Thirty million. That is the word gap between three year olds in lower and upper income households. It’s a profound gap that directly impacts how children learn, grow and progress into their school years. Words and reading are how children learn to communicate, to think critically. It strengthens their ability to comprehend a situation or a story.

Bringing reading and literacy education to our youngest community members is a top priority at the CUPS Child Development Centre (CDC), where we provide education and support for families with children between the ages of 3 and 6.

The CDC is built on the foundation of early-childhood brain development and the importance of building strong pathways and resilience for young children before they hit school. We know from our work with the Alberta Family Wellness Initiative and the Brain Story, that experiences and relationships shape our brains.

Reading and talking about ideas in books and stories help shape the brains of young children, whose brains are nearly 80 per cent wired in their first five years.

Partnering for the love of reading

It’s why we are proud to partner with Calgary Reads to foster a love of reading at CUPS through their Wee Read program. This wonderful initiative has a volunteer spend time one-on-one with a child for read-aloud story time. This opportunity for a child to have dedicated time and attention to read books is invaluable.

But reading isn’t just about the children — it’s about the family. In 2019, CUPS and Calgary Reads partnered together to create The CUPS Family Reading Place. This cozy, welcoming space in the Family Development Centre gives families a peaceful corner away from the hustle and bustle of the day to read, play board games and be together as a family.

The more parents get involved in reading with their children, the more benefits we see. In fact, a mother’s reading skill is the greatest factor affecting her children’s future academic success, more than family income.

All of these steps are part of our commitment to narrow the word gap for young children in different income levels, so they are all starting school on an equal footing.