On Wednesday, October 5 – Edmontonian representatives from C.O.W, Classroom on Wheels, stopped by Lakeview Parent link in Sylvan Lake.
C.O.W is a program that encourages family literacy by travelling throughout the province since 2003 providing resources and ideas to community groups. The program, which is funded through Alberta Advanced Education, provided Lakeview Parent Link with 50 children’s book for kids ages six and under.
According to C.O.W. Literacy Facilitator Sharon Smith, the program is about helping families.
“It’s about reaching out to families and giving them space, time and ideas to help build those literacy skills at the preschool age,” she said. “We bring literacy ideas - we bring store bought items, but we also like to showcase things that you can do at home that are simple and cost effective.”
C.O.W. is The Centre for Family Literacy’s only provincial program and is designed to build strong communities throughout Alberta.
According to a C.O.W release, “literacy is an important part of our everyday lives and includes all the skills that we use to get things done. Education, health, economy and community strengthen as we develop our reading, writing, and communication skills.”
The release also stated that when children pull their favourite breakfast cereal out of the cupboard, scribble with their crayons or help turn the pages of their favourite bedtime story – they are already practising their reading and writing skills.
The Centre for Family Literacy provides resources in Edmonton and throughout the province to nurture these skills.
If you would like more information on this program, you can log on to famlit.ca.
reporter@sylvanlakenews.com