By Charlene Gatt
MARIBYRNONG City Council will pilot a new bilingual program that will introduce pre-school children to the wonders of books and early literacy.
Bilingual Preschool Story Times will be offered in Somali, Vietnamese and Chin languages, building on the current story time program offered in libraries.
The program will begin on 27 April and will run until June.
“Research into early literacy and brain development indicate that introducing children to language-rich environments from birth has a significant impact on their later learning,” Mayor Sarah Carter said.
“Simple things such as taking a young child to the library can make a considerable difference to their later educational outcomes.”
Bilingual Preschool Story Time offers families a chance to meet other families and children, ways to help children develop language and motor skills, information about books and libraries and opportunities to hear and practice another language.
All children aged from birth to five years and their carers are welcome to join in the stories, songs, rhymes and fun at Bilingual Preschool Story Time sessions which will be held at libraries, in local playgroups, at the Central West Plaza and at the Braybrook Homework Club.
