« Summer Reading Clubs | Main | BookMANIA! »
June 24, 2007
Hot Information for Parents of Preschoolers
I'm writing from the American Library Association annual conference in Washington, D.C. where innovative, and just plain common sense ideas, are so thick in the air I don't notice it's muggy muggy. Deciding what to share with everyone back home is harder than deciding between rainbow sprinkles and chocolate ones, but I think, for now, I'm going to pick some highlights from the Brooklyn Public Library's presentation about babies and reading. Here's my quick facts.
1. 50% of a child's I.Q. develops before they reach 5 (so these are important years - so important I feel I should run home and do a storytime just to build a few more brain synapses for y'all this weekend).
2. It is ABSOLUTELY a good idea to read, sing, and speak to your baby - shut off your computer and go read right now. And keep doing it. Literacy moments can't start too young.
3. Don't worry if reading time doesn't go exactly as planned. Of course we all know nothing involving children is a perfect script. But don't get discouraged if your child wanders off, throws, or tries to eat the book. All normal. Try instead to bring the child's attention back to you and your book with questions like - Noah, what is the caterpillar eating? Or, Charlotte, what animals are at the zoo?
4. You can read more about the importance of sharing learning with your child under 5 at the Brooklyn Public Library site.
And if you're wondering, well, how can the Darien Library help me and my 'under 5' - don't fret. We have a variety of storytimes specially developed for preschoolers of various ages, all of which start this coming week. No need to register, just come. Times and dates here.
See you back at the Library real soon... (So far, I've shared this information with my Ethiopian and my Punjabi cabmen, both with tiny baby girls (Big congrats, there!)) And don't forget - read to your baby!
Posted by Caitlin at June 24, 2007 06:15 PM