NEWS RELEASE
BORN TO READ
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What can a parent do to help a child develop reading skills early? Read early and often.
Talking, singing and reading to a child strengthens the existing link among brain cells as well as forming new connections. These links form the basis of all future learning and intellectual ability.
Children’s books often include bright colours, pop-ups and other tactile learning tools so a parent can stimulate the development of multiple literacy skills at home and foster a love of reading, which gives children a chance to associate books with positive emotions and interests.
Also, get toddlers to the library to look through books, hear books read aloud and choose their favourites to borrow. These activities all help toddlers get excited about reading and open a world of reading to them for their whole lives.
The parent in this photograph explains his recent experience receiving the package at Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital (OSMH).
“I read Are You a Cow? to Henry while in hospital. At home we had already read Moo, Baa, La, La, La! by the same author. They are really fun books to read for baby. I enjoy reading to him. It is a bonding moment that I get with Henry, and is part of our reading routine. What you and the nursing team at OSMH do for this Born to Read program is amazing. The entire obstetrics team at OSMH were incredible and we are overwhelmed with the support and care we received.”
The Born to Read committee of Orillia and area has, since March 2019, given two new children’s books to each new baby born at OSMH. This gift of new books has been made possible by individuals, arts groups, local service clubs, the local townships and out-of-province donors, which have allowed our committee to purchase the books, provide printed materials as well as library brochures and to purchase the bags to contain these gifts.
The Born to Read committee is a partnership among OSMH, the Orillia Public Library, the Ramara Public Library and Manticore Books. Each of these partners understands the importance of ensuring that each child and family in our area have the materials needed to experience the love of reading, the development of vocabulary and the skills associated with early literacy notwithstanding economic, ethnic or racial limitations.
The cost of children’s books has risen from approximately $5 a book to approximately $7.50 to $8 or $9 a book. We have appreciated the community rallying around this important initiative and we want to thank the volunteer committee, the nurses and ward clerks at the hospital and the staff at Manticore Books. We also want to thank the staff at the Orillia Public Library for issuing tax receipts, ordering materials and also the many volunteers who have helped package the books, library brochures and printed material for each family.
If you or your organization would like to assist this worthwhile initiative to ensure it continues to thrive in Orillia and area, please send your donation to the Orillia Public Library and the staff will kindly issue a tax receipt for donations of $20 or more. You can send a donation by mail, online or in person.
Thank you.
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