Happy Family Literacy Day 2023!
Family Literacy Day is an annual initiative that raises awareness of the importance of learning together as a family.
This year’s theme is “Celebrate Your Heritage”.
Family history can be fascinating, and it’s a topic that parents and children can explore together. Learning as a family not only helps to build strong literacy skills for everyone, but it also strengthens family bonds and ties. Research shows that kids are emotionally healthier and have a better sense of self if they’ve been taught about their relatives and their family history. Now is the perfect time to sit down and cozy up as a family to learn about your heritage. After all, there’s no better way to learn about your family, than together as a family.
Here are ten ways families can learn about their heritage together:
1. Research your family’s place of origin.
Go online together and research where your parents, grandparents and other relatives were born. What interesting information can you find out?
2. Interview a family member.
Speak to them about where they grew up and what it was like. Do they have any interesting facts about your family? Write a story about them!
3. Learn a new language.
Check out books from the library or use free online tools to learn new words in another language. Be sure to practice every day!
4. Listen to traditional music.
Many cultures have traditional music. Do some research and listen to different types of traditional music. What style do you like the best?
5. Look at a map.
Whether it be a map of Canada or another place your relatives once lived, you can learn a lot about geography by looking at a map.
6. Make a photo collage.
Take out the family photo album or old magazines and newspapers to create a collage about what your family and heritage means to you.
7. Make a craft of traditional designs.
Research traditional designs of your culture and replicate them in the form of a craft. Be as creative as possible.
8. Read a story.
There are lots of books about different places and cultures. Visit your local library and ask for books about your heritage.
9. Learn about where you live.
Do you know about the history of where you live? Together as a family, learn about the culture and heritage of the place you call home.
10. Cook a traditional recipe.
Learn how to make your family’s signature dish or look up a recipe for a famous meal from your culture. Yum!
Visit FamilyLiteracyDay.ca to learn more and to access free downloadable resources.
Source: “What’s Planned for Family Literacy Day 2023“, ABC Life Literacy Canada, 2022.
