Wednesday, January 26, 2022

About four times a year, I host a literacy class for infants and toddlers at a local establishment.

Yes, you read that correctly. Literacy (yup, reading) for children birth to three years old.  No, the babies don’t do the reading, nor do we try to teach them to. 

The entire focus of the class is to create a love of books at a REALLY early age.  We do that by combining books (with their parents sitting with or holding them) with activities (that parents help them complete) that relate back to what we just read and talk about the book and the activity and do our best to grow these little people’s vocabularies.

Honestly, though, it’s the overall experience that matters to me.  If they are able to enjoy the experience and meet new friends and associate all those good feelings with sitting down for a book, then hopefully, they will develop a fondness for books and reading and learning in general. 

My winter class starts next week.  It is virtual this time around and even I will admit. . .

Virtual is NOT fun.

Attendance, which was never huge, has dwindled. The class is free, and it frustrates me beyond belief that more people don’t come. It’s 45 minutes to spend with your child fostering a love of reading. . . and you get a free book! I don’t understand why it is sooooo hard to spread this message, but that is another rant. I just keep powering through because as long as someone shows up, it’s a chance to foster literacy and language skills. 

Hopefully we will be back in person and feel safe to bring the little ones out again soon. Hopefully parents will come. After years spent isolating in our homes, I feel like the class will have even more importance for developing social skills. . . When we get there.  Maybe in the spring. 

But for now, I confess. . .The procrastination is strong in this one. . .Wish me luck!

“Children are made readers on the laps of their parents”

Emilie Buchwald