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in si de ha lto n. co m O ak vi lle B ea ve r | T hu rs da y, N ov em be r 15 ,2 01 8 | 46 HaltonNon-ProfitGroups: Increaseyourvisibilitybytakingpart inour November27th,2018 Multi-MediaFeatureNovember27th,2018 Contact VickiDillaneat VDillane@starmetrolandmedia.comfor completedetails. insidehalton.com Look...foraspecialGivingTuesdayinsert inyour November22ndedition! A better story for them starts with you. TEXT PURPLE TO 45678 November isWoman Abuse Prevention Month. Purple is a symbol of courage, survival and honour and has come to symbolize the fight to end woman abuse. No doubt, you've heard it before: reading to your child is one of the most important things you can do to set them up for future success. Research shows that earlyResearch shows that earlyR literacy skills are crucial to achievements in school, work and life. Luckily, raising a reader is easier than you think - here are six ways to raise a child who loves to read: Make it a habit. Dedicat- ing a daily 'reading time' helps to create routine, something most children crave. Aim for right before bed, when they have started winding down. After a few nights, you'll find that your child is the one reminding you that it's story time! Give them something to talk about. Talking is a key early literacy competency, so try to create conversa- tion around the book after you've finished. Asking spe- cific questions about the plot, or simply "What was your favourite part?" stimu- lates discussion and en- courages critical thinking. Seize every opportunity. We all know reading doesn'tWe all know reading doesn'tW just happen within the pag- es of a book. The world is rich with words - they exist everywhere from street signs to labels to advertise- ments. Embrace these op- portunities and read the words aloud, point to the text, or ask your child to read it to you. You can even enable closed captions on your TV. Feed their interests.Feed their interests.F Don't be afraid to re-read (and re-read again) titles your child truly enjoyed - kids love to hear their fa- vourites over and over. En- courage them to pick out their own books and watch what catches their atten- tion. Visit the library. Spend-Visit the library. Spend-V ing time at your local li- brary is a sure-fire way to instill a love of literature in your child. Supplement your at-home reading with an Oakville Public Library program, such as Story- time, Math Munchkins, or Tickles & Tales, all designed to help children foster read- ing skills. Imaginative play also builds foundational language skills as children learn to put their thoughts into words, so make sure to spend some time playing in the children's section. You do many things eachYou do many things eachY day to ensure your little one has a bright and healthy fu- ture - make sure you're also contributing to their aca- demic and social success by raising a confident reader! For more information on the library and its various programs and presenta- tions, visit www.oopl.ca or follow OPL on social media LITERACY SKILLS CRUCIAL TO LATER LIFE ACHIEVEMENTS OPINION READ TO YOUR CHILD OFTEN, WRITES OAKVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY STAFF OAKVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY Column