Birth to Kindergarten

About Us

"Read to, Talk to, Sing to, Model reading to and play with YOUR child everyday from Birth!"

How it began

The Birth to Kindergarten project began in 1996 in the town of Parkes. Schools were alarmed at the number of children entering kindergarten classes with language deficiencies and decided it was time to take an active and innovative approach to changing the lives of children in the community. 

Who is involved?

The project involves all the schools, government and non-government in Parkes, the Early Childhood Centre and the Shire Library. There is a committee of energetic and committed representatives from each of the schools. They are focused on making a difference to children's lives and the community as a whole.

Why is our project imperative?

There is a surplus of recent research that stresses the importance of the early years of a child's life. Neuroscientists have now discovered that what happens in the first days, months and years of your baby's life will have a decisive impact on their brains capabilities that affects their adult opportunity and success in life. We are given an opportunity to invest in our children's futures by simply taking time out to spend with them when they are young. The good news is you can make such a dynamic difference by doing such simple things. All you need to do is read to, sing to, talk to, cuddle and play with your baby everyday from birth.

The Parkes Community

The community of Parkes has embraced the project as its own. 

Parkes Annual Reading Day

Parkes has an Annual Reading Day where the whole community stops and reads. From the mayor to the maternity ward to the police to the local businesses and churches. Children are read to in stores around town by locals. Our reading day has a theme and people dress up to get into the spirit of reading. Our reading day is often attended by various celebrities which have included former Governor General Sir William and Lady Deane, New South Wales Governor Marie Bashir and bestselling children's author and international literacy consultant Mem Fox.

Strategies Implemented in the Parkes Community

The Community supports the project all year long, with shops handing out flyers to customers, local church bulletins featuring a Birth to Kindergarten segment and the local newspaper The Champion Post featuring a weekly column. The Parkes Maternity Ward hands out booklets to mothers booking in, a gift book to each newborn baby and a booklet to the new mother. The Community Health Centre hands out a Booklet to parents who bring their babies to get immunised. We also give out booklets to high school students.

 

Schools reinforce the principles of Birth to Kindergarten by reading to the children the books we have published, singing our reading song, presenting students with Birth to Kindergarten Literacy Awards and placing weekly messages in the school newsletters.  

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