Reading sets mums on the right path

Kinders Together CEO Roger Chao and Living Learning Pakenham centre manager Miriam Cadwallader are delivering a literacy program aimed at young isolated mothers.

Kinders Together’s young mothers from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds will have the opportunity to increase their literacy and language skills, thanks to the funding of a new program.
The Cardinia kindergarten provider and Living Learning Pakenham were recently awarded a Capacity and Innovation Fund grant from the Adult Community and Further Education Board to deliver the Reading for Life program, aimed at engaging isolated young mothers of Kinders Together children.
The Reading for Life program, to be held onsite at a Kinders Together service during their child’s kindergarten classes, will include a full assessment of the mother’s literacy levels, skills and interests, which will then form the basis of an individualised learning pathway plan.
The sessions will also provide information on the local labour and jobs market, along with education and training pathways in a bid to further engage these mothers with the community.
Living Learning Pakenham centre manager Miriam Cadwallader said the first step to engaging with these women was finding a common ground with their current needs as parents.
“This group are often only engaging in the community through their connection with the local kindergarten that their child is attending,” Ms Cadwallader said.
“Anecdotal evidence indicates that for some young mothers the ‘pick up’ and ‘drop off’ times represent the totality of their community connection, hence why we have partnered with Kinders Together to deliver this program”.
Kinders Together CEO Roger Chao said the program, also sought to enhance the bond between mother and child by equipping the mother with the skills to read to their children.
“A recent study undertaken by University of Melbourne and the Victorian Department of Education and Training clearly highlighted the positive connection between parents reading to their young children and their child’s later reading and other cognitive skills,” Mr Chao said.
According to the study, reading to children three to five days per week had the effect of increasing their skill level by the equivalent of six months.
“The frequency of this reading had a direct effect on their long-term schooling outcomes regardless of their family background and home environment which is why we are so excited about being able to run this program,” Mr Chao said.