Parenting and Family Literacy Centres

Parenting and Family Literacy Centres help prepare children for starting school and encourage families to be a part of their children's learning by:

• Helping children build essential literacy and numeracy skills through stories, music, reading and playing
• Encouraging families to engage in their children's learning
• Offering a book-lending library in different languages so parents can read to their children in their first language
• Familiarizing children and families with school routines
• Giving children and families the chance to spend time with other families
• Linking families with appropriate community resources for special needs, health and other related services.

Centre staff work closely with kindergarten teachers to ensure a positive and welcoming learning environment that will help prepare children from babies up to six years of age for school. The centres are free to attend and no pre-registration is required.

There are currently 89 centres located across the province. The centres are all located in schools.

New centres opening 2008-09

In 2008-09, 34 additional Parenting and Family Literacy Centres will open bringing the total number of centres to 123.

Three boards will open their first Parenting and Family Literacy Centres.

• Algoma District School Board (4)
• Ottawa Catholic District School Board (4)
• Thames Valley District School Board (4)

New centres will also open in schools in the following school boards:

• Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board (1)
• Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (2)
• Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (2)
• Peel District School Board (1)
• Toronto Catholic District School Board (5)
• Toronto District School Board (11)

Find out if there is a centre near you.

Best Start

Best Start makes sure that children in Ontario are ready to learn by the time they start Grade One. Visit Best Start to learn more about how to help your child get the best possible start in life.