Learning to read is the foundation a child builds on as they progress throughout their school years, but exposing youngsters to books can begin as early as infancy.
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ROCHELLE — Learning to read is the foundation a child builds on as they progress throughout their school years, but exposing youngsters to books can begin as early as infancy.
This month the Flagg-Rochelle Public Library is hosting a program for the youngest patrons and features stories, music, crafts and activities.
“Books and Babies” will be held on Thursday evenings from 6:15 to 7 p.m. and on Friday mornings from 10:15 to 11 a.m. for babies and toddlers birth to 36 month of age and their parents or caregivers.
“This program is a good beginning for the child — meeting others, watching others, making noise with others, and for the parents as they meet other parents and have time to interact with their child,” said Connie Avery, Assistant Library Director. “There are stories read each week and crafts to coordinate with the theme of the stories. After reading two short books it is time for most of us to get up and move around and make some noise.”
Early readers
Although they are not reading, infants can look at pictures in books and listen to the reader’s voice. Even though everyday life is busy, reading advocates tout the importance of regularly reading to children.
“Children learn to love the sound of language before they even notice the existence of printed words on a page,” as noted on readingrockets.org. “Reading books aloud to children stimulates their imagination and expands their understanding of the world. It helps them develop language and listening skills and prepares them to understand the written word. When the rhythm and melody of language become a part of a child’s life, learning to read will be as natural as learning to walk and talk.”
Several tips are available on ways to schedule time on this website and many others.
“Even if families do not use this program to give their children a start with reading and with meeting new people, it can’t be stressed enough to read to their children,” Avery added. “Their child’s listening skills, language, and learning abilities are all developed and improved with reading.”
For additional information, please contact the library at 815-562-3431 or email at youthlib@flaggrochellepubliclibrary.org. Library programs are intended to be accessible to anyone who wishes to participate. For assistance of any kind due to a disability, please contact the library. The Flagg-Rochelle Public Library is located at 619 Fourth Avenue in Rochelle.
