Playing without a plug-in is the message behind the seventh annual Family Literacy Day.
Organizers are urging people to take time out of the day to read.
“We want families to be encouraged to take time every day to read a learning activity with their children. Which we think is crucial to children’s development. Even just 15 minutes a day we think can improve children’s literacy skills dramatically and can also help parents improve in their skills,” said Dannielle Hyde, literacy outreach co-ordinator with Literacy Now South Okanagan-Similkameen.
The Unplug and Play event at Cherry Lane Mall on Jan. 25 will feature a bouncy castle, face painting, local musicians and of course, books.
With iPads and laptops, children may not be exposed to reading the same way they used to, but the skill is an even more crucial part of life now said Hyde.
“I believe the format is a little different than it was 10, 15, 20 years ago, but I think children are still required to read and to comprehend the information that they are reading. Literacy is probably more important than it has been in past generations,” Hyde said.
The Unplug and Play festivities start at 10 a.m. and features magic with Ali K. Zam Productions, Get Bent Bellydancers, Jake Evans and his interactive hip-hop book Feelin’ the Beat, as well as book readings from Penticton Writers and Publishers, Pen High student performers, drummers and performers from the Penticton Indian Band and more.
The Heap a Honda campaign will continue as part of the event. New or gently used books geared for kids and teens can be donated inside a Honda Fit at Cherry Lane until Jan. 31. Those books will be distributed to schools throughout the South Okanagan. All schools in school districts 67 and 53 along with private schools and First Nations schools will receive book donations.
Family Literacy Day and Literacy Week focus on getting kids reading and as it becomes a bigger part of day-to-day life, and hopes to call attention to illiteracy as well.
“I believe there is always a cohort of individuals that are illiterate and we’re trying to dramatically decrease those rates so we can get the entire community focused on literacy and learning how to communicate effectively,” Hyde said.