The Mikhulu Trust is releasing a series of books online to promote book-sharing between parents or guardians and their children.
South Africa (20 April 2020) – The Mikhulu Trust is an NGO based in Athlone, Cape Town. The Trust helps skill up mothers and caregivers in ‘dialogic book-sharing’. They specially-design books which are developed by academics and local illustrators.
The activity of ‘dialogic book-sharing’, sees a caregiver and child enjoy wordless books together in an interactive way, is vital for a child’s development. The Trust nurtures a relationship between guardian and child through this kind of activity.
Usually, the Trust share physical copies of their books to encourage the ‘dialogic book-sharing’ activity, but due to lockdown, they have been unable to. Instead, the Trust has gone digital and will be releasing a series of their books online instead.
“Stuck for ideas with your child in lockdown? Over the next two weeks, Mikhulu Trust is releasing four of its illustrated books online, for free, in its #LockDownBookShare campaign. Watch the instruction video and then click on the images to start #booksharing with your child.
Book-sharing is about using picture books with your child in a fun, interactive way. This has proven effects on your child’s social, emotional and cognitive development. It can also improve your relationship with your child.”
The Trust aims to reach rural children, but many do not have access to the internet. The Trust has found a small solution.
“Unfortunately, since we have to be social distancing, all of the group or door to door activities have had to stop. One way that we could reach families is through radio or newspapers. We are publishing this content in some community newspapers around Cape Town, but if you know of any local newspapers in any rural areas that are still running, please share with us and we would be happy to share this content for them to publish as well.”
If you know of any rural newspapers, you can contact the Mikhulu Trust via Facebook here. Take a look at their instructional video below and get started on that one-on-one time with your child.
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