Play and Read: how to get your child ready for reading

At the tri-yearly Get Your Child Ready to Read programs we host here at the library, one of the biggest things we like to stress is that when children play, they learn.  Playing with children is one of the five activities set by the Public Library Association and Association of Library Service to Children for getting your child ready to read.  Their program, Every Child Ready to Read, sets up simple steps for parents to do at home to give children all of the skills they need in order to be able to read.

Early literacy is a big hot-topic word, which can be confusing.  Basically, 

early literacy is what children know about reading 

and writing before they can actually read or write. 

A great example of this is how to hold a book.  Before you can learn to read, you need to know how to hold a book (which side is up, which side is down, how to turn a page).  You can teach your child how to hold a book by consistently reading alongside them.

Here in the library, we try to help you find ways to do all five of these Every Child Ready to Read activities in the various storytimes and programs we host here in the library.  This past week, we hosted our DUPLO storytime, during which we find time for reading, singing, and a little bit of fun play with one of the DUPLO build and read sets. 

If you missed the program, don't worry.  We will host them again in the spring and also in the summer.  If you can't wait that long, feel free to stop by and ask someone at the desk.  They can help you find some fun books and songs to accompany a DUPLO set at home.  At $10-$12 each, they can be slightly expensive for just a book and some blocks, but perhaps you can talk to friends and each buy a different set and swap - or add it to a holiday or birthday wish-list.

We know you work hard every day to provide your family the best, and we want to help you with that.  Please let us know if we can find some materials to supplement your child's growth.  Want to learn more about Every Child Ready to Read?  Join us in February for our program Early Literacy: getting your child ready to read.