It's Family Literacy Day

The Alberta government encourages Albertans to take part in Family Literacy Day on January 27 by taking 15 minutes to participate in literacy activities at home and in their communities.

“Literacy is a part of our daily activities, whether we realize it or not,” said Stephen Khan, Minister of Enterprise and Advanced Education. “And, literacy develops first and best in our homes, among family and friends. This year’s Family Literacy Day theme: 15 minutes of fun! emphasizes simple activities we can share with our families.”


Family Literacy Day began in 1999 and was spearheaded by ABC Life Literacy Canada. Literacy organizations in communities across Alberta mark the day with a variety of events.

“Family Literacy Day events provide families with an alternative family experience to build new skills, explore family relationships, and learn about the world around them,” said Nada Jerkovic, Manager of Family Literacy at the CanLearn Society, Calgary Learning Centre.

Literacy is much more than the ability to read and write. It is also talking, rhyming, drawing, singing, storytelling, and reading together. Literacy is about building the skills needed to navigate and be successful in today’s and tomorrow’s world.

The Government of Alberta supports community organizations that deliver quality family literacy programs in communities across Alberta. For more information on family literacy programs in Alberta, visit eae.alberta.ca/apps/literacy/famlit.asp

15 Minutes of Fun!

In honour of Family Literacy Day’s 15th year, ABC Life Literacy Canada is encouraging Canadian families to have "15 Minutes of Fun" learning together. Learning can happen at any time. Practicing literacy together for just 15 minutes a day has tremendous benefits for both children and parents. Here are some great ways to get started:

• Create your own comic strip about your family.
• Invent two new endings to your favourite book.
• Make up a new recipe together and post it online.
• Tell knock-knock jokes together while doing the dishes.
• Sing five songs really, really loud!
• Invent a new game while playing at the park.
• Read a story to your pet (or favourite toy).
• Make a paper fortune teller with eight fortunes.
• Write a silly poem and tell it to your family at dinner.
• Log on to your favourite word game - can you beat your best score?
• Create your family tree.
• Play rhyming "I Spy" - "I spy something that rhymes with..."
• Play a board game together.
• Text your friend and tell them about your holiday.
• Find 15 things that begin with the letter "S".

Related link:
www.abclifeliteracy.ca