Small Memories

Reading aloud to your children during their first three years is very important. Here are a few things you should know about reading and the power of your voice.

You learned when you were carrying your baby that your voice could encourage wonderful responses from your baby. It was then that your unborn child began to learn about emotions, language, and even reading! Yes, you read it right. Reading.

During the first three years, children develop most of their ability to learn. Their little brains grow to about 90% of the size of an adult’s brain. That’s why toddlers tend to look sort of top heavy. Because they are growing and learning so quickly, You have to act fast too!

It’s important for parents to talk, read, and sing to their budding readers. When you verbally communicate with your child, unbelievable things happen inside his/her brain. Your voice stimulates the growth of new cells and links as well as strengthens cells and links that have already formed. Imagine that! Your voice has more power than you ever realized!

Many parents want to jump right in to formal education at this time but it’s through play that children learn the best…at least for the time being. What can seem like play to adults is actually work for children. Acting out a story or song, playing dress-up, doing finger plays, dancing to music, and drawing all encourage the development of pre-reading skills.

So you see, what you do or don’t do has a lasting effect on your child’s ability to read. Make the most of the time you have with your baby/toddler. Talk, read, sing, play in order to raise a reader!

Here are a couple of books to help you out. They are available in the Baby/Toddler Books section of our Family Favorites Shop.

Parents & Grandparents Plan Your Summer Strategy NOW!

Summer is almost here. Schools will soon let the kids out for the Summer vacation. There will be kids bouncing around celebrating. Will you be celebrating with them? Many of you are already happy on the outside but cringing on the inside. Don’t worry just yet. You still have a little while before you hear the daily whines of, “Isn’t it time for them to go back to school yet?”

Now’s the time to get your Summer plan of action ready! Start with a Summer reading program. Don’t know if your library has a program? You can find out by clicking here. Look in the states section at the top of the page. Choose your state and then select your town to find your local library system’s website.

In most cases, your local library won’t have their own website but you can see what is available through the regional system. You can also find the address and phone number for your local library so you can call and ask what they have to offer. Don’t forget to ask about programs for people who can’t get to the library for story time. For instance, the Middle Georgia Regional Library System offers a Summer program as well as a story line.

While you’re at the library website, look to see if they have a yearly book sale. Many are called “Friends of the Library” book sale. These book sales generally take donated books (from you) as well as older books from the library to raise money for different projects. If you find a library sale, be sure to make a note of it so you can pick up a few books without spending a lot of money! Until you can make it to that sale, you can pick up a few children’s books at our Family Favorites Shop.