Supporting Young Children's Development with Books

“If we didn’t have ILF, I don’t know where we’d get books from,” says Niki Emmett, Child Health Nurse on Bathurst Island, NT.

Niki is based at the Julanimawu Primary Health Care Centre in Wuurumiyanga. About 1500 people live in this remote Community on Bathurst Island, the biggest in the Tiwi group.

Of these, about 100 or so are 0–5 year olds. And each of these little ones receives a book from ILF’s Book Supply program when they are brought into the centre by their parents or carers for their annual check ups.

“We choose them together,” Niki explains.

At immunisations too, rather than the clinic nurses handing out lollies as a “reward”, the children are each given a book to take home and keep.

“There are very limited services here on the island for families and children in the 0–5 age group … And families are not able to purchase books … So some children at age two have never had a book read to them and do not even know how to turn the pages … The books [from ILF] are vital to the children in supporting development in all domains of growth.”

The board and picture books gifted to the health centre by ILF are used in other ways too, including for developmental screening. Some remain in the centre for kids to enjoy when they are brought in for diagnosis and treatment of ailments or illnesses, the clinic often being the first point of call for families on the island. And some are given to mums-to-be at their regular maternal and midwifery check ups.

“We encourage reading before bedtime. And some mums are now reporting reading to their children regularly at home.”

From all reports, the kids love the books!

“The Community and the health centre are very grateful for the ongoing supply of books. Having access to these books really does have a positive impact.”

• Posted 06 May, 2022