LIFE’S BEAR READING ESSENTIAL
A very special group of bears is helping Gold Coast early learners to discover a love of reading to help lay a good foundation for their continued education
IT was a “beary” special day at the Carey Lane Early Learning Centre, with the launch of the new BEAR (Book Engagement And Reading) program.
Designed to foster an
engagement with books and reading in children at an early age, the BEAR program presents each child with their own Teddy Bear reading companion. They will be encouraged to read to their special Carey Lane Bear and relay the stories and adventures they go on together to their teachers at the Southport centre.
Special guest, local author Dimity Powell, treated the children to an animated story reading at the launch event, but not before completing the special job of surprising the group with its very own new furry reading companions.
Ms Powell said she believesd strongly in the importance of fostering a love of reading at an early age.
“It’s important because it creates positive connections between young people and literacy even before they are fully capable of reading a book for themselves,” Ms Powell said. “By encouraging youngsters to share their story times with their own personal companion bear, this program promotes a deeper affinity with language, story structure and visual narrative, all key factors in the development of good reading practises.
“If a love of stories is created through reading, then I believe a child’s sense of self-worth, empathy and tolerance will be enriched.”
Ms Powell said she was delighted by the response to her question about what the children had planned for their bears.
They included “showing him my favourite book at home” and “taking her to the library with me”.
Ms Powell said she was confident the children would take good care of their bears and share their story times with them as they promised.
Carey Lane director Alison Combridge said the children had kept their promise to Ms Powell.
“The response from our parents has been overwhelming,” Ms Combridge said. “They have reported back that their children are bringing the bears home and asking them to read to them and their Carey Lane bear each night.
“The bears are creating these lovely, valuable moments while strengthening their child’s development and extending their love of reading too.”