Talking with Children in Difficult Times
Jessica Coordinator of Early Literacy ProgramsCoordinator of Early Literacy Programs; Kathy
Parents and caregivers often struggle with ways to control the media influences in their children's lives. When screens and newspapers are filled with tragic news from a national or world crisis, it becomes even more important to find ways to open up conversations about difficult topics like the current conflict in Israel and Palestine. BKLYN's Coordinator of Early Literacy Jessica Ralli has co-authored a book series that is helping adults start important conversations with children about many topics. This post is adapted with permission from an Instagram post by Jessica Ralli and…
Book World, Episode 8: BPL Songs and Rhymes - Open, Shut Them
Jessica Coordinator of Early Literacy ProgramsCoordinator of Early Literacy Programs
Let's sing together! This favorite with fun accompanying gestures offers a great opportunity to bond with and nurture little ones. Through singing, babies learn individual sounds and get ready for reading. Bigger children also learn new words, letters and sounds when you sing together so they will be easier to recognize and understand as they start to read. So, let’s sing often and have lots of fun!
Book World, Episode 7: Shine Time - Science
Jessica Coordinator of Early Literacy ProgramsCoordinator of Early Literacy Programs
Scientists, it's time to shine! In this Shine Time episode your neighbors and librarians show that science truly is everywhere. They share fun science experiments, books and everyday activities that they think you'll enjoy. Find instructions for more science fun at bklynlib.org/bookworld.
Book World, Episode 6: Check It Out - Science
Jessica Coordinator of Early Literacy ProgramsCoordinator of Early Literacy Programs
Our fantastic Book Stars and Brooklyn neighbors are excited to recommend books that explore science. Wondering, experimenting and sharing discoveries are all a part of doing science. Sheneatha tries her hand, and feet, at doing an experiment and discovers that science can be slippery! Find instructions for fun science activities at bklynlib.org/bookworld.
Book World, Episode 5: Songs and Rhymes
Jessica Coordinator of Early Literacy ProgramsCoordinator of Early Literacy Programs; Sheneatha
La, la, la! Singing is not only fun but also important for helping children become great readers. In this episode, Sheneatha teaches an active song that is one of the children’s favorites: “ZOOM!” Through singing, babies learn individual sounds and get ready for reading. Bigger children also learn new words, letters, and sounds when you sing together so they will be easier to recognize and understand as children start to read. So, let’s sing often and have lots of fun!
Book World, Episode 4: Science is Everywhere!
Jessica Coordinator of Early Literacy ProgramsCoordinator of Early Literacy Programs
Science is everywhere and it’s for everyone, including little ones. Come join a dance party as your Book World friends experiment and go on an adventure to find science everywhere. After trying a wacky, colorful experiment, Sheneatha joins Jenn and Kat to learn about how we use science, technology, engineering, and math in our lives every day. They share some simple science activities for families and Jessica and her kiddos Jack and Cleo show us how they have fun with science at home. You can download these activity guides to try out these experiments at home with your grown ups!…
Book World Episode 3: Read, Play, Grow!
Jessica Coordinator of Early Literacy ProgramsCoordinator of Early Literacy Programs; Sheneatha
Grown-ups, you’re going to love this episode! You’ll learn simple things you can do to help children become great readers. We’ll even talk about how you can get babies ready for reading. But as always, this will be fun for children as well! Jenn playfully pretends to be a toddler as Sheneatha demonstrates how talking with your child about what you’re reading (dialogic reading) can boost their understanding and motivation for reading. Sheneatha and Jenn shared so many great tips to enhance your child’s early literacy skills through dialogic reading! Here are a few to keep in mind the next…
Book World, Episode 2: Shine Time - Books We Love
Jessica Coordinator of Early Literacy ProgramsCoordinator of Early Literacy Programs; Sheneatha
This episode of Book World is a Shine Time segment! You, your neighbors, and Brooklyn librarians shine in these photos and videos as you talk about the books you love. As you’ll see, some of our friends are still learning to talk and already love reading. Hey, reading the pictures counts, too! Talking with children about their interests, along with playing and reading books that explore those interests, are great ways to encourage a love for learning. Check out some of these picture books that celebrate your little one’s beauty and…
Book World, Episode 1: Introducing. . . the Library, A.K.A. Book World!
Jessica Coordinator of Early Literacy ProgramsCoordinator of Early Literacy Programs; Sheneatha
Hi Book Stars! The library’s new children’s show is here! Get ready for your next visit to the library with this magical episode and the accompanying activities! In Episode 1 of Book World, Sheneatha, Jenn and Blueberry explore some of the many treasures the library has to offer. Join them and their friends as they sing and dance to “Books about Everything.” Kids like you will share great books to check out and you’ll learn a new song that will keep you buzzing. For more fun, complete this scavenger hunt while you watch the video! Watching Book World together?…
Tech Play Recipe: Record Me A Story
Jessica Coordinator of Early Literacy ProgramsCoordinator of Early Literacy Programs
Record Me A Story You will need: Smartphone or tablet Free voice-recording/memo app or program Printable storytelling cards (optional) Process: This is a storytelling game! We’re going to tell a story and record it together. What will it be about? Who will the characters be? Will it be sad, scary, funny? How does a story start and end? Press “record” and start your story! Take turns—you can say “what happens next” to prompt your child. If using storytelling cards, take turns picking a card and using the image on the card to…
Talking About Race: Resources for Early Childhood Educators
Jessica Coordinator of Early Literacy ProgramsCoordinator of Early Literacy Programs
Many early childhood educators are already struggling to make meaningful connections with their young students remotely in the midst of a global pandemic. Now, in the wake of the murders by police of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd and the brutal killing of Ahmaud Arbery, educators are challenged to find a way to discuss race and racism with young children in a way that is developmentally appropriate, honest, and impactful. This is already hard, but connecting on such an emotional topic remotely with an age group that learns best by seeing, feeling, hearing and interacting– that is a unique…
Tech Play Recipe: Color Hunt
Jessica Coordinator of Early Literacy ProgramsCoordinator of Early Literacy Programs
Color Hunt with Khan Academy Kids You will need: 1. Smartphone or tablet 2. Khan Academy Kids app 3. Logic Primary Colors game Process: Khan Academy Kids has a ton of FREE language, literacy and brain bulilding activities for children 2-5. Try the Primary Colors game to go on a color hunt together. Looking for colors helps hone observation skills! The game uses a song to teach color names! You can use this song in your daily routine to help teach different color words. Go on a REAL color hunt in your…
Tech Play Recipe: Sink or Float
Jessica Coordinator of Early Literacy ProgramsCoordinator of Early Literacy Programs
Tech Play Recipe: Sink or Float You will need: Smartphone or tablet PBS Kids Play and Learn Science App Low bin with water (optional) Varied objects that may sink or float (optional) Process: Be a scientist! Observe, ask questions, and test your hypothesis! Play the “Sink or Float” activity in the PBS Kids Play and Learn Science app. Ask questions like: what do you think will happen if? and why do you think that happened? Use words like: sink, float, heavy, light, buyoant, absorb Re-create the experiment with…
Engaging Young Children Through Video Chat
Jessica Coordinator of Early Literacy ProgramsCoordinator of Early Literacy Programs
Many grandparents, close friends and relatives love catching a glimpse of their young family members via video chat. They may, however, find it challenging to keep young children engaged for more than a few moments. The standard How was your day? What did you do? may not go very far with a toddler, and even a 6 year old will likely give a 2-3 word response. While video chat can be a valuable and meaningful way for young children to interact with and get to know family, and even learn language and other skills, it can also be chaotic, brief, and sometimes frustrating for all…
Read, Play and Grow at Home
Jessica Coordinator of Early Literacy ProgramsCoordinator of Early Literacy Programs
This week, many parents and caregivers started a new routine. Some may be working reduced or increased hours, telecommuting from home, or not working at all. Children will be home more, and even if not, the things we rely on to engage them might not be available. With many schools and libraries closed, children's programming cancelled, and even playgrounds and playdates discouraged for now -- there are a lot of hours ahead of us to fill. We are here to help. Check the BKLYN Kids blog for an ongoing round-up of e-resources, activities, learning materials and ways to help your child read,…
Read & Play: Ready for Kindergarten!
Jessica Coordinator of Early Literacy ProgramsCoordinator of Early Literacy Programs
There are so many things that young children need to be ready for Kindergarten! There are also a lot of mixed messages out there for parents and caregivers on what skills to focus on, and the best way to help their children learn them. At Ready Set Kindergarten, BPL’s popular school readiness storytime (10 years and counting), we focus on ways parents can weave early literacy, math, science, and social-emotional skills into their daily routines in ways that are fun and developmentally appropriate. For example, did you know that singing helps children develop phonological…
Read & Play: Ready, Set, Kindergarten is back!
Jessica Coordinator of Early Literacy ProgramsCoordinator of Early Literacy Programs
On January 22, 2019, families all over New York City submitted Kindergarten applications for the 2019/2020 school year. Thanks to the expansion of Pre-K for All, many of those rising Kindergarteners are currently in Pre-K, learning skills and having experiences that will hopefully prepare them for Kindergarten next year. Even so, the transition to Kindergarten can be a challenge, so if you are looking for ways to help support your 3-5-year-olds develop early literacy and school readiness skills using developmentally appropriate practices, join us for Ready, Set, Kindergarten starting March…
Kindergarten: Am I Ready?
Jessica Coordinator of Early Literacy ProgramsCoordinator of Early Literacy Programs
On June 26th, Pre-K and Pre-K-for-All programs all around the city graduated a new crop of Kindergarteners-to-be! My son was one of them, which made my job as Coordinator of BPL’s Ready, Set, Kindergarten! program all too real, hitting close to home in a brand new way. Even though I think about Kindergarten readiness as my job, I was not prepared for how it made me feel as a parent. It prompted me to think in a new way about all the many, sometimes mixed messages we get from varied sources about Kindergarten readiness, and to try to distill it to the most important ways…
Read & Play: The Big Brooklyn Playdate
Jessica Coordinator of Early Literacy ProgramsCoordinator of Early Literacy Programs
What do a pool full of shredded paper, stack of foam blocks, and sticky wall begging to be covered in an array of colors and textures have in common? They’re all explorations awaiting babies and toddlers at the Big Brooklyn Playdate! On the day of the Playdate, children ages 0-3 and their caregivers enter a magical world of play and learning at Brooklyn Public Library’s Central Library. Hands-on, open-ended activities, known as Play Recipes, not only enchant and engage children, but activate their brains and spark learning. Pulling a colorful scarf out of a tissue box is really a…
Play at the Library
Jessica Coordinator of Early Literacy ProgramsCoordinator of Early Literacy Programs
A young toddler carefully pokes long glittery pipe cleaners, one after the other, through tiny holes in a large plastic colander. After he finishes, he places it on his head and screams, delightedly, “HAT!” Nearby, a group of crawling and rolling babies maneuver around a brightly colored, multi textured surface made of bubble wrap, textured bath mats, towels, and reflective fabric. They reach for crinkled colorful pieces of cellophane, and brightly colored textured balls. In another corner, seated babies play in a baby pool full of shredded paper, as more active…