ACHO DENE KOE/FORT LIARD - A program in Fort Liard is helping parents better prepare their children for kindergarten.

Ashanti Timbre, 6, looks at Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do You See? one of the books featured at the Literacy Support for Young Families Program in Fort Liard. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

The Literacy Support for Young Families Program was developed to address the fact children are starting at Echo Dene School without the basic skills needed for kindergarten, said Christine Abela, one of the program's organizers.

The goal is to provide caregivers with the skills needed and to help them foster those skills in their children, said Abela. The Department of Education, Culture and Employment is funding the program.

When the group meets twice monthly, usually on Tuesdays, at the Aurora College Community Learning Centre the focus is on the alphabet, number recognition, colours and shapes. Each meeting is based around a different book like The Very Hungry Caterpillar.

Parents and children do activities and crafts themed around the book and then get a copy to take home with them. The families are also given a package of activities to take home that reinforce the skills in fun ways, Abela said.

Since beginning in September the program has grown in popularity with seven families having participated. Abela is hoping to see that number grow.

"The kids are thrilled and love it. They always have a great time and get into it," she said.

The group meets between 4 to 5 p.m., right after pre-school ends. Children always come with a caretaker either a parent, grandparent or guardian. If their child is napping some parents come alone to get the material, Abela said.

Helena Timbre has brought her grandchildren to the program twice.

"I look forward to it because it helps my grandchildren to read," she said.

Timbre said the program makes learning easy because instructions are provided for parents to follow at home. Getting a new book at each meeting is also beneficial, she said.

Timbre said her granddaughter Ashanti Timbre enjoys the take-home activities and refers to them excitedly as her homework.

"It's fun," Ashanti said about the program.

While the program is geared for children ages three to four, some kindergarten students also attend. So far all of the books featured in the program have been in English but Abela is trying to access books written in South Slavey to promote the language.

Although the focus is on the children, the program is also benefiting adults, said Abela. It's giving parents more ways to comfortably pass literacy on to their children, a skill they may have difficulty with, she said.

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