Bookmates inspires families to grow together through the joy of learning together.
Bookmates is a Manitoba-based Canadian not-for-profit organization promoting Family Literacy and Learning established in 1984.
Bookmates is focused on the development, training and delivery of family learning programs to communities to enhance the learning of both children and adults. Bookmates offers a number of family literacy and learning programs which are ideal for use in schools, family resource centres and other organizations that care about families.
Why Family Literacy and Learning?
Family Learning is:
- Children and parents/caregivers learning together through everyday activities, or in parent-child programs.
- Families building on their culture and experience through language and activities.
- A community activity that helps families be the best they can be.
Quality Parent-Child programs are important:
“Evidence is clear that good early child development programs that involve parents (or primary caregivers) of young children can influence how they relate to and care for children in the home and can vastly improve outcomes for the children’s behaviour, learning, and health in later life.” (from the Early Years Study, Final Report Aprill 1999 co-chairs Hon. Margaret Norrie McCain and J. Fraser Mustard.)
Bookmates programs are developed in strong partnership with community members and organizations. The input of parents is critical to the process of creating quality family learning programs and is incorporated at each step along the way. Research shows that you learn best by doing. All of our programs and training opportunities are filled with fun, hands-on activities. We believe that parents are their child’s most important teachers and we give credit to all the great things that parents are already doing everyday with their children.
Bookmates Alphabet Soup Program was the 2006 recipient of the Dietitians of Canada Regional Award. This program was developed with the community in partnership with the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority through the support of The Winnipeg Foundation.
Bookmates was the proud recipient of The International Reading Association 2003 Celebrate Literacy Award.
Network 4 Change staff are trained to deliver:
- Parent-Child Mother Goose Program
- Bookmates Rock & Read
- Bookmates Alphabet Soup
- Bookmates Family Learning Olympics