Better Beginnings Family Literacy Program

New Website coming soon!

What is Better Beginnings?

Better Beginnings aims to link research to practice by promoting to all parents the importance of reading, sharing rhymes and talking to your baby. Research shows that reading to babies will build their language and understanding and in giving them an early love of books support their future success as readers.

Better Beginnings has the potential to build a life long relationship between families and public libraries in responding to their information and learning needs.

Better Beginnings aims to:

Introduce developmentally appropriate books and associated language related activities to children in their first three years;
Encourage adults to share books and activities that foster language development with their young children; and
Extend awareness in the whole community, particularly amongst parents and other adults who care for children, of the value and pleasure of reading and sharing stories with young children.
Strengthen the vital role of public libraries as community hubs that can support parents/caregivers in giving their children a love of reading.

For more information, please visit our website:
http://www.better-beginnings.com.au/

Better Beginnings Programs

Better beginnings runs the following programs across Western Australia

Better Beginnings for birth to three year olds
Better Beginnings for four and five year olds
Better Beginnings for Indigenous Families
Better Beginnings for Culturally Diverse Families

Programs coming later in 2012

Hairy tales of Heroboy: 6-9 year old Reading and Literacy Program Pilot
READ!Anytime, Anywhere, Anyhow: Adult Literacy and Reading Program

Better Beginnings Evaluation

Edith Cowan University has been conducting an independent evaluation of the Better Beginnings Program. This study is now into its fifth phase.

Key findings from Making a Difference: Reports on the Evaluation of the Better Beginnings family literacy program

Before Receiving Better Beginnings Better Beginnings Evaluation
2007 - 2009 Better Beginnings Evaluation
2010
14% of parents in the study reported reading to their child. 85% of parents in the study reported reading to their child. <99% of mothers and 72% of fathers reported reading regularly with their child.

79% of the parents reported that BB had influenced their beliefs about the importance of sharing books with their child. 98% of parents indicated that it was 'very important' and 96% attributed these views to their involvement with Better Beginnings.

56% of parents said their child was not at all or not very interested in books. 94% of parents indicated that their child was very or quite interested in sharing books.
99% of parents indicated that their child was very or quite interested in sharing books.

62% of parents reported that their confidence in sharing books with their child had increased after being involved in the Better Beginnings program. 88% of parents reported that their confidence in sharing books with their child had increased after being involved in the Better Beginnings program.

Only 4% of parents had taken out library membership for their child. 23% of parents took out library membership for their child. 65% of the children had joined the library. (Most parents who had taken out library membership indicated that their decision had been influenced by BB.)
The average number of books suitable for reading to the child in the home was between 15 and 20 The average number of books suitable for reading to the child in the home was 49. The average number of books suitable for reading to the child in the home increased to 125.

Before Receiving Better Beginnings	Better Beginnings Evaluation 2007 - 2009	Better Beginnings Evaluation 2010
14% of parents in the study reported reading to their child.	85% of parents in the study reported reading to their child.	<99% of mothers and 72% of fathers reported reading regularly with their child.
	79% of the parents reported that BB had influenced their beliefs about the importance of sharing books with their child.	98% of parents indicated that it was 'very important' and 96% attributed these views to their involvement with Better Beginnings.
56% of parents said their child was not at all or not very interested in books.	94% of parents indicated that their child was very or quite interested in sharing books.	99% of parents indicated that their child was very or quite interested in sharing books.
	62% of parents reported that their confidence in sharing books with their child had increased after being involved in the Better Beginnings program.	88% of parents reported that their confidence in sharing books with their child had increased after being involved in the Better Beginnings program.
Only 4% of parents had taken out library membership for their child.	23% of parents took out library membership for their child.	65% of the children had joined the library. (Most parents who had taken out library membership indicated that their decision had been influenced by BB.)
The average number of books suitable for reading to the child in the home was between 15 and 20	The average number of books suitable for reading to the child in the home was 49.	The average number of books suitable for reading to the child in the home increased to 125.

Some comments from parents:

"If I didn't get the pack, he might not even own a book."

"I always felt stupid reading to her. Now I know it's the right thing to do."

"I didn't enjoy reading to him at the beginning because I always had trouble reading but he really enjoys it …it's a bonding time."

"You need to learn to read. It helps you with every other subject and, if you don't read, you struggle with everything else in life."

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Page last updated: Friday 3 February 2012