Lauren Danroth reads to her daughter Sheriden at the Medicine Hat Public Library on Monday - Photo by Alex McCuaig

By Charles Lefebvre

Family Literacy Day

Library offers tips to help children learn to love reading

Jan 27, 2020 | 4:54 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — The Medicine Hat Public Library says parents have a role to play to help their children develop a love of reading.

Monday marks Family Literacy Day around the world, with families being encouraged to take time to read to their children and promote a life-long love of reading.

“Family Literacy Day is really a day to focus on how important it is for families to read together, and particularly on how important it is for adults to model and make a literacy rich environment for their children so that they become readers,” said Carol Anne Cross-Roen, head of youth services at the Medicine Hat Public Library.

Cross-Roen notes the library hold events year-round aimed at getting kids hooked on reading, such as weekly story-time programs. She adds parents also have a role to play to help promote reading at home.

“If they see you reading, or see that there are lots of books around, they’re much more likely to pick up a book themselves,” she said. “Also, reading to your children, so when you have really young children, if you set up that reading together regularly, reading out loud to them, and continue on with that even as they get older, that’s fantastic.”

WHAT'S ON

Here is what's on this weekend in Medicine Hat and area: Dec. 13-15

7h ago

IN THE COMMUNITY

Medicine Hat's Mustard Seed adding new shelter spaces at Alberta government's request

Dec 12, 2024

HOLIDAYS

Medicine Hat Kiwanis hosting Christmas dinner, applications due Friday

Dec 12, 2024

Cross-Roen says reading to your children a minimum of 20 minutes a day will help children develop a habit of enjoying reading. She adds finding out your children’s passions, and picking books that match them, can help.

“If they’re into graphic novels, get them graphic novels,” she said. “If you’ve got a non-fiction kid that needs to know how everything works, we’ve got those books.”