National Children's Museum Celebrates International Literacy Month Beginning Sept. 8

WASHINGTON, DC (September 7, 2010) – The National Children’s Museum (NCM) is celebrating International Literacy Month beginning on September 8, International Literacy Day. First observed in 1967 by the United Nations Education, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), International Literacy Day is a time for individuals, organizations, and countries throughout the world to renew their efforts to promote literacy and demonstrate their commitment to provide education for all. NCM actively supports international literacy by presenting programs not only in the local Washington, DC community, but in eight U.S. states, Palestine, and Bahrain. During International Literacy Month, NCM strives to raise awareness about the importance of literacy by providing information and tips on how to support the movement.
   

What is the significance of literacy?

Literacy skills, including the ability to read, write, do math, and use technology, help children and adults reach their highest potential. The ability to read and write:

• Expands access to learning for children and adults;
• Promotes active and engaged community members;
• Helps children and parents learn good health practices; 
• Enables students and employees to be productive; and much more.

Did you know?

• Children who watch four or more hours of TV per day spend less time on school work, have poorer reading skills, play less with friends, and have fewer hobbies than children who watch less TV.
• More than eight million students in grades four through 12 read below their grade level.
• The 25 fastest-growing professions have far greater than average literacy demands, while the fastest-declining professions have lower than average literacy demands.
  (From International Reading Associations, Literacy Facts at www.reading.org.

Want to take action?

• Ask your children how they can help the community become more aware of the importance of literacy—identify an activity you can work on together.
• Organize a local book/school supplies drive. Donate books and supplies from the drive to local schools, literacy programs, and educational organizations.
• Help older students create books. Students can write and illustrate stories to read to younger students.
• Celebrate cultures from around the world. Read and compare folk tales from different countries, share songs, and dress in ethnic costumes to make reading fun.
• Support your local bookmobile. Bookmobiles are mobile libraries serving areas without a library.
• Become a reading mentor to a child. Reading aloud to a child is one the most effective ways to help a child become a reader.
  To learn how to become a reading mentor or volunteer visit, www.everybodywins.org.

How does NCM support literacy?

The National Children’s Museum supports the values of literacy and life-long learning year-round. NCM education experts created the Family Literacy Projects on a Budget® workshop to provide educators and families with affordable resources and experiences needed to foster literacy at school and at home. School-age educators and family childcare providers learn to address family literacy with creative hands-on activities, inexpensive supplies, and PACT (parent and child) teaching methods. Initiated by the National Center for Family Literacy, the PACT approach halts the destructive spiral of struggling parents engendering struggling children and combats situational barriers to educational goals.

The NCM accompanying publication, Family Literacy Projects on a Budget Trainers’ Toolkit, offers resources, ideas, helpful tips, and suggestions to develop and present cost-effective literacy activities for family events, based on broad themes and familiar subject matter. By crafting experiences that empower parents and children to investigate their own thoughts, ideas, and behaviors, NCM strives to make literacy a habit. Family Literacy Projects on a Budget Trainers’ Toolkit can be purchased on Amazon.com.

For more information more about International Literacy Day, visit:

-       www.unesco.org/en/literacy

-       www.reading.org

-        www.proliteracy.org

About the National Children’s Museum

The National Children’s Museum (NCM) is a world-class cultural and educational center that inspires children to care about and improve the world. Currently operating as a “museum without walls” through participation in community events and creative partnerships with other arts and cultural organizations, NCM will open an indoor space in November 2012 and an expansive outdoor experience in May 2013 at National Harbor in Prince George’s County, Maryland. The Museum is poised to become Greater Washington’s premier family attraction and the only national museum dedicated entirely to children and their families and caregivers. The National Children’s Museum was designated by Congress in 2003 and was founded in 1974 as the Capital Children’s Museum.

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