Story Times at WCL

Mom reading to baby

 

Fall Story Times are starting up and we can't wait to welcome all the littles! The chorus of voices and smiles never fails to brighten our day. It's a great way to spend your morning, too, connecting with other families to share fun and nurturing activities.    

Did you know our programming for ages 0 - 5 years is based on American Library Association’s Every Child Ready to Read? This research-based tool is designed to help us (library staff) educate our parents and caregivers. Using five simple but effective practices, parents and caregivers can help babies, toddlers, and preschoolers develop skills that get them ready to read. This in turn puts them on the right path to school readiness and student success.

Here's a brief summary of things we do during Story Times and that you can practice at home.

  1. Talking - Talking with children helps them learn oral language, one of the most critical early literacy skills. Children learn about language by listening to parents talk and joining in the conversation.
  2. Singing - Singing slows down language so children can hear the different sounds in words. It can help children learn new words and information.
  3. Reading - Reading together develops vocabulary and comprehension, nurtures a love for reading, and motivates children to want to learn to read.
  4. Writing - Children become aware that printed letters stand for spoken words as they see print used in their daily lives.
  5. Playing - Play is one of the best ways for children to learn language and literacy skills. Activities help them put thoughts into words and talk about what they are doing.

For more activities, visit our Every Child Ready to Read page.