The Departments of Community and Cultural Affairs and Education and the Fédération des parents de l'Île-du-Prince-Édouard entered into a partnership with Communication-Jeunesse, an agency in Quebec which promotes children's literature and develops a variety of reading mediation activities for children. The project, called Toup'tilitou, is made possible through an agreement between PEI and Quebec to promote culture.
"We are pleased to enter into this arrangement which will provide increased opportunities for French educators and promote the value of reading to the growth and development of young children," said Minister of Community and Cultural Affairs, Elmer MacFadyen. "The key objective of this program is to provide parents and people working with young children the information and tools to help them create lifelong friendships between books and children."
Education Minister Mildred Dover welcomed the opportunity the partnership provides to help children develop early literacy skills and a love of learning at a young age. "Toup'tilitou will support families and early childhood educators to introduce children to books and the fun of reading when they are very young," she said. "This is important because, when children are involved in early literacy activities, they see that these skills are key to learning and that learning is fun."
The first part of the project is called Les Rendez-vous du Toup'tilitou. This event will be held in two different libraries:
• November 25, in Bibliothèque Dr-J.-Edmond-Arsenault, Carrefour de l'Isle-Saint-Jean, Charlottetown.
• November 26, in Bibliothèque J.-Henri-Blanchard, Centre Belle-Alliance, Summerside.
Les Rendez-vous du Toup'tilitou is an event for pre-school children (0 to 5 years old) and their parents or educators. It is meant to create awareness of the importance of putting books in the hands of young children, and to inform parents and educators about what they can do to help children become readers, even before they know how to read.
From 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., groups from invited French daycares and kindergartens will be participating in library tours especially designed to meet the needs and interests of young children.
From 2:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., the event is open to all members of the community. The afternoon will include story hour, thematic corners and an exhibit of books carefully chosen for children under six years of age. The hosts will also be on hand to offer information to parents and educators.
The second part of the project is a training program called Toup'tilitou that will be offered for the first time in the province by Communication-Jeunesse. It is an 18-hour training program divided into six half-day workshops that will run from Nov. 27 to 29 at Centre Belle-Alliance. Educators from daycare/kindergarten, library staff, education consultants from Department of Education and people working with young children will participate in the training.
For more information, contact the French Services Librarian at 432-2667 or 888-8370.