The Organization for Literacy in Lambton is gearing up for Family Literacy Day January 27.
Family Literacy Coordinator Rosemary Travis said it was created by ABC Life Literacy Canada in 1999.
"The intent of it was to raise awareness about reading and engaging in functional literacy activities, even something as straight forward as being able to read a label when you go to the grocery store, or understanding your prescription from the pharmacist, engaging with your kids, teaching them how to bake cookies, those are all literacy related activities."
Travis said family literacy can be built every day.
"It starts as soon as the little baby comes home, or even before so. There are those who are proponents that say that as an infant is in the womb, listening to mama's voice, that's where literacy begins."
Travis said there are lots of ways to help children grow their functional literacy in fun ways.
"Once they arrive, you've got nursery rhymes, as they get older you can play board games with them. There are a lot of parents right now who are assisting with homework through homeschooling, so that's a very clear form of literacy and maybe those parents are also remembering their own school days and what they learned."
Families are encouraged to use their imaginations and travel the world together by exploring the globe from their own homes this year.
She said they can make a traditional dish from a country they've always wanted to visit or dance to music from another continent.
Literacy Lambton is also inviting people to participate in a daily travel trivia contest, posted to their Facebook page.