When you take a peek around our house you will find piles and piles of books - whether it's the pile of board books by T's bed, the toppling pile of books that J sorts through every night to find his perfect bedtime story - the overflowing book shelves in the kids bedrooms, the pile of books I want to read but always fall asleep before I get a chance sitting on my bedside table or books that have found there way from the shelves to every available room, space in the car and even in the buggy for our mammoth walk to school and back for T to enjoy.
We're starting on our journey of reading words with J and T - the first few words are being sounded out as J's phonics knowledge gets more and sight words are starting to be introduced it's exciting that very soon we will venture from the "Please read me a book Mummy" to finding a little person tucked up on their bed, in our bean bag or stretched out somewhere with their nose in a book escaping to far off lands, mystical places and living different lives through the books that they read.
Not just that but it opens up the world to them letting them find their way through school onto the paths that they choose for their lives in 16, 20 or 30 years time. My favourite quote
"The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go."
from Dr Seuss in I can read with my eyes closed says it wonderfully - being able to read opens the world to children and adults to explore and do what they wish to do.
We are the lucky ones - 10,000's of children in the UK are not lucky and privileged as we are and Save the Children are Campaigning with their Born to Read campaign starting this week to help change that. As the UK celebrates National Book Week Save the Children launch Born to Read to make a difference in the lives of children in the poorest homes in the UK.
In a report by Save the Children ‘Too Young To Fail’ there are so many points that despite our First world status brings to life how different lives can be:
- Many poor children in the UK today start school already behind their better-off peers – through no fault of their own.
- Last year, 1 in 4 poor children left primary school without basic skills in reading and writing.
- By the time they are seven, nearly 80% of the difference in GCSE results between rich and poor children has already been determined
- The first two years a child is at school is a crucial window during which to close the attainment gap. Reading is one of the keys to unlocking a child’s potential.
- If they don’t get the help they need before they leave primary school, another generation of children will face lifelong penalties for being born poor.
This has to change and we have the power to make those changes join me in becoming a Change Maker - helping those children in the UK that need support to overcome the difficulties - as a parent, friend, teacher we can make those difference however small or big they are.
- Campaigning to get manifesto commitments from all political parties before the 2015 to ensure that every child leaves primary school with a good education including being a confident reader. Campaigning with Save the Children will help make change right at the top and ensure that there is political commitment and plans for tackling this problem over the next few years
- Volunteering with Save the Children’s programmes, working face to face with children to help them to catch up if they are struggling with reading, grow in confidence and improve their chances of success in school. As Save the Children’s programmes grow, we will offer opportunities to volunteer to support us in targeted areas.
- Fundraising to help us expand our programmes to reach more children in schools right across the UK, giving them a better start.
- Being the first to know about new projects, events and opportunities around our UK work
Save the Children aim to change the lives of 23,000 children in the UK over the next 4 years with your help.
Want to spread the world - then share this post with your friends and family - let them know by clicking on the buttons below - you can share easily via Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and G+ helping to spread the word and improve the lives of the poorest children in the UK by helping them learn to read.
Cerys Parker
Cerys is a marine biologist, environmental educator, high school teacher and mum. Realising that life doesn't have to be put on hold and you don't just have to survive whilst the kids are young she shares ideas to inspire you to LIVE with the kids, with activities to do together, recipes to cook and enjoy and family travel to make memories to last a lifetime.
Bonnie says
Great blog post. These statistics are pretty much the same in the US too.
Chris at Thinly Spread says
Such lovely photos Cerys and that is one of my favourite Dr Zeuss quotes, it sums this campaign up perfectly, thank you!