It was great to see so many Dads (and grandpas and uncles - and even a big brother or two) come out and celebrate early literacy AND being a male role model with their kids.
No child-and that includes babies-is ever too young to visit the library and check out the books; even if it is just to chew on the corners of said book!
Margaret Meek (a great advocate of early literacy who did quite a bit of research and study in the 1980's which is still informing practice today) says that:
"The biggest mistake we make is giving the fve year old the notion that you learn to read by a series of exercises, like scales in music, and then you are rewarded with a 'real' book or 'real' reading in another form. The children who teach themsleves to read do it by turning the pages and looking at the pictures long before they can read the words......when they focus on the print it is because they want to know the story and tell it to themselves"
Margaret also speaks about "shared enjoyment" of reading, and how children learn to read by being read to; that when a child has an adult or older child who is patient and spends the time reading something that they both enjoy, the experience will help the child learn to read.
What we can gather from all the available research both here and overseas is that children who come from homes that are saturated in print and language come to reading much easier than those children who aren't.
The catchcry of Paint The Hills REaD is "Read to your child, Sing to your child, Talk to your child and Play with your child". How many have you done today??
