St Catherine Parish Library promotes family reading
Published:Saturday | May 24, 2014 | 12:00 AM
Alicia Forrest, Gleaner Writer
Spanish Town, St Catherine:
"If you don't listen, something is going to be missing", was the message imparted to parents and children who turned out to participate in May's edition of 'We Likkle, but We Tallawah: Parents Reading with Babies and Toddlers' at the St Catherine Parish Library.
The message was delivered by Clarabell Solomon, distinguished secretary of the Kiwanis Club of Linstead, who stressed the importance of listening to reading and encouraged parents to follow through on the promises they make to their children.
Better parenting tips
A parent who attended the programme also presented on better parenting tips, as well as the Child Care and Protection Act, highlighting the rights of the child and the responsibilities that every parent has towards his/her child.
The 'We Likkle, but We Tallawah: Parents Reading with Babies and Toddlers' initiative has been going on at the St Catherine Parish Library since November 2012, and is held every third Saturday. As part of activities, parents of children from newborn to five years old read aloud to their children.
Librarian Shana-Lee Coley-Smith said that she has seen the impact that the programme has had on children and parents. She said: "The children interact more with the books, and they are motivated to read. For the parents, it helps them to help their children." She continued: "We have received testimonials from the parents, and overall feedback has been good."
She disclosed that she expects the programme to continue and get better, given that the Jamaica Library Service (JLS) has received a boost from the Jamaica National Building Society Foundation.
The programme is a joint initiative of the JLS and the National Parenting Support Commission of the Ministry of Education. It aims to foster the development of literacy skills in children and promote healthy bonding between parent and child.