Best Start initiative to help young children improve reading skills

  • 2014-11-05
Young children are set to benefit from a new initiative soon to be introduced to libraries throughout the region, including North Lakes, Queensland.

As part of the Best Start Initiative, the Moreton Bay Regional Council libraries will receive more than $1.5m from the Queensland Government over the next four years to help the region’s youngest children to learn.

Reg Gulley, Member for Murrumba, said the funds could potentially assist every young child, caregiver, and parent in the community, and help people to read with their children in an effort to improve their vocabulary in preparation for school.

He said the program would be delivered through public libraries, of which Moreton Bay has 11, with more detailed information to be made available on the council website and via flyer printing.

It aims to give local families the tools, skills, and information required to help their children in the development of early literacy and language skills in the home.

Gulley said the Best Start initiative could effectively see an improvement on 2012 statistics, which ranked Queensland sixth in Australia for early language development overall.

He said it was important for children to start school with a good handle on their vocabulary, and at least knowing the minimum number of words of between 500 and 5000.

The program will also allow parents to become confident in reading to their children, and illustrate the importance of regular story time for kids.