Early Literacy @ JCPL
Every Child Ready to Read is a project of the American Library Association. Early literacy is what children know about reading and writing before they can actually read or write. Enjoy these simple activities with your child anytime and any place throughout the day. Besides being fun, they will help your child get ready to read!
- Talking: Learn language by listening to others talk. Hearing words leads to understanding their meaning as you hear them in context.
- Singing: Songs slow down language and break down the sounds and syllables in words. Practicing rhythm and rhyme help.
- Reading: The single most important way to help children get ready to read is to read together!
- Writing: Connect spoken and printed language. Scribbling counts!
- Playing: Playtime exercises imagination and encourages expression of thoughts.
Early Literacy Kits: You will find a variety of helpful kits at each of our branches to work on literacy skills with your child.
- Divided by ages: baby, toddler, preschooler and pre-kindergartner
- Contents held in a sturdy, plastic tote
- Entire kit can be checked out for 3 weeks
- No fines are charged for missing items
- Possible items range from books, CDs, puppets, manipulatives, games, and toys
- Themes vary; for example, alphabet, my body, animals, counting/numbers, music/rhythm, colors, rhymes, food, shapes
- Activity sheet included, giving suggestions on how to use the items to interact with your child
Programming
Many of our children's services librarians have received Early Literacy Training and incorporate exercising these skills with your children during our library programs. Look at our calendar of events for programs your young child can participate in at the library.
