Posted on 21 January 2026 by Chris Brown.
Lunch and Munsch. Dr. Seuss and Apple Juice. Cooking and Booking. Yeah, we know that last one is a stretch; but each of those rhymes fit with the Family Literacy Day 2026 theme “Make mealtime family learning time.”
ABC Life Literacy Canada celebrates Family Literacy Day each year on Jan. 27 to increase awareness about the importance of family coming together to read and engage in other literacy-related activities.
One way for families to learn together that you’ve probably overlooked is preparing for mealtime. ABC encourages you to make preparing and eating meals a learning experience – whether it’s following recipes, making shopping lists, or sharing stories at the dinner table. Medicine Hat Public Library has a large selection of cookbooks you can borrow to find a meal to prepare together and start the storytelling.
Research shows that children who regularly eat meals with their families often perform better in school and develop stronger communication skills, says ABC. Why? Because the dinner table is more than a place to eat — it’s a natural classroom where children learn how to tell stories, express opinions, listen actively and build vocabulary.
Here are a few ideas from ABC to spark meaningful talk at the dinner table:
• Ask open-ended questions: Instead of “Did you have a good day?” try “What made you laugh today?”
• Play with storytelling: Take turns adding to a made-up story about the food on your plate or a family adventure.
• Rotate conversation leaders: Let a child choose the dinner topic to encourage ownership and creativity.
• Share gratitude: Go around the table and name one thing you’re thankful for. It builds both vocabulary and perspective.
Up from Jan. 24 until Feb. 28, our annual Storywalk ® in Police Point Park is one of the ways we support Family Literacy Day each year. This year’s book is “Snowmen at Night” by Caralyn Buehner. Walk the trails at the beautiful park and learn what snowmen do while you sleep. Stop by the Nature Centre when you’ve finished the Storywalk® to collect your token and redeem it for a prize at the library until March 8.
Spending a couple of hours strolling the stacks picking books or participating in MHPL programs for all ages like storytimes, crafts and book clubs are simple ways to engage in literacy-related activities.
If you can’t make it to the library, we have many online resources you can use. Overdrive/Libby and Overdrive for Kids and Teens feature bestselling and popular titles for all ages. Tumblebooks – animated, talking picture books for the young readers – and Solaro for study help are just a few of the resources available electronically.
Learn all that the library has to offer at mhpl.shortgrass.ca.
Remember that thanks to generous community sponsors library cards are completely free. Come see us and get your card today.
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