The research set out to explore the connections between parents reading to their young children and their child’s later reading and other cognitive skills.

Key Findings The frequency of reading to children at a young age has a direct causal effect on their schooling outcomes regardless of their family background and home environment.

• Reading to children at age 4-5 every day has a significant positive effect on their reading skills andcognitive skills (i.e., language and literacy, numeracy and cognition) later in life.                                                                                            
• Reading to children 3-5 days per week (compared to 2 or less) has the same effect on the child’s reading skills at age 4-5 as being six months older.
   
• Reading to them 6-7 days per week has the same effect as being almost 12 months older.
  
  
• Children read to more frequently at age 4-5 achieve higher scores on the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) tests for both Reading and Numeracy in Year 3 (age 8 to 9).
  
  
• These differences in reading and cognitive skills are not related to the child’s family background or
  home environment but are the direct result of how frequently they have been read to prior to starting
  school.

This research is a result of a partnership arrangement between the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development and the Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research.

Library News
National Simultaneous Storytime Wednesday 21 st May.

This is a nation wide event where schools, libraries, kindergartens, child care centres across Australia read the same story. This year’s story will be ‘The Truck Cat’ by Deborah Frenkel . I will share with families and classes an online version of the story as the date approaches.

2025 Premier’s Reading Challenge. – The Premier's Reading Challenge (PRC) is an annual state- wide initiative. The challenge is not a competition but aims to improve literacy and encourage children to read widely for pleasure and learning. Students can participate in the challenge within their school or as individual readers.

For a student to successfully complete the challenge they must read or experience the allocated number of books for their year level during the reading period. Students who complete the challenge have their efforts recognised through the receipt of a Certificate of Achievement signed by the Premier of Queensland. The Challenge will begin on the 6 th May and will finish on the 22nd August. Recording sheets will be available from classroom teachers or the library.

"I have a passion for teaching kids to become readers, to become comfortable with a book, not daunted. Books shouldn't be daunting, they should be funny, exciting and wonderful; and learning to be a reader gives a terrific advantage." Roald Dahl                   

Sue Keith