27th January Family Literacy Day

Family Literacy Day 2025 Theme: Learn to be Green, Together

Family Literacy Day on January 27th is a time to reflect on the power of reading and writing, especially for young learners. Literacy is the foundation of all future learning, and it’s never too early to start fostering a love for books and words in children. From the moment a child is born, they begin absorbing the language and skills that will shape their future educational success.

Literacy isn’t just about learning to read and write; it’s about communication, problem-solving, and understanding the world around us. For young children, literacy is a crucial skill that helps them develop cognitive, social, and emotional abilities. Research has shown that early exposure to books and language development is one of the most significant predictors of academic achievement later in life. Children who are read to regularly develop stronger language skills, have better vocabulary, and are better equipped to tackle challenges in school.

“Family literacy refers to the way parents, children, and extended family member use literacy at home and in the community. Family literacy occurs naturally during the routines of daily living and helps children and adults get things done.” – Hayden, R. & Sanders, M. (2007).

It refers to the role of parents, grandparents, and any other family member in increasing the reading and writing competencies of the family. Especially as a child spends more time at home than at school, the family's support in enhancing their skills is crucial. It can refer to time spent outdoor, fun activities, and games. Research shows that one year of parental education has a more significant impact than a higher parental income. 

For quite some time now, I have been buying books at Lifeline Book Fairs for my sisters and friends who are grandmothers. In this way they have a box of books at their place for when their grandchildren visit and they have an activity that the grandchildren will ask to partake in. One of my friend's husbands told me at Christmas that he wasn't convinced that reading to the children made any difference and he took the books from me to keep me happy, until he spent holiday time with another family member where the grandchildren were not interested in being read to or looking at books. He also commented on the differences in vocabulary, sentence structure and questioning, just all oracy skills and engagement with adults.

This made me smile. He is such a convert now. He tells all his friends at the golf club about reading to their children and grandchildren.

My daughter is home for the Australian Day Long Weekend and yesterday she went to visit a  friend who had just had a second baby. 'Mum I need a new book for the baby and some 'recycled' books for the big sister.' Luckily I could oblige!

So my contribution to this year's theme about being green together is to keep ensuring that any books that children have outgrown are recycled to a new reading home until they too can hand them on. You cannot have 'too many books'...recycle their use. Children love revisiting old favourites and so do their parents.

This article Bonding over books: The benefits of reading with grandparents by Tricia Kings is well worth reading for further ideas and suggested books.