What is Dads Read?
Dads Read is an early childhood literacy initiative, developed by State Library of Queensland to promote family literacy.
Dads Read recognises that fathers reading to their children strengthens literacy, models positive reading behaviour and builds children’s self-esteem around reading (especially for boys).
Dads Read aims to:
- create awareness of the important role fathers play in their child’s development and the importance of reading to children from their early years
- encourage fathers in Queensland to read to their children and promote the value of reading
- provide fathers with the tools to give them the confidence to read with their children
- promote reading as a family.
The evidence shows that reading to children for as little as 10 minutes a day improves children’s literacy levels.
Reading together as a family:
- prepares children for learning to read
- introduces children to written language
- opens up new worlds for children’s imagination and understanding
- develops reading mileage – the more time spent reading the more reading improves
- improves children’s language and listening skills
- gives children the opportunity to talk to you about ideas presented to them and about how they see their world
- builds social skills and family bonds
- stimulates creative and critical thinking.
Explore the Dads Read pages and find a range of literacy tips, reading lists and resources to support family reading time.
If you’re an organisation, school or childcare centre – explore the hints on how to hold your very own Dads Read event.
Listen to Shane Webcke, Channel 7 newsreader and Reading Legend, talk about Dads Read.
