Shop talk

Council’s Public Library team has taken their mission of spreading the ‘Words Grow Minds’ message directly down the aisles of Barossa’s biggest supermarket.

The “Read, Talk, Play, Shop” community campaign encourages parents and caregivers of pre-school children to interact with their children while they shop.

Families are invited to pick up a picture or board book on their way into Nuriootpa’s Barossa Fresh and share its adventures as they navigate through the shop, following a trail of prompts to adapt familiar nursery rhymes and games to a supermarket theme.

The borrowed book is then either returned for use by another family, or taken home to read before they swap it for another on their next shopping trip.

Library staff are also taking mini versions of their favourite early years programs to the supermarket as part of the campaign.

Each month they’ll run 30 minute, evidence based sessions of songs, read aloud stories and play that link early child development to materials and activities dotted throughout the store.

Council’s Manager Community Experience, Melissa Whitrow, said delivering the Words Grow Minds messaging in a supermarket setting is a first for the state.

“Thanks to a Raising Literacy Australia grant, our partnership with the Barossa Co-op and the in-kind support from our own talented team, we’re able to deliver this community campaign to help raise awareness of the Words Grow Minds messaging to Read, Sing, Talk and Play with your child,” Melissa said.

“Barossa Library is leading the way when it comes to delivering evidence based, community programs that help children and families thrive. We can’t wait to take our early years programs to new families in a new setting.”