In today’s fast-paced world, busyness has almost become a badge of honour. Between work, school, and endless commitments, it can feel difficult to find moments of genuine stillness. Yet it’s often in those quieter moments as a family, sitting together with a book, sharing a story, laughing at a funny character, that we build the connections that matter most.
Research from Western Australia with local adolescents highlights how reading together as a family has powerful benefits. It not only boosts children’s literacy and language development but also strengthens the sense of warmth, safety, and belonging that helps them thrive. Shared reading time, whether it’s reading a book about camping spots, a Saturday morning news article, shared sci-fi novel or an audiobook in the car sends an important message that reading can be enjoyable and is worthwhile. Reading for 20 minutes a day exposes us to more than 1.8 million words per year. Valuable for growing minds (and those of us with the older grey matter).
Families can make reading part of everyday life in simple ways. We can model curiosity by reading our own books where our children can see us. Let kids choose the stories or non-fiction interest books that spark their imagination. Try and swap screens for reading once a week. Or visit the WLC after school one day and we can help you find books that suit each age and interest. Call us at the front office to find out more about coming in with your child. Coming up to Christmas time there could be some good gifts of books or bookshop vouchers to help the family decide on something to read. It could be a new Australian romance novel, or it could be a book by a young author writing about growing up with a disability. Reading doesn’t have to be quiet or serious, it can be funny, noisy, or adventurous.
Thank you to families for engaging with the many events this term either at the Forge art show, the upcoming TKW ceremony, or later the Community Christmas BBQ. We also have our AGM on 25 November for the P&F and School Advisory Council coming up. Nominations for the position of P&F Treasurer or a general member of the SAC need to be submitted via email seven days prior to the AGM. Voting for the positions then takes place at the AGM.