups, Aboriginal early intervention workers and the young parent worker."

The Peninsula START Reading Project will continue to work towards improved early childhood literacy on Tuesday, August 19, for Gosford Council's "Gosford City Reads".

Local playgroups and family day care will be invited to take part in a morning of "Storytelling in the Park".

For more information about the Let's Read program, telephone 4343 1929 or email debbie.notara@det.nsw.edu.au.

Press release, 3 Jun 2008 Jodie McCarthy, Let's Read