New Toddler Fun Book For Gaelic Readers
Toddlers and their parents celebrated the launch of a new book of play ideas in Gaelic by enjoying fun and games in an Inverness park.
Cluich@anTaigh, is the new Gaelic version of the Play @ home toddler book which is offered to all parents in Highland to encourage active play for children under 3 years old. Since the scheme, which is run by The Highland Council and NHS Highland, was introduced in 2002, the book has only been available in English, but from today parents and carers who read Gaelic will have their own language version.
The book is an easy to use guide which contains lots of ideas for active games that are not only fun to play but also help children’s development. There is also advice on infant massage techniques, recipes for play materials and words to popular rhymes.
Accompanying the book is a CD of songs and rhymes “Cluich Comhla”, sung by children from Acharacle Primary School in Lochaber.
The Highland Council’s Chairman of Education, Culture and Sport, Councillor Bill Fernie said: “play @ home is designed to be fun. Toddlers grow so quickly that it can be hard to come up with fresh ideas to entertain and stimulate them so this is a very helpful resource. The project recognises parents are the prime educators of their children and helps them in the role so it is good we can offer books now in Gaelic as well as English.”
Funding to produce the book in Gaelic has come from Highlands and Islands Enterprise, The Highland Council, Comhairle nan Leabhraichean, Comunn na Gàidhlig, Bòrd na Gàidhlig and Comhairle nan Sgoiltean Araich.
Councillor Hamish Fraser, Chairman of The Highland Council’s Gaelic Committee welcomed the move to translate the book into Gaelic. He said: “I am delighted that we are now able to offer parents and carers a Gaelic version of the book for 1 to 3 year olds at a time when the demand for educating children in the Gaelic language is growing. As a Council we are committed to supporting the development of the Gaelic language and I see this as an investment for the future. We are already seeing more parents, who themselves have been educated through Gaelic medium, wishing to pass on their bi-lingual skills to their own young families.”
NHS Highland Specialist in Public Health Sally Amor said: “The play @ home guide includes some fun and easy ways to entertain young children while giving them opportunities to learn with their parents and carers. It’s a great tool if you are looking for something to do with children and it’s brilliant that it’s now available in Gaelic.”
The Highland Council and NHS Highland also produce a play @ home Baby Book which has songs and rhymes in Gaelic and a Pre-School book which will have a supplement of Gaelic songs and rhymes produced later this year.
During the launch, toddlers and their parents tried out some play @ home games and songs before having a snack and receiving their packs.
Cluich@anTaigh will now be available to parents through Highland Croileagan (Gaelic Play Groups) and in all Highland libraries.
Diciadain 16 An Giblean 2008
Leabhar Ùr Spòrsail Do Leughadairean Gàidhlig
Chomharraich pàistean agus am pàrantan leabhar ùr mu chluich sa Ghàidhlig a chuireadh air bhog le fealla-dhà is geamannan ann am pàirc ann an Inbhir Nis.
’S e riochd ùr Gàidhlig de Play@home a th’ ann an Cluich@anTaigh. Thathar ga thabhann do gach pàrant sa Ghàidhealtachd gus cluiche ghnìomhach a bhrosnachadh sa chloinn fo thrì bliadhna. Bho thòisich an sgeama, a th’ air a ruith le Comhairle na Gàidhealtachd, ann an 2002, cha robh an leabhar ri fhaotainn ach sa Bheurla ach, a-mach o an-diugh, bidh riochd Gàidhlig aig pàrantan is luchd-cùraim.
’S e iùl a tha furasta a chleachdadh a tha seo, agus tha e làn bheachdan airson gheamannan a tha spòrsail agus math airson piseach a thoirt air a’ chloinn. Tha comhairle ann air dòighean air clann a shuathadh, reasapaidhean airson stuthan cluiche agus rannan.
Còmhla ris an leabhar, tha CD le na h-òrain is na rannan à “Cluich Comhla”, air an seinn leis a’ chloinn à Bun-sgoil Ath Tharracail ann an Loch Abar.
Thuirt an Comhairliche Bill Fernie, Cathraiche Foghlaim, Cultar is Spòrs aig Comhairle na Gàidhealtachd: “Tha Cluich@anTaigh air a dhealbh airson a bhith spòrsail. Tha pàistean a’ fàs cho luath agus faodaidh e bhith doirbh smaoineachadh air rudan ùra airson an toileachadh agus am brosnachadh. Mar sin, ’s e goireas feumail a tha seo. Tha am pròiseact mothachail gur iad na pàrantan prìomh luchd-oideachaidh na cloinne agus tha e gan cuideachadh san dreuchd sin. Mar sin, tha e math gu bheil na leabhraichean a-nis sa Ghàidhlig cuideachd.”
Thàinig maoineachadh airson an leabhair Ghàidhlig bho Iomairt na Gàidhealtachd is nan Eilean, Comhairle na Gàidhealtachd, Comhairle nan Leabhraichean, Comunn na Gàidhlig, Bòrd na Gàidhlig agus Comhairle nan Sgoiltean Àraich.
Chuir an Comhairliche Hamish Friseal, Cathraiche Comataidh na Gàidhlig aig Comhairle na Gàidhealtachd fàite air an leabhar Ghàidhlig. Thuirt e: “Tha mi uabhasach toilichte gu bheil leabhar againn a-nis sa Ghàidhlig do phàrantan na cloinne eadar bliadhna is trì bliadhna nuair a tha iarrtas airson a bhith ag oideachadh chloinne sa Ghàidhlig a’ sìor fhàs. Mar Chomhairle, tha dealas againn a thaobh taic a thoirt do leasachadh na Gàidhlig agus tha mi a’ faicinn seo mar nì a bhios feumail san àm ri teachd. Tha sinn mar-thà a’ faicinn barrachd phàrantan, a chaidh iad fhèin an oideachadh ann am foghlam tro mheadhan na Gàidhlig, ag iarraidh na sgilean dà-chànanach aca a thoirt dhan cloinn.”
Tha Comhairle na Gàidhealtachd agus NHS na Gàidhealtachd cuideachd air Leabhar Leanaban a dhèanamh, cluich @ an taigh, sa bheil òrain is rannan sa Ghàidhlig agus leabhar Fo-aois Sgoile anns am bi earrann le òrain is rannan sa Ghàidhlig a nochdas nas fhaide dhen bhliadhna.
Nuair a bhathar ga chur air bhog, dh’fheuch pàistean is pàrantan air cuid dhe na geamannan is na h-òrain ann an cluich @ an taigh mus do ghabh iad grèim bìdh agus mus d’ fhuair iad na pacan.
Gheibh pàrantan a-nis Cluich@anTaigh tro na Cròileagain agus anns gach leabharlann sa Ghàidhealtachd.
CRÌOCH