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Free Holiday Programs
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Celebrate the season with great holiday programs at your local KDL branch.
Traveling all the way from the North Pole (via Rooftop Landing Reindeer Farms), live reindeer will be visiting throughout December.
Also, take a stroll down Gingerbread Lane and enjoy tasty gingerbread stories. Each child will be able to make a simple gingerbread house.
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Nursery Nook
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A Chubby Little Snowman
A chubby little snowman (make arms into a circle, like you are chubby)
Had a carrot nose (tap nose with finger)
Along came a bunny (make bunny ears with your fingers)
And what do you suppose? (put arms out like you are asking a question)
That hungry little bunny (rub tummy)
Looking for his lunch (put hand over eyes like your are searching for something)
Ate the snowman's carrot nose (tap nose with finger)
Nibble, nibble, CRUNCH! (pretend to nibble nose with fingers and then grab nose on CRUNCH!)
A delightful, seasonal rhyme that helps develop some fine motor skills at the same time! It also helps develop listening and following directions with all the movements involved.
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Music Minute
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Do you know any children that have trouble transitioning from one activity to another? Music can be a helpful tool in your daily routine by making cleaning up, brushing teeth or getting dressed into a fun, stress-free time. Try taking a familiar tune like Row, Row, Row Your Boat and sing "brush, brush, brush your teeth" or for the The Farmer in the Dell, sing "Let's pick up the toys." Using your imagination, take songs you know and invent your own verses with your kids. Singing will help relieve stress, distract your child and will also nurture their abilities to concentrate and listen.
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Tech Tips
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There is a plethora of information and activities for young children to be found on the KDL website. The PLAY-GROW-READ! section of the KDL website can be found under the "Parents & Kids" tab. This month we will focus on the portion called "Five Practices Your Child Needs to Get Ready to Read." The five early literacy practices are talking, writing, reading, playing, and singing. Each practice is thoroughly explained along with tips on how to incorporate these early literacy skills into your child's everyday life. There are also links to printable activities, crafts and books that encourage each of the five practices. Be sure to take advantage of this great resource!
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Greetings!
Kent District Library is here to provide you and your child with the skills needed to succeed in school and in life. KDL's Early Lit Bits newsletter is full of FUN and simple activities that will help foster that growth. For more information regarding 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 to speak with one of our helpful youth librarians. We hope to see you soon!
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| Learning with Crafts | |
Deck the Halls
As the weather starts to turn cold, most parents find themselves looking for indoor activities to fight cabin fever and keep small hands occupied. Making cheerful garlands to brighten up the house during the winter is a great way for children to develop fine motor skills they will need to learn to write when they begin school.
Materials:
- yarn or string
- "O" shaped cereal or candy, tube shaped pasta, or drinking straws cut into small pieces
- scissors
- masking tape
To Make: Tie a large knot in the end of a piece of yarn to keep the cereal or pasta "beads" from falling off. Wind a length of masking tape around the other end of the yarn to form a stiff "needle." Children can thread cereal, pasta or drinking straw pieces onto the yarn to make garlands to hang up around the house. Other Ideas: Cereal garlands can be eaten by children, or hung up outside on a tree for the birds and squirrels to eat. Try using colored cereal and pasta to make patterned garlands to promote early math skills. Make paper chains by linking pieces of paper together or show your child how to accordion fold paper and make paper doll chains.
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| Book Review | |
Oh, No! by Candace Fleming
A series of animals fall into a deep hole in the jungle, with each rescue attempt resulting in another animal falling in the hole. Who will come to their aid and get everyone out of the hole? The text repeats the phrase "Oh no!" throughout the book, and your child will no doubt be saying it right along with you as you read. The rhythm of the book is enjoyable to hear aloud, making it a great choice for a group setting. You may even find yourself getting into a beat and singing as you read together. This book also introduces some unique jungle animals and plants to the reader, providing opportunities to expand vocabulary and learn something new. Talking and singing are wonderful ways to practice language skills and get your child ready to read!
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| KDLville Early Literacy Play Spaces | |
This past spring, the Gaines Township branch opened its KDLville early literacy area. Some popular activities include the kitchen, cars, garage and road rug as well as the magnetic gears. The writing area is very popular as well. Everyday children write letters and draw pictures dedicated to Katie L.
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