Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing

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Our community has a commitment to having the language and literacy skills needed to support aspiration and create life opportunities. Here in the Central Goldfields Shire we support all four strands of literacy – speaking, listening, reading and writing.

Did you know that that up to 90% of a child’s brain development happens in the first 5 years?

Research also tells us:

• Sharing stories, rhymes, singing, talking, and playing with your child from birth builds a foundation for your child’s future development that can last a lifetime.
• Sharing activities at home and out and about in the early years are important in the development of language skills later on, and parents play a significant role in helping their babies build a strong foundation for future learning.
• In the first few years of life approximately 700 new neural connections in the brain are formed every second. These connections are created partly though genetics and partly through a baby’s environment and experiences
• Children are born ready to learn and some of the best learning comes from nurturing relationships. http://first5forever.org.au

Let’s Read

Let’s Read is a national initiative available in the Shire, which promotes reading with young children from birth to five years. Let’s Read aims to give children the skills they will need to learn to read when they start school. Your baby will receive a book pack from birth every time you go to Maternal and Child Health for their key ages and stages visit.

Click here for More tips and resources

Learning starts early: talk, rhyme, read and play, with your baby everyday

This DVD shares lots of simple and practical ways on how to enjoy this special time and help your baby develop their language and literacy, by sharing stories, songs, books and rhymes with your baby.

It also contains rhymes and songs you and your baby can enjoy together.

Clips from the DVD can be viewed on Youtube. The DVD stars local families, features early years’ professionals, and gives the message that it’s never too early to talk, rhyme, read and play with your baby!

Community book boxes

Our community book boxes aim to improve access to children’s books. They have been made by the Men’s Shed and painted by the community. Book boxes are located at the Antenatal Clinic, Maternal and Child Health Centre, Council Reception, St Lukes, Centrelink, Salvation Army, Community Dentist and the Dunolly Bakery. There is also a mini free library at the Maryborough Community House. These boxes are a great way to get good quality children’s books into homes, as well as to share with children when you visit book swap box venues.

Sharing rhymes, stories and songs with your baby

Baby Rhyme Time and Lap Time are free and enjoyable ways to help babies develop the skills needed to communicate and prepare for learning. In a friendly and relaxed environment you and your baby can learn rhymes, action songs and finger plays to share together. While visiting the library, browse and borrow from their collections of e resources, music and rhyme CDs, and books for babies and parents too.

Rhyme Time and Story Time are run weekly at Maryborough Regional Library Phone 03 5461 1950 for more information.

Story Sacks

A story sack is a large cloth bag containing a favourite children’s book with supporting materials to stimulate language activities and make reading a memorable and enjoyable experience. You can borrow Story Sacks from the Maryborough Toy Library.

Literacy information you can download

Talk, rhyme, read and play with your baby every day – a booklet on the importance of reading to your newborn

Share stories with your child every day – a booklet about reading and conversing with your toddler.