Schools in South Africa closed a few days before the national 21-day coronavirus lockdown which will have an effect on the children’s literacy. Activities like independent reading, writing and drawing, are other good ways to keep kids occupied and make sure their education continues while at home.
Nal’ibali, National reading-for-enjoyment campaign has put together a free support package with story and activity guides, audio and written stories during the lockdown. The package is available to the public and includes a new story three times a week via email or SMS; a short and detailed guide on helping and a reading-for-enjoyment holiday programme guide with tips and ideas. The package is available at www.nalibali.org, which also has a vast library of extra resources, including more than 800 stories, rhymes and songs, and storytelling ideas in the 11 official languages.
According to Katie Huston, Nal’ibali CEO, “Children who grow up with a strong culture of reading in the home are better set up for success in school and life – and our new reality means families have more time to create new habits, like reading aloud every evening before bed. Routine and predictable activities can give children a lot of comfort in difficult times and is a wonderful way to bond”.
