Reading aloud to your babies and young children for just 10 minutes (approximately 3 books) each day provides them with a significant increase in their readiness for school, exposure to diverse vocabulary, amazing opportunities for snuggles and bonding with caregivers, and sets the stage for an early and long-lasting love of literacy.
Other benefits include:
The programme is open to all members of the Queenstown Lakes District Libraries and it’s free! Register online below.
Unfortunately not, only start counting the books from the day you receive your booklet.
Repetition is hugely important for learning and each time you read any book it counts! If you read the same book 27 times, mark or colour in 27 circles.
Do only library books count? No way! Any time your child listens to an entire book, it counts! Library books, books at home, books read at preschool or kindy, even an audio book or books read on our online books!
Absolutely!
If you read 1 book per day, after THREE years you will have read 1,095 books!
If you read 3 books per day, at the end of ONE year, you will have read 1,095 books!
The programme runs from birth and ends when your child turns 5 OR starts school-whichever happens first. Generally, children start school on their fifth birthday, but some parents might delay their start. Either way, the programme runs until 5 years or until school starts – whichever is first.
Congratulations! And yes, families can participate as many times as they like, before their child turns 5 or starts school.
Don't forget to fill in the form above to let us know you've finished.