Did you know that children under age 5 who are read to on a regular basis—even for 15 minutes a day—are three times more likely to succeed throughout their entire educational journey? And the benefits don’t stop with academic performance; being read to positively shapes children’s emotional, intellectual, and social abilities for the rest of their lives.
Reading to kids is a practice that builds their early literacy skills. “Early literacy” refers not to a child learning to read, but to the foundation that is laid beforehand. Before preschoolers learn to read, they need to develop capabilities in a variety of areas to make reading possible.
These foundational skills include the ability to speak and understand words; to recognize letters, shapes, and patterns in sound; to learn new words; and to comprehend stories and informational text. The practice of being read to—of hearing a story—is just one aspect of building a child’s literacy skills.
The process of cultivating a child’s literacy skills begins at birth and continues through the first few years of their life. Research shows that from ages 0-3, kids’ brains are creating one million neural connections per second!
These connections are built and strengthened through repetition and wide-ranging sensory experiences such as sight, touch, and sound.
Before babies’ brains have fully developed, the optimal way they learn and explore the world is through their senses. With this in mind, your Library uses an initiative called Every Child Ready to Read to create our preschool programming. This literacy approach emphasizes five sensory practices to prepare kids: playing, singing, talking, reading, and writing.
You’ll find these practices woven through every program we offer for preschoolers and their families. At your Library, we intentionally design and put on preschool events that, while playful and fun, are also research-based and educational.
Our children’s librarians get to be the “fun aunts” in the educational family. They have the privilege of creating entertaining programs that make kids happy; they provide stories and activities that engage kids’ senses. Meanwhile, kids are learning and growing their literacy skills, and getting ready to discover the joy of reading for themselves.
Preschool Play Lab
Your Library’s Preschool Play Lab is an example of a sensory program that nurtures development. Kids ages 3-5 years explore stations with common household items that create sensory experiences, including playdough, tubs of dry beans and rice, plastic items, boxes, kitchen utensils, and crafts.
The hands-on nature of this play—which can easily be replicated at home—encourages discovery, curiosity, and creativity. Plus, kids get to play with others and build social skills.
“Play labs are such a fun way to engage a sense of wonder in a warm and welcoming space,” Assistant Director of Children’s Services Suzy Bomgardner says. “We want kids to get their hands messy and explore the world around them in a kinesthetic way.”
The next Preschool Play Lab is on Monday, April 14. Families with kids ages 3-5 years can drop by the Library’s Jones Meeting Center from 10-11:30 a.m. to enjoy the sensory stations and discovery play.
Check out our events calendar to find more upcoming opportunities for learning and fun. Follow Johnson City Public Library on Facebook and Instagram to receive updates about Library programs, collections, and services.
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