Storytime is a magical thing. Children gather around on the floor with their parents, a group leader or librarian reads a story aloud. Maybe there’s a special craft, song to sing, or time after for kids to play while parents chat, and everyone leaves a little happier than they came. Odds are good that you’ve Read More
Parent Center
Ways You Can Help Your Child Get the Most out of Storytime
Pick the right storytime at the right time for you. Many libraries offer specific storytime for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers with stories that are hand-picked for their age or language! The storytime that works best for some parents might be the middle of nap time for others, so keep your child’s needs in mind. It’s Read More
Storytime Activities in Anchorage
Here are a few popular story times located in the Anchorage area. If you are located outside of Anchorage, we encourage you to check out your local library or reach out to your local Imagination Library to hear about storytimes in your community. All events are free unless otherwise noted. Weekly Events: Mondays 10:30 AM Toddler Read More
Daily Literacy Activities
Try these everyday activities at home to spark conversation and expose your child to more words. Photo Share (Infant, Toddler, Preschool) Look through photos hanging in your home, in an album, or saved on your smartphone. Tell stories about the people in each photo and share memories. Take a Walk (Infant, Toddler, Preschool) Go for a Read More
Ways You Can Help Your Child Get Daily Doses of Literacy
Talk about anything and everything! Playtime Talk about the colors, shape, and feel of the toys being used. Be descriptive when making requests such as “Can you pass me the round toy with the blue stripes?” Cooking & Eating Name the foods you can see and taste in each dish. Narrate the steps and name Read More
Books You’ll Love for Daily Doses of Literacy
Use these books to read, sing, play, talk, and write throughout the day! 1. READ Read to Your Bunny by Rosemary Wells (Infant, Toddler) A book that is both perfect to read to children and to encourage caregivers to continue to read to children. Reading with your children is one of the simplest ways to build Read More
Daily Doses of Literacy
Words are all around us. In the words we say, and the words we see. Opportunities for rich conversation exist in so many places! Helping your child get ready to read doesn’t require a fancy lesson plan – all it takes is for you to know that language is a critical piece of early literacy Read More
Ways You Can Help Your Child Develop Healthy Screen Habits
Set age-appropriate time limits for your child. Avoid digital media use (except video-chatting) in children younger than 18 to 24 months. For children 2 to 5 years of age, limit screen use to 1 hour per day of high-quality programming. Make screen time shared time. Read, watch, and play with your child when they’re using Read More
Books (and Apps) You’ll Love About Digital Media
From eBooks to apps, here are a few places to start for picking high-quality media. Sesame Street eBook collection (Toddler, Preschool) Available for free at sled.alaska.edu for all Alaskans, courtesy of the Alaska Dept. of Education and Early Development. Includes new and classic stories with your favorite Sesame Street characters in both English and Spanish. Tumblebooks eBook Read More
Kids & Media: Growing Up Digital
Smartphones. Apps. Tablets. iPads. Televisions. Netflix. YouTube. It seems like everywhere we turn a screen is waiting for us. It’s no different for our children. As a parent you play an important role in helping your child learn how to use digital media – think of yourself as a digital curator, uniquely positioned to filter the Read More
