Pyjama angels helping foster children

Child Safety Minister Desley Boyle today praised the work of Queensland’s “pyjama angels” - volunteers who visit foster children and read aloud to them for an hour a week.

“It’s a simple idea but it’s so important. Foster children have usually had a pretty rough start in life before coming into care. Many have never had a story read aloud to them and some have barely been spoken to in a caring and nurturing way.

“All the research tells us that being read aloud to gives children a big head start in their ability to learn to read. And kids who can read have more confidence and are more likely to develop a love of learning.

“So I congratulate the pyjama angels who give up their time and make a real difference to the lives of our foster children.

“It’s a marvellous opportunity for people who don’t have the time or perhaps the energy to be a full-time foster carer.

“I’m not surprised to learn that this sort of volunteer work appeals to grandparents. They grew up in a time before TV and video games when reading was so important.

“People who would like to help our foster children can become a pyjama angel or they can sponsor one for $20 a month,” Ms Boyle said.

The Pyjama Foundation is the not-for-profit organisation behind the pyjama angels. Director and Founder Bronwyn Sheehan said the foundation was inspired by acclaimed children’s writer Mem Fox who wrote that “every child should have 1000 books read to them, before they learn to read themselves”.

Ms Sheehan said: “Our goal is to give children in care the same opportunities in life as all other children.

“We are committed to reading 1000 books to each of the more than 6000 foster children in care”.

“Our pyjama angels include doctors, lawyers, nurses, teachers, journalists, IT specialists, mechanics and university students and they read to foster children ranging in age from 17 months to 15-years-old,“ Ms Sheehan said.

Jill Nightingale is a registered nurse and a pyjama angel who for the past 18 months has been reading to an 11-year-old girl in foster care.

Ms Nightingale said the girl’s first words to me were “I’m really dumb I can’t read”

“She’s actually quite intelligent but she just hasn’t had the same opportunities or care that most families take for granted.

“But her reading has now improved dramatically and so has her self esteem. Her teacher tells me her participation in class has increased enormously and her ability to concentrate has gone from just a few minutes to an hour and a half.

“Reading to her is one of the most wonderful, rewarding, fulfilling things I’ve ever done,” Ms Nightingale said.

Ms Sheehan said the Pyjama Foundation is operating in Brisbane, the Gold Coast, SunshineCoast, Gympie, Murgon, Beenleigh and Toowoomba and wants to spread throughout the rest of the state.

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Media contact: 3224 7477

Pyjama Foundation Office 3262 5569 Mob 0433 238 247