Bringing the Library Home

One of our favourite regular places to visit is the library. We usually attend the story sessions once a week but it seems that we miss so many in winter with sickness. It will be really great to return again in spring but for now we will continue to go in and get our usual big pile of books to read. Our local library is a smaller one so there's a wonderful community feeling there.

It doesn't seem to matter if we do skip stories at the library because we love to bring the library to our home. We play our own little game of libraries every once in a while. There's story time with the librarian, singing, craft time (colouring in sheets off the web) and we can borrow any of the books or DVDs which are just the books from the girl's own bookshelf and the DVDs off the main shelf. (The DVDs are used under my careful eye as they are usually not allowed to be played with.) The cash register makes a great book scanner and we carefully use our BBC library cards. It's just like the real thing!

Singing "Twinkle Twinkle" + borrowing books

Our game of libraries yesterday was lovely. We needed something quiet with Miss M not well again and she seeemed happy to suggest the game and direct the fun. Miss H even jumped on the stool and became the librarian. She loves "tories" (stories) so a game of libraries was right up her alley.

Do your kids enjoy playing games about places you go to during the week?

Where You Go, I'll Follow....

Why? is a question we get all day long from our Miss M (3.5). We get questions from the bizarre to the ridiculous and some are also quite serious but every question is important in her mind.

Why does it rain?
Why are they called Grandparents?
Why is it hot?
Why is it 8 o'clock?
Why do you have bones inside?
Why does the sun go down?

Why? Why? Why?

Even if it drives me a little crazy at times I've got to see this as great stuff because it feeds me with ideas for her creative activities, her play and of course learning. Much of Miss M's play and creativity is directed by her but from the many questions I get, I know that I can follow her lead by helping her find books at the library on the same topics or plan an art or play activity to extend her interest. Here's a snippet of what topics we've been learning about through play and reading...

dinosaurs
bones/ skeletons, parts of the body
counting
writing letters and words
gardening
recycling
a strange disliking to pandas (he he!!)

And here are some recent finds from the local library. These books have helped answer many a question and have grown Miss M's interests from something small to a real learning experience.

What are your children talking or asking about? What interests can you follow?

Noise In The Library?

Ever since Miss M was a baby we have spent time exploring the library and what I have discovered is a whole range of wonderful things for kids and parents to get involved in. For us the library has become more than just a place to borrow books. On most weeks we have attended Babies , Books and Rhymes. They run a great program which teaches the children language skills through simple songs and rhymes and the kids develop a love of books through the reading of wonderful age appropriate stories. The great thing is you're learning the rhymes too so you can do them at home for extra fun and child development. Our Babies, Books and Rhymes introduced little musical instruments for the kids to play so the fun was endless - you've never heard so much noise in the library! Maybe that's why the program was run before opening time!

Miss M has graduated from her time at Babies, Books and Rhymes and we now enjoy the next step up at Toddler Time. We love the fact that we have a few great libraries nearby so I must admit that we have tried them all out and enjoy the different strengths of each. Toddler Time is for littlies and parents or carers but grandparents are very welcome too! Many Grandmas go to ours which is fantastic. At Toddler Time they do similar songs but the kids are able to try the songs and moves themselves. This morning at the library Miss M enjoyed The Hokey Pokey and a game of London Bridge where we got caught at the end. Guess we just weren't fast enough!

To find where and when Babies, Books and Rhymes or Toddler Time is happening near you pick up a monthy Whats On brochure from the library or check out the Brisbane City Council Library website. Make sure you also check out Justine Clarke's song 'Off To The Library' from her I Like To Sing album. We love to sing it, especially on our way there! Off to the library 1,2,3.....