Building Early Literacy Skills with Babies

Stephanie C. PratoDirector of Play to Learn Servicessprato@fflib.org@scprato

FFL Early Literacy Webinar Series, in partnership with CLRC

Background • What is Early Literacy?• Developmental Stages• The Word Gap• ALSC Babies Need Words Every

Day Campaign

What is Early Literacy?

Pre-Reading Skills Why is it important?• Literacy development

begins at birth.• 700 new neural

connections are formed every second

• Parents as first teachers

• Librarians as partners in early learning

Citation: Center on the Developing Child (2009). Five Numbers to Remember About Early Childhood Development (Brief). www.developingchild.harvard.edu.

Developmental Stages0-3 Months• Babies can recognize

familiar faces, voices, and smells.

• Their eyes are still developing and they see best 12-18 inches away.

• They can grip a finger or a toy you put in their hand.

3-6 Months• Babies can sit with help.• They can wave their arms,

kick their legs, and make sounds (babble, gurgle, coo).

• They start to recognize their names.

Citation: “Your Baby’s Development Handouts.” www.zerotothree.org

Developmental Stages6-9 Months• Babies are learning to

think and solve problems• They may crawl or scoot. • They copy actions you

make, like waving “bye-bye” and shaking my head “no-no.”

• Some babies develop “stranger” anxiety

9-12 Months• Babies can understand

more words than they can say.

• They are starting to walk!• They love to do things over

and over again

Citation: “Your Baby’s Development Handouts.” www.zerotothree.org

The Word Gap

Enriching Ways to Communicate with Babies

Citation: “The Early Language Gap is About More than Words” http://www.shankerinstitute.org/issue-areas/early-childhood-education

Babies Need Words Every Day Campaign

Fayetteville Free Library Collections

• Choosing Books for Babies• Tips for Reading with Babies• Board Books• Born to Read Kits

Choosing Books for BabiesFor babies 0-12 months• Simple, large pictures• Bright colors or high

contrast images (black & white)

• Photos of other babies• Photos of familiar

objects

For babies 9-24 months• Goodnight books • Books with simple

rhymes or predictable text

• Touch and feel books• Animal books

Storytime Favorites• Mostly board books

– Karen Katz– Sandra Boynton– Leslie Patricelli

• Books with sounds• Books you can sing• Some picture books

work too!– Baron Barton– Eric Carle

Book Recommendations

Tips for Reading with Babies

• A few minutes is okay!• Try singing a book or talking about the

pictures• Make it interactive• Have a conversation

Board BooksEasily Accessible and Shelved in Categories• NEW books• ABCs• 123s• Rhymes• Stories• Machines• Daily Life• Bedtime• Celebrations

• Interactive (Touch and Feel/ Peekaboo

• Love• Baby’s Body• Colors/ Shapes/

Opposites• Nature• Community• Behavior

FFL Born to Read Kits• 25 kits on different

topics• Each kit includes:

– 3 board books– music CD– toy– information sheet

with early literacy tips, rhymes, and extension activities

Fayetteville Free Library Programs

• Cuddletime• Enhancing Your Baby Storytime• Music and Movement • Let’s Learn

CuddletimeProgram Outline • Hello Name Song• Rhymes and Songs• 2 Books• Read a long or “focus

book”• Activity (bubbles,

scarves, shakers)• Goodbye Song • Free play time

Enhancing your Baby Storytime

• Incorporate baby signs

• Shakers • Scarves• Music• Bubbles• Mirrors• Puppets• Balls

Music and MovementTools• Singing and Music

CDs• Instruments• Props

• Tempo• Rhythm• Fine and gross motor

skills

Skills:

Let’s Learn

Create enriching, temporary play spaces

Siblings Welcome!

• Older children can be great role models

• Make them helpers and involve them in the program when possible

References and ResourcesAlbert Shanker Institute. (2013). “The Early Language Gap is About More than Words”

(Video).Association of Library Services to Children ALA. (2015). “Babies Need Words Every Day:

Talk, Sing, Read, Play.” ala.org/alsc/babiesneedwordsCenter on the Developing Child. (2009). Five Numbers to Remember About Early Childhood

Development (Brief). developingchild.harvard.eduHart, B. & Risley, T.R. (2003). “The Early Catastrophe: The 30 Million Word Gap by Age 3”

American Educator, pp.4-9.Kirchoefer, Kathy. (2013) Getting Babies into Books (eCourse). ALA Editions.ZERO TO THREE: National Center for Infants, Toddlers and Families. (2014). “Tips for

Choosing Books with Babies and Toddlers.” zerotothree.orgZERO TO THREE: National Center for Infants, Toddlers and Families. (2014). “Tips for

Sharing Books with Babies and Toddlers.” zerotothree.orgZERO TO THREE: National Center for Infants, Toddlers and Families. (2014). “Your Baby’s

Development “(Handouts). zerotothree.org

Thank You!Do you have any questions?

Fayetteville Free LibraryHomepage: www.fflib.orgFAQs for Librarians: www.fflib.org/makerfaqsMaking! www.fflib.org/makeTwitter: @fayettevillelibFacebook: facebook.com/fayfreelibrary

Susan ConsidineExecutive Director Fayetteville Free Librarysconsidine@fflib.org @sconsidine