Parent Learning Page -
Book Week
Book Week 2023 - Ways parents can support...
In Australia, Book Week is an opportunity to celebrate Australian children’s literature and promotes the value of books for the education, enjoyment, and enlightenment of children. Across the nation, children, educators and families are invited to participate in Book Week between Saturday 19th and Friday 25th August 2023. This will take a range of forms across Australia.
Each year since 1945 the CBCA has brought children and books together across Australia through Children's Book Week®. During this time schools and public libraries spend one glorious week celebrating books and Australian children's authors and illustrators. Classroom teachers, teacher librarians and public librarians create colourful displays, develop activities, run competitions and tell stories relating to a theme to highlight the importance of reading. You will often see parades with students dressed as their favourite book character.
As children’s first teachers, families are in an advantageous position to read to their child from birth and in turn positively influence their future educational outcomes. Establishing a regular reading routine enables families and children to form a love for sharing books together. When reading aloud, families form closer bonds and create a nurturing environment, fostering a sense of belonging and wellbeing.
What are some benefits of reading together with your child?
Fosters a love of reading
Reading with children nurtures a love of language and literacy. An association between caring adult interactions and books is developed from an early age. Children learn to appreciate reading as a time of enjoyment, relaxation and pleasure.
Strengthens relationships
Sitting and cuddling together with a book creates a relaxed, calm feeling where bonds are strengthened, and quality interactions occur. Open conversations relating to the story offer a platform to build positive relationships and encourage a sense of well-being.
Develops literacy skills
Reading develops new vocabulary, phonemic awareness, comprehension and concepts of print. Exploring features of language and literacy teaches children skills to support them in becoming proficient readers.
Supports language
Modelling language encourages children to utilise new vocabulary and conversational skills within their everyday interactions. Children will establish a connection between the spoken and written word.
Stimulates brain development
Between birth and three years is a critical time in the development of language skills. Early reading expands the linguistic structure in the brain and improves memory and concentration.
Develops new knowledge
Books are informative and open children’s minds to diverse people, places and situations. Both familiar and unfamiliar concepts across a range of different subjects can be explored through fiction and non-fiction books.
Ways to develop children’s love of reading at home:
- Make reading part of your everyday routine.
- Ensure children have open access to books.
- Connect with your local library. Many public libraries across Australia host story time evens for children of different age groups.
- Immerse children in a literacy-rich environment, both indoors and outdoors.
- Provide a comfortable, quiet place to read together.
- Converse with children throughout the story with open-ended questions and descriptive language.
- Aim to read at least three books per day (which equates to over 1000 a year)!
We look forward to having all parents, grandparents and siblings in attendance at our Book Week Special Assembly next Friday (2:30pm start) where we share and showcase what has been happening across the school throughout the week and have our Book Week Parade to showcase our wonderful costumes. We hope to see you all there.
Guy Walmsley
Principal