Dads who bring their kids to the big game on Saturday night will be challenged to read to them as well as educate them about rugby league when CityLibraries take over Cowboys Community Corner at 1300SMILES Stadium.
With the support of Steggles Charity Nest, Community Corner will host the Dads Read campaign being run by the city’s libraries to encourage dads to get reading with their children.
“Reading is an absolutely fundamental life skill,” Cowboys community relations manager Fiona Pelling said.
“Reading with your children not only helps them to develop a love of reading, but also strengthens their literacy skills, models positive reading behaviour and builds their self-esteem around reading.
“We hope that all dads coming to the game pop into Community Corner to get some information about the Dads Read campaign and if they have their young ones with them, stake some time out and join in one of our reading activities.”
Dads Read is an early childhood literacy initiative developed in 2010 and launched statewide in 2012 as part of the National Year of Reading, to promote family literacy.
The program continues to expand and is now being delivered in Queensland and South Australia and plans are underway in Tasmania.
As well as supporting and promoting Dads Read through Communality Corner, the Cowboys will ensure that every fan on the night gets the message through displays on the big screen.
The Community Corner space at home games reflects the Cowboys’ and Steggles’ commitment to assist volunteer-run charities and not-for-profit organisations to build awareness and support from the local community.
Twelve charities working in and benefiting the North Queensland community have been offered this opportunity throughout the 2014 season.
