The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

35 | O akville B eaver | T hursday,June 6,2019 insidehalton.com June 8th, 2019 | 10:00am - 2:00pm Free Face Painting | Kids Activities | Free Refreshments Ribbon Cutting at 12:00pm Register for Summer Camp & September Enrollment D a y c a r e G r a n d O p e n i n g i n O a k v i l l e P r e s c h o o l & D a y c a r e 10% OFF Summer Camp Fees & No Registration Fees! 6 0 9 F o r d D r. , U n i t 3 - 4 , O a k v i l l e , L 6 J 7 Z 6 W W W. A L P H A S D I S C O V E R Y C L U B . C O M R e g i s t e r N o w ! (905) 337-7225 ""Young pYoung people nple need adeed adultsults and pd peers in ths in theieir lir lives whowho express care, chahallellenge grownge growth, provh, proviidede support, shahare power, andnd expand possibiliexpand possibilitities."" --TThe SSearch Institute At Kerr Street Mission we run many programs focused on youth in our community. Our after-school drop in program has been beneficial to many at- risk youth in Oakville. Not only are youth provided with fun activities and positive social interactions, but they are also required to join in a 30 minute homework club every day in order to "get to the fun stuff." Kids spent the month of April learning to dye fabric, thread a needle and stitch their own pillows. They then spent a week in May diligently working on Mother's Day cards to surprise mom on the big day. May has also found the kids learning to cook Afghan food and enjoying the delicious fruits of their labours. Follow our youth this summer as they take on leadership roles at the Kerr Street Summer Camp on Facebook and Instagram at Kerr Street Mission. KSM. 485 Kerr Street, Oakville. 905.845-7485. Charitable Reg. No. 897106845RR0001 When school is out for the summer, there's no dispute that the pressure heats up for parents to schedule a mix of play dates, summer camps and outings to help fill the time. And if you're faced with selecting activities for your child who may have a learning differences, find- ing meaningful (and affordable) programming that is designed to meet their needs may be challenging. Enter the summer reading club at your local li- brary: a free and fun way to quench thirsty imagi- nations and help your child, no matter their ability, sharpen their reading skills all summer long. According to Jessica Roy, Manager, TD Summer Reading Club at Toronto Public Library, joining a summer reading club helps kids improve their read- ing skills, increases their love of reading and helps them return to school in the fall without learning loss. "These benefits should be available to every child, regardless of their abilities," says Roy. "That's why it's important that reading clubs are inclusive by offering a wide selection of reading materials for those with varying reading levels and abilities, so no child feels left out." What can parents do? If you're unsure whether your local summer read- ing club has accessible options, just ask. Some programs might have more options available upon request. Communicating your child's needs can help club organizers make necessary adjustments and expand service offerings so all children can participate. Making sure all kids are included Roy adds that an inclusive reading program will have a broad range of options available for children, such as braille or audio books. Summer reading clubs often include other activi- ties to help keep kids engaged and committed to their reading goals, like crafts and games. Acces- sibility is an important consideration for these ac- tivities too. "Something as simple as including craft supplies that are easy to grip, like large markers and paint brushes, can help ensure all kids can participate, regardless of their abilities," states Roy. Finding an accessible summer reading club One reading club that provides ample accessibili- ty and bilingual resources to children is the TD Sum- mer Reading Club, which is offered free online and at more than 2,000 public libraries across Canada. The program celebrates Canadian authors and illustrators and their stories and is designed to in- spire kids to explore the fun of reading in their own way. It also offers extensive resources for library staff to help all children on their journey, all while promot- ing inclusivity. Let's share the fun of summer reading Reading is an activity that can unite us all, and research shows that when reading is fun for kids, they'll read more and make it a lifelong habit. Make fun for all this summer at TD Summer Reading Club