Serdang, 9 May 2025 – The Faculty of Human Ecology, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), through its Child Development Laboratory, organized a briefing session to introduce the Home Emergent Literacy Program (HELP-Kids). This initiative is designed to strengthen preschool children's interest and skills in reading through the active involvement of parents and families. The session, presented by Nurhayatul Nira Ramli at Dewan Al-Farabi, Faculty of Human Ecology, emphasized the importance of the home literacy environment as a key foundation for children’s early literacy development at the ages of five and six. HELP-Kids embraces the values of sharing and rotation of learning resources, with parental contributions supporting the development and sustainability of the program. The HELP-Kids package includes reading materials in Malay and English, non-fiction books, a parent guidebook, and a scrapbook to encourage expressive and reflective learning. These materials are loaned out weekly in rotation among participating children and will be reused in subsequent program cycles, in line with the educational endowment (wakaf) concept that fosters community ownership and shared responsibility. This approach not only enhances children’s reading skills but also strengthens the bond between families and early childhood education by integrating literacy practices into the home environment. The scrapbook activity in particular offers children a space to document their reading experiences creatively and meaningfully. The HELP-Kids program is scheduled to run throughout the academic year, following a planned rotation schedule. This initiative supports the university’s efforts to champion community-based early education by positioning families as strategic partners in fostering emergent literacy. Report by : Mrs Nurhayatul Nira Ramli (Makmal Perkembangan Kanak-Kanak) FEM Photography by : Encik Ahmad Mustaqim Albakri

Date of Input: 15/05/2025 | Updated: 15/05/2025 | aspah.kasim