THE Rotary Club of Coffs Harbour has shown its ongoing support for early literacy by raising $6000 to purchase books for families attending the Mid North Coast Local Health District (MNCLHD) Child and Family Health Service.
Nurses from the service will give the books to visiting youngsters and their carers, with the aim of encouraging early reading skills and building literacy.
Rotary Club of Coffs Harbour Youth Services Director Tony Jorm, Emeritus Professor at the University of Melbourne, said basic education and early literacy is one of Rotary International’s key areas of focus.
“We asked the Coffs Child and Family Health Service what books would be most appropriate,” he told News Of The Area.
“Parents of newborn infants already receive books in the early months from the service, so the focus was on children who are probably from around two to five years of age.
“Many of the books chosen are designed to help the development of emotional regulation in children, so that these books can benefit their mental health as well as literacy skills.”
The club members are proud to support this cause with the hope that the donated books will foster parent-child bonding while introducing early literacy.
“It’s important to us that local families have an opportunity to not only bond with their children over books but learn from a young age the sounds, words and language that go with developing early literacy skills.
“We’d also like to thank The Book Warehouse Coffs Harbour who provided the storybooks at a special price to support this great cause and help benefit local children.”
MNCLHD Acting Service Manager Child, Adolescent and Family Services Lee Brogmus, thanked the Rotary Club of Coffs Harbour for their continuing support.
“Holding a book brings great joy to all children, while promoting brain development and the ability to focus and concentrate,” she said.
“Early literacy lays the foundation for a child’s overall development, helping them build strong social connections, express themselves and understand emotions from a young age.”
By Andrea FERRARI
