What's Inside? - The MOMpreneur

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Calgary Public Library
Childrens’ play and learn station A
Treat For Your Little Learner
Picture this - your little one independently
interacting with stories and games on a little
computer while you sit back and watch, or get
some work done! If you’ve been to any branch
of the Calgary Public Library lately, you’ve
probably noticed something new (and pretty
cute) in the Children’s Area. Every location
now has an Early Literacy Childrens’ play and
learn station, computers designed for children
aged two to eight, loaded with twenty-six toprated
games and activities that are a hit with
youngsters. Childrens’ play and learn stations
come equipped with a tiny mouse that caters
specifically to small hands and an imaginative
interface that encourages independent
exploration; no tricky menus to navigate or
complicated instructions to follow. The stations
are already proving very popular and you’re
almost certain to see a giggling child exploring
the games when you visit the Library.
Not only do the play and learn stations
provide interactive fun, they can also help
your child develop early literacy skills that are
essential to reading success. Early literacy is
what children know about reading and writing
before they can actually read and write, and
the Calgary Public Library’s play and learn
stations are a great way to introduce your child
to reading while developing early literacy skills
in a fun, non-threatening environment.
One of the key steps in encouraging
your child to read is to create an
early interest in books and reading.
Children who enjoy books will be eager to learn
how to read, and the Childrens’ play and learn
stations include interactive programs that will
allow your child to explore stories while learning
important skills. Between the Lions, a program
based on the award-winning PBS television
series, is designed to foster literacy skills, while
demonstrating the joys of reading. Children will
also enjoy the beautifully illustrated Stellaluna,
which tells the story of a young fruit bat and
explains the differences between birds, bats,
and other creatures.
To become successful readers, children
need to develop phonological awareness. This
means being able to hear and play with the
sounds that make up words. Your child will
be having too much fun to notice, but playing
Reader Rabbit Word Factory helps to reinforce
short and long vowel sounds and Green Eggs
and Ham introduces the concept of rhymes.
This knowledge helps children understand
the structure of oral and written language,
which makes it easier to sound out words when
beginning to read.
Children can also explore science,
social studies, and math while enjoying new
experiences and new vocabulary. Children who
hear an abundance of new words are better
prepared to sound out unknown words as they
learn to read. Children classify animals, adjust
weather conditions, and observe wildlife in
Sammy’s Science House which teaches early
science and thinking skills. Your child will also
enjoy exploring numbers, shapes, and patterns
with Millie’s Math House or learning about
organs and skeletons with My Amazing Human
Body.
Visit the Calgary Public Library
today and let your children test out the
Childrens’ play and learn station stories and
games for themselves. They will love the
interactive literacy tools while you are able to
peruse resources for yourself or sit back and
watch them learn on their own! Library staff are
there to help pick out books, CDs, and other
resources that foster pre-reading and literacy
skills. It is never too early to introduce reading
and literacy to your child and Childrens’ play
and learn stations are a fun way to do so.
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