The library summer reading program a success

Whatawonderfultimethe childrenhadatthe3yearsold and under Summer Program during June. There will be two more Tuesday, July 11 and 18. It starts at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesdays.

As the program begins, children are all welcomed through song by name. Their shirt is described, by volunteer Ginger Edmondson, as part of the song. This lets every child know they are important, aids in building community, manners and building language skills. She sings the name of each child. “Mateo is wearing a grey shirt, grey shirt, grey shirt. Mateo is wearing a grey shirt all day long.” With a musical instrument in hand, Mateo kept a steady beat during music time.

Attendees enjoyed singing the Wheels on the Bus, playing musicalinstruments,and participating in a musical parade. Children were able to participate in the story “Quiet Down Loud Town” by being LOUD and then quiet. “Squish, Crunch, Splash!” was read and attendees were able to say the different sounds together.

Jill Neeley, from Juvenile Diversion, talked to children and families about how children are learning during all activities. She talked about how the fiive-week-old, that was present with an older sibling, was learning in the roomthroughhearingsounds and watching.

Children played with toys that promote using their creativity. Two types of blocks, magnetic tiles and other large magnetic building toys allowed for children to learn through play.

Handouts are given to parents each week to help families learn about early literacy skills, bonding activities, child development, safe “caregiver breaks” to recharge when their kids are happily playing, the Oklahoma Warm-line number to aid generating ideas related to a variety of topics and the 988 number.