Early Literacy News from the Swain County Community Reading Council
Holiday celebrations usually involve some traditional foods. Preschoolers like being part of the festivities, including helping make holiday foods. When children participate in cooking activities they gain math, science, and language skills. Read more...
“Again! Read it again!” Many parents shudder at their child’s demand to read a favorite story over and over. Often parents don’t realize just how much a child benefits from repeated readings, which provide opportunities to develop early literacy skills. Read more...
Most toddlers and preschoolers, boys and girls alike, enjoy listening to picture books. Who is usually doing the reading? Mostly women. Moms frequently read to their young sons at bedtime. The majority of a child’s earliest teachers and caregivers are women. Movies and television programs show more women reading than men. As they grow, young boys observe what older boys and men are doing. What they usually see men doing does not involve reading. Since children copy their elders, if boys don’t see men reading, they won’t feel that reading is important and will avoid doing it. This situation puts boys at a learning disadvantage... Read more
With the new school year now several weeks old, families continue to gather school supplies so that their children will be prepared to learn. During September, “Library Card Sign-Up Month”, Fontana Regional Library wants to make sure that all area children have the most important learning and school supply of all—a library card. Read more...
With school starting in early August, it is not too early to prepare for the new school year at preschool, kindergarten, or beyond. Preparations for school may include a new backpack, various school supplies, and a new pair of shoes. However, have you thought about what you can do to prepare your child for learning at school? It is not too late to work on strengthening learning and social skills needed for school success. Read more...
During this summer’s heat wave, families have been struggling to find ways to keep children busy. Instead of turning on the television, computer, or a movie, give your child time for imaginative play. Read more...
School is out for the summer and the heat of the season has already arrived. Some families will be heading out of town on vacation. For others, a “staycation” is the only option. Staying in the area doesn’t mean that your family can’t explore the world. You can travel anywhere you want to go by reading books, magazines, audio-books, and newspapers, for free from your local library. Read more...
Preschoolers are very curious. They ask questions and want to share what they know. Books can help them to explore the world, things in and far from what they encounter each day. Read more...
Every day is a learning day. To a young child, each day brings an opportunity to explore something new. What can be a routine trip to the grocery store for an adult can be a new and exciting adventure for a child. Parents and caregivers can take advantage of a child’s curiosity by using daily experiences as “teachable moments”, expanding on a young child’s natural curiosity about their world, developing thinking skills, and increasing the number of words he understands. Read more...
Why read to babies? It's never too early to begin reading to a child. Even though babies do not understand words, their brains are making connections from what they hear you say. Did you know that sharing books with babies helps them to become good listeners, learning to focus on the human voice and increasing their attention span? As they listen, they develop language and an increased vocabulary. Read more...
Toddlers, one and two year olds, are very busy exploring the world and mastering new skills daily, including increasing the words they can speak and understand. Sharing a book can calm a busy child and offer him a break from active play. Reading can help redirect behavior or emotional outbursts. Read more...
Copyright (©) Renato Maguire, 2006.
