Kidding Around: early literacy

Thursday, January 2, 2014

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.

Friday, December 20, 2013

My Embarrassing (and not so embarrassing) Musical Heritage

Lately I’ve been revisiting my embarrassing musical heritage. We all have one. It’s the music you grew up listening to that hasn’t aged well, but still evokes fond feelings from your childhood. Your friends chuckle when the tracks comes up on your playlist, but you love them, so they stay.

Working with preschoolers, I am keenly in tune with the children’s music segment of my embarrassing musical heritage. How about you? Do you remember the music your parents played for you as a child?

In the late 80’s early 90’s, my parents were big on children’s folk. Some of it I still consider top quality music. Diss Burl Ives? Them's fightin' words.

Other CDs are hard to sit through despite nostalgia. Red Grammer’s excessive use of the drum machine in Teaching Peace comes to mind. But yet, I still sing his heart warming “I think you’re wonderful” whenever words alone will not adequately convey the sentiment.

Some albums are still popular. 37 years after the release of Singable Songs for the Very Young, toddlers are still dancing to Raffi. In 2009 Sesame Street re-released a collection of old school gems for their 40th anniversary. Kids can still learn their multiplication tables to Schoolhouse Rock.

Many older CDs have been loved into oblivion, (no one seems to own John Mccutcheon's Howjadoo anymore), but others are still available in the wider library system. You can put them on hold from home, and have them delivered to Des Plaines Public Library for pickup. Click here to start your search.

All embarrassment aside, I am grateful to my parents for seeking out music that would help me learn and grow. Did you know that when you and your child sing along to your favorite songs, you are helping your child learn to break words into syllables? By enjoying music together, you are setting your child up for success in school! Now that's something to sing about.

Here are some titles from my musical heritage. What about yours?