The winter holidays are getting close. Kids off school plus adults off work adds up to family time for learning new things and practising literacy skills together.
In a recent press release, ABC Life Literacy Canada offered the following holly-jolly holiday family literacy tips to make your season bright. Family book snuggleGather the family together with a favourite holiday book. Get the fire going if you've got a fireplace. Then snuggle in and take turns reading aloud to one another. A little hot chocolate is always welcome.Come carolling Invite family and friends for an evening of singing carols or singing other songs. Singing encourages learning patterns of words, rhymes and rhythms.Bake offGetting the whole family involved in baking cookies can help get everyone participating in a fun holiday activity. Following a recipe is a great way to practise reading and comprehension skills. Measuring ingredients and following baking times are practical (and delicious) applications of math skills. Get out on the townTake in a holiday musical or visit a museum. Family outings offer fun learning opportunities, and make sure to read the theatre program and the exhibit descriptions.Make a list and check it twice
Grocery shopping is easily adaptable for family literacy activities. Your child can write the holiday food shopping list, read signs and labels as you make your way through the aisles, and count items as they go into the shopping cart. Choose your own ABC For each letter of the alphabet, take turns thinking of holiday things that begin with that letter. Things beginning with C could include candles, cookies and cousins. There's no need to keep score, just move on to the next letter when no one can think of anything else. Looking for a great gift?Encourage reading by giving books, magazine subscriptions and bookstore gift cards for gifts they'll keep opening throughout the year.
