Program distributes 1200 books

A local reading program has given away and lent out more than 1200 books to local parents in the past 12 months, according to Beachside Family Centre facilitator Ms Debbie Notara.

"The Peninsula Start Reading Project has succeeded in working over the last year with hundreds of families to encourage them to read to their babies from day one," Ms Notara said.

"Start Reading stands for Sit Together And Read for Ten minutes a day, which is all it takes to connect with your baby and give them a love of books and reading.

"The Peninsula Start Reading Project, with its members from Peninsula organisations who work with families and local community members, have established the Let's Read Program giving away 500 books to parents of new babies and lending out up to 700.

"Shannon Lucas is a local mother who has used Let's Read through Supported Playgroup. "She has read to her son Jaia from birth and also to her four-year-old Khan."

According to Ms Lucas, reading to her two children is part of their regular bedtime routine and helps to calm them down before bed.

"Reading is a great way to bond with your baby and they learn so much from the books about colours and numbers," Ms Lucas said.

"I really notice that Jaia is attentive to the book when we are reading."

Local literacy specialist Ms Rosemary Ruthven said: "From the earliest days, the baby's brain is soaking in the smells, tastes, sights, sounds and sensations of a brand new environment and those living in it with them.

"Even though they may not understand or remember the stories, they will learn that reading means being held by someone who cares for them and that books are valued by the adults around them."

The Peninsula Start Reading Project will also be holding a raffle to win a framed and signed Central Coast Mariners jersey to raise money for early literacy activities on the Peninsula.

For enquiries, call Beachside Family Centre on 4343 1929.

Press release, 12 Mar 2009 Debbie Notara, Beachside Family Centre