Kids reading scheme targets 1000 books
The ‘‘taonga of language and literacy’’ is being nurtured through a programme that empowers parents to read to their children through their earliest years.
1000 Books Before School was launched in Motueka last week, with the vision to encourage parents to read to their children from birth, so that by the time they go to school, they have been exposed to plenty of language.
Miranda Sikking, one of the scheme’s coordinators, said that language exposure was important because it was linked to school success.
‘‘The amount of reading, talking and singing you do with your children, matters.’’
Families can sign up at the Motueka District Library, where they will receive their colourful 24-page booklet containing the story log where the children can mark off or add a sticker for each story that they share with their caregivers. At certain milestones, the first being 25 books, the children can bring their log books into the library for a special sticker or reward to mark their achievement.
The booklet has been specifically designed for the Motueka community. It contains pictures of local families and has plenty of information and advice for those setting out on their 1000-book journey. It also shows examples of books that have been earmarked as great choices for different ages, from birth to toddler to preschool.
Motueka District Library assistant Mary Butler has been working with Sikking since 2015 to establish the scheme, and she said that her fellow librarians were ‘‘very excited’’ to have the programme up and running.
Sikking emphasised that the programme would work for anyone, even caregivers who did not have strong reading skills themselves, as telling stories and singing to their children also counted towards the 1000 book total.
And any language works, Butler said. ‘‘It’s all about lighting up your child’s brain. It’s also about creating that little time of snuggling up and having a story.’’
The coordinators are both passionate advocates of parents actively supporting their children’s pre-literacy. Sikking runs Motueka’s Home Interaction Programme for Parents and Youngsters (HIPPY), which promotes pre-literacy by giving parents an ongoing programme to work through with their preschoolers. Butler has worked at the library for 12 years and runs the facility’s weekly Tiny Tots music and story sessions.
The 1000 Books programme originated in America, and the Motueka coordinators liaised with the founders to establish it here. Motueka’s programme is the pilot scheme for New Zealand, and Butler said that she wouldn’t be surprised if other communities wanted to introduce similar initiatives in the future.
The Motueka scheme is being run as a collaboration between the Motueka Family Service Cen- tre and the Tasman District Council, and is supported by the Community Organisation Grants Scheme, Nelson Building Society and Motueka Arts Council. Toad Hall Store and Cafe´ is also offering vouchers as rewards when the children reach certain milestones. Sikking said she’d love to get more sponsors on board