Pyjama party

By Lia Bichel
MORE than 30 children and their parents donned their nighties and flannelette pyjamas for a giant reading session at Doveton Primary School last week.
Hosted by charity organisation Good Beginnings, the Pyjama Reading Party was part of National Family Week celebrations.
Good Beginnings co-ordinator Mark Roberts said this particular event encouraged parents to read to their children.
“The idea was to spend time doing fun things, and there was a real emphasis on reading,” he said.
“We had a lot of reading stations set up around the hall where the children could go and sit and listen to a story.”
Doveton Primary School early childhood facilitator Sherree Geronimo said the children enjoyed the event.
“It was excellent, they seemed to love it,” she said.
“It’s great because it promotes early literacy.”
Good Beginnings Doveton hosts numerous family support programs in Doveton and Dandenong designed to support, educate and encourage parents by providing them with the knowledge, practical skills, community networks and confidence to raise their children.
Good Beginnings CEO Jayne Meyer Tucker said reading at home played a vital role in preserving a child’s right to early literacy, which forms one of the essential foundations of a childhood education and school readiness.
“The Good Beginnings Pyjama Reading Parties recognise that reading and being read to during early childhood is an essential basis for school readiness and literacy development,” she said.
“Literacy is one of the key early childhood development indicators known to be a significant factor in a child’s path through school and later in life.”
Learn more about Good Beginnings by visiting www.giveachildagoodbeginning.com.au