Early Literacy

The First Five Years.

The development of language and literacy skills begins at birth and therefore the role caregivers play is essential to their success before their first day of school. Face it, you are their first teacher! The good news is the activities you are already doing at home, during storytime, and/or other toddler classes like: talking, singing, reading, writing and playing are creating building blocks for them to become successful early learners.

In order to enhance these skills the Blackstone Library has received a generous donation of 15 preschool literacy backpacks from our Friends of the James Blackstone Memorial Library. Each backpack is based on a different theme like: colors, people in your community, how to stay healthy, etc. They are chock full of different picture books, games and or toys as well as a list of activities that can be done at home in order to reinforce the talking, singing, reading, writing and playing that are so essential to preschool development.

A full listing of our literacy kits can be found here.

The links featured below contain research-based information, early literacy activities and videos to model various ways to talk, sing, read, write and play. Do not forget to stop by the Youth Services Department to learn more about our collection, classes and other early literacy activities for children and/or caregivers.

Baby Center – Here you will find a list of weekly activities that you can do with your baby throughout the first year. These tasks will promote bonding, create comfort, provide fun and build upon important skills.

Connecticut Birth to 3 – The Birth to 3 System is state provided and was created to assist and strengthen the capacity of families to meet the developmental and health-related needs of infants and toddlers who have delays or disabilities.

Get Ready to Read – Get Ready to Read! is designed to support educators, parents, and young children in the development of early literacy skills in the years before kindergarten. These resources are for all children and promote skill-building and ways for caregivers to address concerns.

Hello Kindergarten – Starting school is an exciting time. Hello Kindergarten offers answers, tools and extensive resource page and a timeline to prep you for the big day.

Math at Home –  This site is a multimedia resource that explores early mathematical development and ways in which caregivers can nurture children’s understanding of math concepts through lessons and age appropriate experiences.

Ready at Five – A comprehensive website that contains a plethora of research, activities for all forms of development, videos and downloads that promote school readiness. The parents and resource tab are great place for caregivers to review.ECRR Practices Wordle

Start with a Book – Start with a Book offers parents, caregivers, summer program staff and librarians lots of engaging ideas for getting kids hooked on reading, exploring and learning all summer long — and beyond.

Storyblocks – Storyblocks is a collection of 30-60 second videos designed to model songs, rhymes, and fingerplays appropriate for early childhood. Each video clip includes helpful early literacy tips to increase caregivers’ understanding of child development and pre-literacy needs. Videos in Spanish are available.