By Don Urquhart, Times Chronicle
Books for Babies, an Osoyoos family literacy program led by the South Okanagan Literacy Community Literacy Society (SOCLS), kicks off another annual campaign to provide the tools for parents to start the rewarding activity of reading to their children.
The program is based on the understanding that early childhood years (ages 0 to 5) are critical for brain/language development and the Books for Babies program supports parents in becoming the most effective “first” teachers of their children.
The long-running support over the years by the Royal Canadian Legion continues into 2024 enabling the SOCLS to assemble the kits and arrange with partners for the distribution to Osoyoos families.
Each kit’s canvas book bag contains an age-appropriate board book, a picture book for siblings for when the child grows into the next level and information on ways to foster and support emerging literacy development.
“This ideal sets the stage for a child’s well-being and lifelong learning, working towards the development of a well-rounded, educated and confident new member of this community which benefits everyone,” the SOCLS says.
The SOCLS works with the public health nurses of Interior Health who distribute the kits, and the Okanagan Regional Library which provides an age-appropriate reading list for the early years.
For more information about this program or other literacy issues, call the SOCLS at 250-498-8433.
