Encourage Kids to Love Reading with These Literacy Day Activities

January 27 is Family Literacy Day, a national initiative dedicated to raising awareness of the importance of reading and engaging in a variety of learning activities as a family. Turn the page on a new activity for you and your family by participating in local Family Literacy Day events, or by finding new ways to discover everyone's love of reading with these family-friendly activities.

On January 27, visit the Nepean Centrepointe branch of the Ottawa Public Library for their Family Literacy Day celebrations. Feel the beat with a bilingual musical performance by Dominic Boudreau and be sure to sign your child up for their first library card if they don't already have one so they can enjoy books year-round.

Many local children's stores in Ottawa carry books that the kids will love but have you brought them to a local book store just for them? Pop into Kaleidoscope Kids' Books and browse their latest selection. From The Magic Treehouse series to a new YA adventure, encourage your children to pick something new to read.

At Twice Upon a Time in Ottawa, children are welcome to receive free books thanks to donations of gently used and previously loved ones. If you aren't sure what to do with some of your old children's books, this is a wonderful way to encourage your kids to share their love of reading with someone new.

At participating Chapters locations on January 23, sign your child up for American Girl crafts and activities. Lea Clark is the 'Girl of the Year' and from 11 am until 12 pm children will be crafting and learning more about her, proving that there are many ways to enjoy stories beyond the books.

Looking for a new way to engage your child with books? Look no further than our own backyard in Ottawa's neighbourhoods. We have many talented writers like the authors of the story Little Voice, a positive tale about listening to your own voice and finding your confidence.

Take 15 minutes each day as a family and try a new literacy activity. ABC Life Literacy Canada has a list called '15 minutes of fun' that is full of ideas for your family to choose from. We love the A-B-C Scavenger hunt and the word wall plan!