Want to help your children? Then turn off the TV and read with them! Chris Cheung is a children's book author and former teacher, and is passionate about the topic.

'When I was teaching, my favourite class was kindergarten,' Chris says. 'I loved watching the children progress from the start of the year when they first began reading, then see them six to eight months later when they started picking their own books and got so much enjoyment from it.'

The most important thing parents can do to develop their child's literacy skills is read.
'Show them you love reading - kids want to model their parents. Turn off the television and read,' Chris suggests. He also says that if your child is not interested in reading, offer books that relate to what they are interested in.

'There are plenty of books that will interest boys and girls: sports books, mysteries, magic, the list is endless. Visit a library and read them together.

'Take a book to the park, read in the afternoon or at bedtime. Parents who struggle with reading should use audio books and read alongside their child using the audio book as a guide,' Chris says.

Professor Tom Cooper didn't come from a socially advantaged background. His parents were not highly educated, but today as Professor of Mathematics at the Queensland University of Technology he acknowledges the importance of numeracy in a very personal way.

'Numeracy is very important to me. It's through my skills in numeracy that I had the opportunity to fulfil my personal goals,' he says.

Professor Cooper was a 'Champion' of National Literacy and Numeracy Week. A basis in these fundamental skills is hugely empowering and, as the professor can attest, assists in countering educational and social disadvantage.

'I'd like people to have a better understanding of maths. To enable them to see the world in mathematical terms and to make the focus of numeracy teaching about what computers can't do - understand the world,' he says.

Professor Cooper explains that because our world is changing so rapidly, a strong numeracy base is essential if we're to learn new things. He advises parents who want to develop their child's numeracy skills to set challenging standards.

'Encourage them to do better in a positive way. Many cultures who do well in numeracy have high expectations. Parents shouldn't be afraid to show confidence in their child's capabilities,' he says.

Finally, parents should visit the school, talk to the teacher, and understand the work their kids do. 'You don't have to be an expert to help them,' he says. 'It comes down to the attitude towards learning.'

Helping Hand
It's easy to help your children learn to read and write through many of the things we do in everyday life including:
1. Writing a shopping list
2. Following a recipe
3. Writing invitations and cards
4. Pointing out road signs
5. Making up stories together
6. Talking about newspaper articles together
7. Reading bedtime stories

Want to know more?

Visit The Australian Government's Literacy and Numeracy website

Read Antonia Kidman's latest column in this week's New Idea, out now!

More Mum's the Word by Antonia Kidman