February is I Love To Read Month which is an annual month long celebration and promotion of reading. Strong reading skills are one of the key indicators of the kind of success that our kids will have in the future. An early love and aptitude for reading is likely to continue into adult life and builds strong communication skills. Strong reading skills are linked to strong writing skills and to strong verbal communication skills.
For that reason, I Love To Read Month has become a key part of the school year in schools across the province. Special events and guest readers are often planned during this month. I was pleased this past week to be able to visit with a number of students in local elementary schools in my constituency. I had the chance to read books in a number of classes and to donate books to their library.
Personally, I have always had a love for reading. While reading large amounts of information has become part of my work life, I still make the time to read books that are of personal interest. My reading patterns changed again when I became a parent and I now enjoy reading to and with my son and seeing the love he has for reading and the learning that comes along with it.
In fact, family plays a critical part in kindling and nurturing a young person’s love for reading. Many studies have shown that it is never too early to start reading to a child and it’s always a good time to encourage them to spend time reading. It’s one of the best and most long lasting gifts that a parent, grandparent or other family member can give to a young person.
During I Love To Read Month especially but also throughout the year, I would encourage you to read with a young person in your life. It’s a great way to build strong family connections and to instill skills that will be of a benefit for a lifetime.
