It may sound like a given, but talking to your child is extremely important. Since 80% of your child’s brain development happens from birth to age three, words are vital to building that structure. As much as babies are wired to pick up sounds, tones, words, and gestures, adults seem wired to provide all that Read More
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Activities for a Reading Routine
Read, Read, Read Reading aloud to your child can begin while they are still in utero. Bedtime reading is a great chance to slow down with your child and deepen your bond. For some families, it’s a routine that continues into grade school. Picture Book Walk Before you read a book, preview it with your Read More
Books to Help Create a Reading Routine
Books Always Everywhere by Jane Platt (Infant) Using a sparing amount of words, this book shows many different ways books can be read and explored and all the places you can take a book, or a book can take you. It showcases babies and toddlers from many different backgrounds in its cute illustrations. Can you find Read More
Ways to Create a Reading Routine
Getting more time in for reading doesn’t have to hard: Begin reading to your child during pregnancy to get into the habit Make reading a normal part of your child’s day by choosing a consistent time (i.e. after breakfast, before naptime or bedtime, etc.) Have books available: in the car, diaper bag, bedroom… how about Read More
Creating a Reading Routine
January can be an exciting time to try new things, make resolutions, and create better habits. What better time to commit to making reading a routine? Hopefully, reading together with your child is already a valuable activity for you. If it is hard to find the time to enjoy reading together, we have some suggestions. Read More
Books about Favorite Things
The Favorite Book by Bethanie Deeney Murguia (Preschool) Do you have a favorite color, or plant, or food? How do you know? Sometimes it is easy to pick a favorite and sometimes you keep changing your mind. This book poses questions and gives ideas about what is means to have a favorite but points out that the Read More
Ways to Embrace Your Child’s Favorite Things
Embracing repetition can create routine and add a little imagination to your child’s day. Re-reading and re-reading and re-reading… Have your child help retell the story with the pictures Use the story as the starting point for play Draw pictures inspired by the book Try other books by the same author Favorite characters Use the Read More
Embracing Favorite Things
“Again!” may be one of the most popular quotes from young children. It’s definitely up there with uh-oh, more, up, and mine. Sometimes it’s hard to believe that your child really wants to re-read the same books, play the same game, watch the same movie, or eat the same lunch for the umpteenth time. You Read More
Books About Telling Our Stories
Going Down Home with Daddy by Kelly Starling Lyons (Preschool) When Lil Alan, his parents, and sister go down home, they join great-grandparents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins for a family reunion. They tell stories of the ancestors and visit the land that means so much to all of them, paying tribute to family history. All Read More
Tips for Telling Stories
The power of storytelling for children cannot be underestimated: Teaches problem solving skills and highlights resilience Activates the imagination Builds social emotional intelligence through empathy Aids development of listening and recall skills Gives them source material to use in imaginative play When telling stories, there are several ways to engage your child story: Add Read More