January 23-29 is Family Literacy Week

By Joan Janzen

January 23 - 29 has been proclaimed as Family Literacy Week, and January 27 has been called Family Literacy Day. The theme for this year is “Learning in the Great Outdoors.”

The Kindersley Wheatland Library is planning an outdoor craft activity on Family Literacy Day. However, families have been presented with a winter challenge which began on January 10 and runs until March 19, 2022. Family members can sign up by downloading the Beanstack app or scanning a QR code provided by the library. After that, participants simply log into their Beanstack account and select the challenges they would like to participate in.

Participants log their reading minutes and activities using the website or their app. Family members log in their reading minutes individually to complete a badge. A badge entitles you to receive a virtual ticket, automatically entered to win one of the grand prizes.

There are six badges: Warm My Heart, Virtual Adventures, Winter Wonderland, Library Love, Cozy Up, and Try Something New badges. The Cozy Up Badge lists fun, enjoyable and relaxing activities, while the Winter Wonderland Badge includes more energetic activities like skiing, snowboarding, skating or building a snowman. The Try Something New Badge encourages members to try reading something new - classics, non-fiction, a different genre or a book by an author you’ve never read before.

The Warm My Heart Badge encourages members to share a little kindness with others and lists several suggestions to help spread some winter cheer. Meanwhile, the Virtual Adventures Badge inspires people to explore events and places around the world from the warmth of their own home.

Michelle Yates, is the new assistant librarian at the Kindersley Library.

Photo by Joan Janzen