“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
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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
Stories We Tell
November is Native American/Alaska Native Heritage Month – and we couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate than to focus on oral storytelling. For most of us, no matter what your culture, there are stories that are passed down through the generations. No matter if you use a story knife or words, stories have Read More
Books to Explore the Sounds of Language
Babymoon by Hayley Barrett (Infant) This sweet and serene book celebrates the period after bringing a newborn baby home. During their babymoon, this family spends time together after the birth of their new baby, getting to know each other, learning about each other, and enjoying time together. This book is perfect for families who have recently welcomed Read More
Activities to Practice the Sounds of Language
I Know my Name | Birth-6 months This is a chance for your child to practice picking out the sound their name from other words. Read, Read, Read |All ages Expanding your child’s vocabulary with books is a great way to share all the sounds we use to speak English. Promoting Language through Nursery Rhymes Read More
The Sounds of Language
Sound(s) + Syllable(s) = Spoken Word Sorry to start off with an equation, but this one is pretty important. As young children learn to speak, it takes time to understand that words are broken into smaller parts. This skill is not only useful for learning to speak – it also sets the stage for sounding Read More
Books to Explore More Words
Look by Fiona Woodcock (All Ages) Using entirely words and phrases featuring a double o, this book tells the story of a day from morning to night for a brother and sister, including their visit to the zoo. The words are all incorporated into the pictures, making it a fun seek and find for beginning Read More
Activities to Explore More Words
No matter how young or old your child is, the best way to build vocabulary is reading together. Here are some other ways to get your kiddo speaking, learning, and hopefully loving new words: Talk to Me, Baby | Birth – 6 months Encourage babbling, repeat sounds, and teach how conversations work Where’s Your Read More
Ways to Explore More Words
Two of the best ways to grow your child’s vocabulary is to talk and read together. While these sound like no brainers, there are easy ways to expand these. Talk together Children learn by hearing a word over and over Introduce new words Rephrase words to add new words with similar meanings Ask open-ended questions Read More