JOY OF READING PROGRAMME LAUNCHES WITH CHILDREN’S PERFORMANCE
The Joy of Reading programme has been implemented to encourage reading habits and boost literacy levels in children. Put together by the PAP Community Foundation (PCF), this annual programme kicked off on July 16, at the National Museum of Singapore’s Gallery Theatre, with dance and song sequences prepared the PCF Sparkletots children.
The children sang and danced to “Singapore, Our Home”, a song penned by the PCF Sparkletots’ lead centre principal, Kelly Chong, that celebrates our island-nation’s bicentennial anniversary. Alongside their enthusiastic dance performance, the children also played out a skit on Singapore’s history, present and our future.
The Joy of Reading event will be up until July 19 while featuring theatre performances by over 300 children from 32 centres.
According to PCF CEO Victor Bay, he believes that the Joy of Reading programme will “promote a love for reading and inculcate the habit of reading among young children”.
Apart from focusing just on the children’s literacy skills, cognitive and social development, Mr Bay claims that the programme will also enhance parents’ awareness in promoting reading habits.
PCF’s executive principal, Karen Lee, who also acts as the organising chairman of the reading programme, stated that PCF preschools have also crafted out activities for children in their more than 350 centres. These activities, such as days when they could dress up as their favourite characters to tell stories, have led up to the Joy of Reading event, while motivating children to engage more in reading.
Parent Melony Oh, 36, who was involved in the skit, said she has bedtime reading sessions with her four-year-old daughter each night. She asserts, “it is good to cultivate reading habits at a young age due to its large role in language and literacy development.”