DEPUTY Mayor Rachelle Harika was joined by Campsie mum Yusra Metwally and son Karim in welcoming Canterbury Bankstown Council’s new literacy program, 1,000 Books Before School, which will be launched next week.
A NEW program aims to get children off to a great start in literacy long before they see the inside of a classroom.
Canterbury Bankstown Council’s new 1,000 Books Before School program, launching on Thursday, October 12, aims to encourage parents and carers to read 1,000 books with young children before they start kindergarten.
Campsie mother Yusra Metwally, who will be taking up the challenge with her four-year-old son, Karim, said the campaign fostered a love of reading in young children and helped them prepare for school.
“Reading and storytelling with babies and children promotes brain development, imagination, language and learning,” she said.
“Over the years, I have seen so much progress with my child in connecting to learning so many new concepts.
“I personally cherish the memories I had going to Lakemba and Greenacre library with my mother as a child and I now enjoy sharing this experience with my son.”
Deputy Mayor Rachelle Harika said there was evidence that children began to benefit from regular reading as early as eight-months-old.
“It will build wonderful memories and set them up for a lifetime love of learning,” she said.
She said the program was as simple as signing up at one of the council’s nine libraries.
All you need to do after that is record the books you read to your under school age child using the Reader Zone app or fill in a reading log that you will receive with your starter kit.
“After reading 100 books, visit your library to receive a very special library bag and a badge. You’ll then receive a new badge for every 100 books after that,” the Deputy Mayor said.
“I encourage all parents of children from newborns to five-year-olds, to join this great program.”
Debut 1,000 Books Before School plan
