Supporting families learn together

Books alone won’t improve children’s literacy and learning or the quality of parenting they receive. However, appropriate books together with trained peer based support and encouragement in how to use them can.

• Creating a learning culture

The provision of pre-school materials to parents and carers will occur in a group setting with other parents with children of a comparable age and is facilitated by a trained peer educator.

Peer educators facilitate opportunities for the participating parents and carers to learn how to use books and other learning materials with their pre-school children. Proven child focused strategies aimed at promoting communication and literacy are shared by the peer educator and can be tested and adapted by participating parents and carers.

In addition to the books that are provided to parents and carers attending the group, the educator will also have access to a selection of supplementary books and toys which they will make available to participants to use during the session. This helps reinforce the importance of play and can be used to help parents develop confidence in facilitating appropriate play strategies.

• Improved parenting

Peer facilitators also work with parents and carers to identify issues of concern that relate to child survival, development and parenting more generally. Parents and carers are encouraged to share their own knowledge, understanding and strategies on these issues and will be provided with additional advice and information by the peer educator.

When issues arise that can’t be addressed adequately by the group or the peer educator, the educator will refer questions to First Read’s local resource person. Questions and issues that are referred to resource people are assessed and the necessary information is provided to the peer educator.

If the issue or question needs further clarification or input First Read will help to source additional expertise and support for the group.

By operating in this way First Read groups build on and reinforce local knowledge and practice in respect of good parenting but also develop and refine local knowledge by drawing on recognised good practice.

Peer educators will record the issues discussed at First Read groups and provide this information to First Read centrally where it will be used to develop a better understanding of the pertinent issues and challenges facing parents locally and where it will contribute to future training and support.

The children’s books provided will also be supplemented by low literacy material on child survival and development suitable for participating parents. This information will address critical issues for families in the local context and will make an important contribution to reinforcing and extending existing social and health communications.