Parents and carers are crucial to a new scheme that aims to foster a life-long love of reading almost from birth.
Moorabool council’s early-years service, in conjunction with its libraries, launched its Book Bug Babes program this month.
It will give library memberships to the parents of eight-week-old babies attending their maternal and child health appointments.
Families are given a free Book Bug Babes bag with a library card, a small board book and information about early literacy activities around the shire.
Moorabool mayor Paul Tatchell said the program complemented the similar Let’s Read initiative, which is delivered to children at the key health visit dates of four months, 12 months, 18 months and three-and-a-half.
“Early literacy activities, such as reading to your baby, talking, singing and rhyming, all help develop your child’s language and provide opportunities to develop literacy skills that support later learning,” Cr Tatchell said.
“Babies can be read to from birth and there are so many good books available for them. Our local libraries have a wealth of good quality books for families to borrow and are a great place to visit with young children.”
Contact Robyn Howarth on 5366 7100 for more information.
