Timmons tackles family literacy

Being able to read is viewed in many circles as key to a person's development. In other circles, however, the importance of reading is often less valued and the result is an individual's inability to take full advantage in a world that advances rapidly.
Jan. 27 was Family Literacy Day, so the Timmins Native Friendship Centre wanted to ensure that families appreciated the act of reading.
"I wanted to put a lot of emphasis on family literacy," said Kristen Murray, Akwe'go high-risk worker at the Timmins Native Friendship Centre. "Not just giving a kid a book, but reading to your child."
In order to make that happen, Murray created the Friendship Centre's first active participation in Family Literacy Day.
"I just said 'Hey it's Literacy Day', because a lot of my clients ­ because they're high-risk ­ I find a lot of them don't have any basic literacy skills. They're not reading and they should be because they're between the ages of seven and 12," said Murray, adding the lower reading skills were the main reason why she created the event.It's a unique event that involved the mayor of Timmins and was sponsored by Timmins Honda.
"Well, basically, all of Honda Canada is the major sponsor of Family Literacy Day so as part of that, as a Honda dealership, we try and take part in any events to promote family literacy," said Ryan Taylor, general manager of Timmins Honda.
"We're holding a book drive where we're trying to fill a CRV in our showroom with donated books, new or used, that we're going to donate throughout the community," said Taylor. Taylor added the support has been "not bad," explaining that the rear cargo area of the car was nearly full.
"The whole vehicle isn't going to be full unless some sort of miracle happens," said Taylor, adding that he intends to keep the book drive going past Family Literacy Day until the end of the month.Murray said the message is much more important than the books themselves.
"It's just pretty much awareness of the issue is what I was trying to focus on, not so much the book drive," said Murray. "But because we have Honda there, which is a big name, the mayor, those things tied together bring awareness."
"It's not even that we can't afford the books. It's so that we can promote literacy because most of our families don't actually take the time to sit down and actually read to a child and that's what I'm trying to get at," said Murray.
Murray explained the unique ABCs of family literacy that ranged all the way from A ­ Ask your child about the story you are reading to ensure comprehension­to Z ­ Zap off the TV and pick up a book instead.
"There's a list that goes all the way from A to Z. They are just tips and hints," said Murray.With many children picking up an X-Box or PS3 controller in lieu of a book, Murray said one way to meet that challenge is to offer the child relevant reading material.
"Picking up something that the kids like to read, not picking up a boring novel. If they need to have a visual, then picking up a book with pictures in it," said Murray.
"I know Arthur is a television show, so maybe try reading books that have a TV component so they can picture that."
Murray even suggested that the children, in lieu of sitting in their room all day and playing video games, could read a book about a kid that plays video games.Aside from the book drive, planned events included games with game show themes and a literacy relevant menu.
"We're doing "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire." We're also doing "Family Feud" to keep in mind it's a family kind of thing," said Murray, adding the mayor, Tom Laughren, threw in his support as the celebrity game show host.
"There were free draws throughout the day. At lunchtime they had Alpha-Bit soup and we're going to have salmon sandwiches," said Murray, explaining that salmon has DHA, which helps brain development.
"It's a great tool for learning. And the whole basis for Family Literacy Day is to get the family together, which always helps children's education beyond just a matter of learning to read," said Taylor. "It makes you feel a little more secure. It creates a home, family type of environment." Taylor said that, even in the adult years, it's important to keep up the reading.
"It can be a stress reliever. [It] helps the imagination skills that we tend to lose as we get older," he added.
"It's difficult going through life not knowing how to read. You need reading for pretty much everything, so it's important," said Murray.