The Bocas Lit Fest, in collaboration with Let’s Read, successfully orchestrated an engaging Family Reading Circle event at the St Joseph Old Road Community Centre in Port of Spain’s East Dry River district on November 22. This specialized literacy initiative brought together 22 young children and their parents for an immersive read-aloud experience designed to foster early childhood development through literature.
Children’s author Mary Cuffy captivated the audience with dynamic readings from her acclaimed Ladybug book series, particularly enchanting attendees with the adventures of ‘Lola and the Dancing Ladybugs.’ The session transformed into an interactive experience as children enthusiastically participated in sing-along segments, bringing the narrative to life through musical engagement.
Suzette Cadiz, representing Let’s Read, complemented the program with spirited readings of beloved children’s classics, further enriching the literary experience for the young attendees. The carefully curated selection of stories aimed to simultaneously entertain and educate, addressing multiple developmental domains through narrative engagement.
The Family Reading Circle program represents a strategic approach to early literacy development, specifically targeting children aged seven years and under. The initiative’s methodology focuses on transforming reading from a passive activity into an interactive experience that strengthens language acquisition, comprehension capabilities, and emotional intelligence. By creating positive associations with literature, the program aims to establish foundational reading habits that can evolve into lifelong literary engagement.
Bocas Lit Fest formally acknowledged Pompey Joseph’s Tutoring Academy for providing the community venue, highlighting the importance of cross-organizational collaboration in advancing educational initiatives within local communities. This partnership model demonstrates how shared resources and expertise can effectively support childhood literacy development in accessible community settings.