| The Write Stuff | |
Ripping paper and wadding it into paper balls is a great way for your child to build hand muscles and to get ready to write! Try playing the "Water the Flowers" game. Simply tape some pictures of flowers to a basket or bucket. Have your child rip off strips of old newspaper and then use one hand to wad the strips into paper balls. Have your child throw the balls into the basket to "water the flowers." |
| Summer Reading! |
Summer is just around the corner, and that means it's almost time for the Summer Reading Club! KDL's Summer Reading Club is not just for school-aged children. Infants and pre-readers can join in the fun too!
Stop by your local branch to sign up and get your reading log and stickers. Put a sticker on the reading log's calendar for every day you read, do a rhyme, attend a library program, or do any literacy-related activity. When you've reached 25 stickers, bring your log back for prizes, including an age-appropriate prize for young children. Sign up starting Monday, June 14.
Plus, KDL is offering tons of free summer programs at our branches. You can see a magic show, a comedy act, amazing musicians, live animals, and more! Pick up a KDL Kaleidoscope program guide, visit www.kdl.org/events, or call 616-784-2007 for more information. |
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Greetings!
The Kent District Library wants to help get your child ready to read and write! In this newsletter, you will find FUN and simple activities to do with your child that will help meet that goal. For more information on the skills your child needs before he or she learns to read, visit the Play-Grow-Read section of the KDL website. You can also stop by any KDL branch--our youth librarians would love to share their knowledge with you!
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| Picnic Play |
It's beginning to be picnic weather! Get ready for the real thing with a picnic activity that has many learning opportunities! Using old grocery ads, help your child cut out pictures of food he or she might want to eat at a picnic. Glue some of these pictures onto paper plates and label them for your child. Pack the rest of the pictures in a bag or basket. Spread out a blanket, grab some stuffed animals, and have an indoor picnic with your child. Encourage your child to talk and tell stories while you play. This is a great way to build narrative skills! For even more learning fun, point to the labels that you made. This will help your child develop print awareness, which has to do with knowing that words have meaning and purpose. |
| Music Madness! | |
Playing with shaker eggs is a great way to help your child learn about rhythm! You don't have to purchase expensive premade shaker eggs. Just fill some plastic eggs (or empty plastic bottles) halfway with rice, beans, or something similar. Seal them up, and let your child shake them to music! Here are some of our favorite shaker egg songs:
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| Nursery Nook | |
Saying and playing with nursery rhymes is a great way to bond with your child and help him or her get ready to read! Take a few minutes to play Pat-A-Cake with your baby or toddler!
Pat A Cake
Pat a cake, pake a cake (clap baby's hands to the beat)
Baker's man
Bake me a cake
As fast as you can (clap faster)
Pat it (pat baby's hands in lap)
And roll it (roll baby's hands)
And mark it with a B (trace a B on baby's tummy)
And put it in the oven for baby and me
(toss baby's hands into the air)
Rhythm may be experienced in many ways; chanting a rhyme, dancing to a tune, playing with kitchen pots and pans, tapping toes, listening to music, etc. Babies can experience and enjoy rhythm just as you can. Although your baby may not be able to clap his hands independently for a year or more, he can, with your help, enjoy clapping activities.
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