REaD effort to train kids’ carers

Community-based early literacy program Paint The Town REaD is hosting a free workshop with the theme Babies, Brains and Books at St Mary’s Family Centre in Busselton on Monday.

The early-literacy program helps ensure all children, regardless of their circumstances, are ready for reading and writing when they start school by encouraging community members to talk, read, sing, rhyme and play with children every day from birth.

Community impact manager Justine Roberts said PTTR was not about teaching children to read before they start school, but aimed to ensure children had a rich environment of words, sounds and experiences to promote their brain development.

She said Australian early-development census data showed one in five children across Australia started school without the skills they needed to learn.

PTTR is holding a free workshop hosted by its national executive director Barbie Bates to introduce Capes residents to the importance of reading, talking and singing with babies in their first 1000 days of life, early brain development, early literacy skill acquisition and relationships with primary carers.

There will also be a short presentation on PTTR and a how-to session for community members interested in getting involved with the program.

The workshop will run from 10am to 12.30pm on Monday next week.

For more information on the REaD workshop, phone Jenny on 0438 773 835.