Struggling with literacy is a reality for about one in every five adults in New Brunswick. A lack of solid reading, writing and communicating skills contributes greatly to unemployment, making getting a job much harder on those whose abilities aren’t up to par.
Across Canada, Jan. 27 is known as Family Literacy Day, a day that encourages members of the whole family to get together and improve their language skills.
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The Literacy Coalition of New Brunswick is hoping to start reversing the provincial trend and they say it starts at home and at a young age.
“The earlier the better,” said Lynda Homer, executive director of the Literacy Coalition of New Brunswick.
“Families have the most profound impact on a child’s development.”
Literacy is no longer about only reading and writing — more families are being encouraged to try creative endeavours such as making crafts, playing with clay or even just having educational discussions.
“It’s those conversations that enrich children’s language and help to build an ability to have a critical and savvy approach to what you read and what you create,” said Homer.
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