Archive for the ‘child development’ Category
BABIES…BABIES…BABIES
Posted on: February 22, 2011
- In: authors | baby | books | child development | early literacy | emergent literacy | kids events | Literacy | newborn | parenting | read alouds | reading | storytime | Uncategorized | west palm beach public library
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Reading books to babies just sounds like a crazy idea, doesn’t it?
Think again!
Some mothers-to-be even read to their baby before it’s even born! If that sounds silly to you, think again. There are many reasons to read to a baby. For one thing, hearing words helps to build a big network of words in a baby’s brain. By reading to a baby, we can increase their language as they grow and develop.
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When we hold a baby close to us and read, it creates a special bond between the baby and the adult. Not only does he learn the sound of words and see new pictures of the world, he becomes a good listener in the process. It’s especially nice if you read some stories to your baby before bedtime. It’s a very calming experience once they get used to the idea. It also helps create a routine, which is so important when it’s time to get the baby to bed and to sleep for the night.
Babies watch everything we do. When you read to a baby, he watches you turn the pages. It’s a basic concept that he is learning about a book. Then he’s old enough, he can begin to turn the pages as you read. You will also catch him playing with a book and turning the pages as he pretends to read.
Babies learn by touching, too. Babies like to teethe on books to find out what they’re all about. Cloth and vinyl books are great for babies. Vinyl ones can even go in the bathtub. Who says you have to sit in a chair to read a book?
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There are wonderful board books at our library for you to enjoy with your baby. We even have Bumbo seats to hold up the babies that can’t sit up by themselves yet.
Babies are not born loving books. It’s something we teach them. Bring your baby to the library for a new experience. Sit in a Bumbo seat and read a board book together.
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Visit a baby storytime on Fridays at 10:30 a.m. or 2:00 p.m. You’ll experience singing, dancing, books, and lots of movement. It’s fun for babies and you! Call 868-7703 to reserve a spot for you and your baby today.
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Judy
- In: authors | books | child development | early literacy | educational | elementary | emergent literacy | holidays | language skills | Literacy | poems | Poetry | Poetry for children | preschool | read alouds | reading | Uncategorized | west palm beach | west palm beach public library
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Whether you prefer to celebrate the holiday in a goofy way, traditional way, or a little bit of both, enjoy these poems!
Happy Turkey Day!
November
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Thanksgiving and
the Pigs rejoice-
so many pies!
And so much choice!
Peach and apple,
cherry, ample
mincemeat, pumpkin-
just a sample,
Peach and apple,
cherry, ample
mincemeat, pumpkin-
just a sample,
crumb or nibble
of each kind,
our gracious hostess
will not mind
in November.
~From Alligators and Others All Year Long: A Book of Months by Crescent Dragonwagon
Happy Thanksgiving!
November
The stripped and shapely
Maple grieves
The loss of her
Departed leaves.
of each kind,
our gracious hostess
will not mind
in November.
The ground is hard,
As hard as stone.
The year is old,
The birds are flown.
And yet the world,
Nevertheless,
Displays a certain
Loveliness-
The beauty of
The bone. Tall God
Must see our soulds
This way, and nod.
Give thanks: we do,
Each in his place
Around the table
During grace.
A first-time ever study has been done on hand clapping games! Important skills are gained by this activity, like motor skills and cognitive development. The rhyme and rhythm of this activity are well known early literacy skills.
Leave it to children to naturally make the things we work so hard to teach into a fun game!
Check out the study and then learn or revisit some hand claps with your kids!
http://www.israel21c.org/201008108010/culture/applause-for-clapping-your-hands
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Directions for basic hand clapping game
Face your clapping partner. Begin by clapping your hands together at the same time, then reach out with your right hand to clap your partner’s right hand. Next, clap your hands again. Now reach out with your left hand and clap your partner’s left hand. Repeat. Clap on the beat. You can mix it up or clap straight across with both hands.
Miss Susie
Miss Suzie had a steamboat
The steamboat had a bell
Miss Suzie went to heaven
The steamboat went to
Hello operator
Please give me number nine
If you disconnect me
I’ll kick you from
Behind the refrigerator there was a piece of glass
Miss Suzie sat upon it and cut her little
Ask me no more questions
Tell me no more lies
The boys are in the bathroom zipping up their
Flies are in the meadow
The bees are in the park
Miss Suzie and her boyfriend are kissing in the
Dark is like a movie
A movie’s like a show
A show is like a TV screen
And that is all I know
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Say, Say, Oh Playmate
Say, say, oh playmate
Come out and play with me.
Bring out your dollies three.
Climb up my apple tree.
Slide down my rainbow
Into my cellar door.
And we’ll be jolly friends
Forevermore, one two three four!
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Miss Mary Mack
Miss Mary Mack, Mack, Mack
All dressed in black, black, black
With silver buttons, buttons, buttons
All down her back, back, back
She asked her mother, mother, mother
For fifty cents, cents, cents
To see the elephants, elephants, elephants
Jump over the fence, fence, fence
They jumped so high, high, high
They touched the sky, sky, sky
And didn’t come back, back, back
Till the fourth of July, July, July
Here are some Mother Goose favorites! Stay tuned later this week to find out how important these little rhymes are to early literacy!
Hey diddle, diddle,
the cat and the fiddle,
The cow jumped over the moon;
The littel dog laughed
to see such fun,
And the dish ran away
with the spoon.
There was a crooked man,
And he waked a crooked mile,
He found a crooked sixpence
Against a crooked stile.
He bought a crooked cat,
Which caught a crooked mouse,
And they all lived together
In a crooked house.
Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall,
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.
All the king’s horses and all the kings’ men
Couldn’t put Humpty together again.
Click here to check out Mother Goose today!
FOTO Scavenger Hunt
Saturday, September 11, 10am-2pm
The Palm Beach Photographic Center will be holding a scavenger hunt around Downtown West Palm Beach… through pictures! Kids will get a unique opportunity to learn about photography and the historic aspects of downtown through following clues and snapping images. Chosen images will be displayed!
Children, ages 8-17 are eligible to register. Please visit this link for more information: http://www.wpb.org/newsroom/2010/08/25/palm-beach-photographic-centre-scavenger-hunt-in-downtown-wpb/
It’s raining, it’s pouring! When I saw the rain outside my office window, I had to grab poetry book about rainy days for this week’s post. Featuring works by various poets, old and new, Rainy Day Rhymes was the perfect choice. I picked two of my favorites to share with you. Please pass them on to your kids!
Rain
by Robert Louis StevensonThe rain is raining all around,
It falls on field and tree,
It rains on the umbrellas here,
And on the ships at sea.
City Rain
by Rachel FieldRain in the city!
I love to see it fall
Slantwise where buildings crowd
Red brick and all.
Streets of shiny wetness
Where the taxis go,
With people and umbrellas all
Bobbing to and fro.
Rain in the city!
I love to hear it drip
When I am cozy in my room
Snug as any ship,
With toys spread on the table,
With a picture book or two,
And the rain like a rumbling tune that sings
Through everything I do.
Start the Week with Words: Food!
Posted on: August 2, 2010
- In: blogs | books | child development | cooking | early literacy | family_fun | language skills | Literacy | parenting | poems | Poetry | Poetry for children | read alouds | reading | Uncategorized | west palm beach | west palm beach public library
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Poetry can be found anywhere. Even in the kitchen! Share these ‘mealtime rhymes’ with your kids and encourage them to make up their own rhymes about everyday things.
Mix a Pancake
Mix a pancake,
Stir a pancake,
Pop it in the pan;
Fry the pancake,
Toss the pancake-
Catch it if you can.
By Christina Rosettispace
Send My Spinach
Send my spinach
Off to Spain.
Parcel post it
On a train.
Mail it,
Sail it
On a ship.
Just don’t let it
Touch my lip.
By Douglas Florianspace
Find these rhymes and more in Hot Potato: mealtime rhymes. Selected by Neil Philip.
Stop the Summer Slide!
Posted on: July 29, 2010
The summer has gone by fast! We have had a record number of children and teens sign up for our summer reading programs. As we all know, it is so important to keep reading during the summer. Unfortunately a lot of children lose much of what they learned the previous year. But it’s not too late to stop the summer slide for your kids!
Summer reading list books have been flying off the shelves. But remember, the library has hundreds of other choices that will all help your child succeed at reading and school. Here are some great books we recommend: http://www.wpbpl.com/kids/books_we_love.htm
Keep reading!
