Helping Children Love to Read

One of the most important things parents can do is to help their children to develop a love of reading and a love of the library.




Do you want to help your kids develop the library habit for life? Here are some things you can do:

• Include children--even babies and toddlers--in trips to the library, and go often.



• As soon as you can, help your child get a library card.



• Borrow recordings of children's stories and songs, cassette tapes, compact discs, videotapes, even educational and fun toys from the Toy to Grow program.



• Encourage your children to use the library to find information for their homework through computer use, printed material or one of the library’s many databases



• Encourage your children to ask for help from you and the library staff in finding books and materials.



• Work with the library staff to teach older children how to find things in the library on their own.



• Take advantage of pre-school, after-school and summer reading programs. Summer programs can help your child retain skills that often fade over long school breaks.



• Encourage reading at home. Let your child see you reading. Have him or her read to you or to younger siblings. Establish a daily or weekly family read-aloud time.



• Be a good role model. Let your child see you using and enjoying the library.



• If your child loves to read or be read to, make library visits regular outings. Visits are free and so is borrowing the books

What is Early Literacy?
Early literacy is everything children know about reading and writing before they can actually read and write, including any interaction children have with books from the earliest stage of life. From babies chewing on a book to a preschooler pretending to read, all early literacy interactions are important. Parents and caretakers have an essential role in early literacy because learning begins long before children ever step foot in a classroom.

Parents and caretakers can help their children learn important skills now so that they can become good readers and writers later. The best news is that preparing children to be ready to read and learn is fun! Forget the flashcards, the computer programs and videos. Instead, engage in activities in a natural, relaxed way that will prepare children for school success: Playing games, singing songs and telling stories are all ideal activities. If parents or caretakers can do these things, their child will be ready to learn to read! (Information about early literacy taken from http://www.mpls.lib.mn.us/els.asp)

Fingerplay of the Month : PUMPKIN, PUMPKIN
(Tune: Twinkle, Twinkle)

Pumpkin, pumpkin, orange and round

Arms form a circle

Sitting quietly on the ground

Crouch down

Once you were a seed so small,

Pretend to hold a seed

Now you are a great orange ball,

Make a huge circle with hands

Pumpkin, pumpkin, orange and round

Arms form a circle

Rolling, rolling on the ground.

Make rolling motion with arms

(Pumpkin, Pumpkin is from Preschool favorites: 35 storytimes kids love)

Bringing your child to a library program is an excellent way to include literacy in their day, meet new friends and, of course, have a lot of fun.

Please check out our website for a list of all the great programs offered at the McCormick branch and the Main library. Hope to see you soon.

Dana