The City of Cape Town’s libraries will join the global literacy movement in celebrating the power of words on World Read Aloud Day (WRAD), which takes place annually on the first Wednesday of February. This year, City libraries will take children through a storywalk in Nantes Park, Athlone.
‘The day aims to shine a spotlight on the benefits of reading aloud to children. This activity, which can help parents and children bond as they share words, has an immense impact on the child’s development.
‘Children who are read stories often have improved language and listening skills, and they develop a love for reading that carries into adulthood. It also helps them how to navigate social situations, solve problems and gives wings to their imagination,’ said the Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health,’ Councillor Patricia Van der Ross.
WRAD advocates for access to literacy and diverse stories, and this year City librarians from Athlone, Bonteheuwel, Bridgetown and Rylands will be joined by Nal’ibali and other role players to take 90 invited young children on a storywalk through Nantes Park.
Councillor van der Ross will join the group on the day, which will also kick off the City’s 1000 Stories before School reading campaign.
‘Many reading strategies focus on children who are about to start the foundation phase, but the City’s reading strategy encourages reading in a fun and educational way even before a child starts school.
‘The 1000 stories before School Campaign encourages pregnant moms to read to their unborn baby from 26 weeks of pregnancy as this is when baby starts to hear sounds outside of the womb. The aim is to reinforce the importance of bonding through reading and singing as the unborn baby gets used to the sound of their mother’s voice,’ said Councillor van der Ross.
The campaign hopes to inculcate a passion for stories from a young age through the various programmes being offered by City libraries and this includes pregnancy support groups, book sharing, pram jams and storytelling.
The five-year programme focuses on giving moms and babies, caregivers and ECD teachers access to books and stories
‘We hope that by the time the child starts school, words and reading will be second nature to them. If a child already starts with this firm footing, then learning will be smoother and easier,’ added Councillor van der Ross.
The material for the reading campaign was developed with the help of Nal’ibali, Mikhulu Trust, Department of Health, City Health, Book Dash, Social Development and Early Childhood Development, Wordworks, Early Learning Resource Unit, Western Cape Education Department and Western Cape Library Services.