Learning to read does not begin on the first day of kindergarten. It begins much earlier, with a parent reading a bedtime story, a toddler learning the words to a favorite song, a child pointing at pictures in a book or simply listening as an adult talks abouttheworldaroundthem.
This September, the Madill City Library is giving local families an opportunity to build those early literacy skills through its Tiny Tales and Teaching Moments program, held each Friday in September at 10:30 a.m. The program is designed especially for children age 4 and younger and their parents or caregivers.
The weekly program combines stories, songs, activities and short teaching moments designedtomakereadingand learning enjoyable for young children while helping adults understand how they can encourage literacy at home.
Early literacy is about much more than teaching a young child to recognize letters or sound out words. For children under 5, it is about developing the foundation that eventually makes reading possible.
Children are learning vocabulary, listening skills, communication, comprehension, the sounds of language and how books and printed words work. Those skills develop through everyday experiences.
Reading aloud to a child, talking together, singing songs, saying nursery rhymes, looking at pictures and asking questions are all simple ways parents can help prepare a child for future reading success. Parents do not have to wait until a child is old enough to attend preschool to begin.
A baby may not understand the story but hearing a parent's voice, listening to the rhythm of language and looking at colorful pictures are all early experiences with language and books. As children become toddlers, parents can point out pictures, name objects, ask simple questions and allow children to turn pages.
By ages 3 and 4, children can begin taking a more active role. Parents can point out letters, especially those in the child's name, talk about the sounds words make, ask what might happen next in a story and encourage children to tell the story back in their own words.
One of the most important parts of early literacy is making it fun. Parents should not feel as though every story needs to become a formal lesson. A child who wants to hear the same book night after night is actually getting something valuable from that repetition. Familiar stories help children learn vocabulary, understand how stories work and anticipate what comes next.
Even short reading sessions can make a difference. Ten or 15 minutes of reading togethereachdaycanbecome an important family routine.
Parents can also turn ordinary activities into literacy opportunities. Reading the words on a grocery package, pointing out a stop sign, talking about a recipe while cooking or describing what is happening during a walk can all help children develop language.
Singing and rhyming are also valuable. Nursery rhymes and children's songs help young children begin hearing the different sounds that make up spoken language, an important skill as they eventually learn to connect sounds with letters.
Perhaps one of the simplest things parents can do is let their children see them reading. When children see adults reading books, newspapers, magazines, recipes or other material, they begin to understand that reading is something people use every day.
TheTinyTalesandTeaching Moments program is designed to reinforce those same concepts while giving families a chance to experience literacy together. Children can participate at their own pace while parents and caregivers watch, participate and pick up ideas they can continue using at home. The relaxed library setting also helps young children become comfortable around books and storytelling and gives families a regular opportunity to make reading part of their weekly routine.
Theprogramisbeingmade possible through a grant involving the Oklahoma Department of Libraries, with funding from the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA), a federal program administered through the Institute of Museum and Library Services. As part of bringing the program to Madill, local library staff traveled to a workshop where theyreceivedtrainingonhow to develop and present the literacy program.
The training gives librarians the tools and information needed to provide the early childhood literacy activities to local families.
There is also the possibility that the Tiny Tales and Teaching Moments program could be extended through October, giving families additional opportunities to participate beyond the September schedule. For the Madill City Library, the program is about more than simply getting children into the library. It is about giving children an early and positive relationshipwithbookswhile giving parents practical tools to continue that experience at home.
Early literacy does not require expensive equipment, complicated programs or a classroom. It can begin with a picture book on the couch, a song in the car, a conversation at the grocery store or a bedtime story.
The goal is not necessarily to have a 3-year-old reading independently. The goal is to help that child develop the language, curiosity, listening ability, vocabulary and love of books that will make learning to read easier when the time comes.
For families with young children, the Madill City Library's TinyTalesandTeaching Moments program offers a simple way to start building those skills together. The library invites families with children, 4 and younger to attend Tiny Tales and Teaching Moments every Friday in September at 10:30 a.m.
Parents and caregivers are encouraged to bring their young readers, participate in the stories and activities, and discover ways to make literacy a part of everyday family life. For a young child, it may simply feel like a morning of stories, songs and fun. Those small moments can become the beginning of a lifelong relationship with reading and learning.