The Simple Gift of Books for Children
Justin was almost 11 months old when he experienced his first Christmas. On Christmas morning he unwrapped his presents slowly, mesmerized by the sight, sound and feel of the bows and brightly coloured paper. But the gifts Justin loved the very most were neither the plastic child-safe toys nor the… READ MORE
Setting our sights on babies’ eyes
It was a whirlwind stop by Liberal leader Justin Trudeau in Napanee a few weeks ago. I watched with fascination as the predominantly red and white clad crowd erupted into cheers and heat-generating hand claps even before their favoured federal candidate stepped off the Trudeau coach bus. The actions of… READ MORE
Peace Education for Children and Our World
The image and story was everywhere. Aylan, a three-year-old Syrian boy had been found washed ashore on a Turkish beach. He and his five-year-old brother, along with their mother, had drowned while fleeing their war-torn county to find peace in Canada. The news jolted our senses. Here was a small… READ MORE
Countdown to Kindergarten
The countdown to kindergarten is on! Children attending full day learning programs for the first time anticipate their number of sleeps before riding the big yellow school bus or arriving at their new school. Counting, however, isn’t easy for young children. Joanna Zambrzycka, from the Mathematical Brains Laboratory at Wilfred… READ MORE
Fun and games with children this summer
“Red Rover, Red Rover, we call Susan over.” As a child I loved this game. My friends and I formed two lines facing one another and, with clasped hands, began our Red Rover chant. Whosever name we inserted into the chant had to leave their line and race toward ours.… READ MORE
Storytime Goes Digital
Susan Ramsay, Early Literacy Specialist HFL&A My mother’s voice rose and fell expressively as she sat reading bedtime stories to me as a child. Decades later, as mother of three, I followed her example. I remember my children’s giggles, gasps and questions as we read. As well as these fond… READ MORE
Going on a Book Hunt
Susan Ramsay, Early Literacy Specialist HFL&A I went to the library and what did I see?Books to share with baby and me.There were titles and authors that I didn’t knowAnd I wondered which books to choose from the row.So I asked the librarian to please help me outAnd she gave… READ MORE
Splendiferous books for young children
Susan Ramsay, Early Literacy Specialist HFL&A If you are looking for gifts this Christmas, here are a few tips to consider when choosing quality books for that special child in your life. Pictures make or break children’s interest in books. Infants who are learning single words like books with one… READ MORE
Ringing in and singing in the New Year
Susan Ramsay, Early Literacy Specialist HFL&A January 2015 has arrived and the sounds of Auld Lang Syne echo in my mind even though my holidays have ended and festive songs no longer play in stores. The power of music is undeniable. Music, in every culture past and present, enables us… READ MORE
Celebrating Black History month
Susan Ramsay, Early Literacy Specialist HFL&A When I first read The Book of Negroes by Lawrence Hill, I was enthralled by his writing and storytelling, moved by the sorrow, hope and strength of the story characters, and appalled by my lack of knowledge about slavery and Black history in Canada.… READ MORE
Books for children and the environment
Susan Ramsay, Early Literacy Specialist HFL&A March 28, 2015. 8:29 pm. Computer? Off. Television? Off. Lights? Off. We powered down for the ninth annual Earth Hour, hoping that our symbolic acts of replacing brightly lit streets and homes with flickering candles will unite individuals across six continents, 120 countries and… READ MORE
Discovering the first strawberries in an Indigenous legend
Susan Ramsay, Early Literacy Specialist HFL&A “Daddy look!” I turned from my squatted position in the strawberry patch toward the sound of an excited child’s voice close by. A beige sunhat bobbed slightly higher than the row of strawberry bushes, his fist clutching and waving a large heart-shaped berry. I… READ MORE
Celebrate National Aboriginal Day with oral storytelling and books
by Susan Ramsay, Early Literacy Specialist “In the beginning, all things were made but nothing was finished.” Algonquin storyteller, Dionne Nolan, spoke quietly, holding a talking stick, as she began to tell the story of Owl and Rabbit. Her audience? A hushed and attentive circle of participants attending the first… READ MORE
Boost children’s speech and language development with books
by Susan Ramsay, Early Literacy Specialist “Peek-a-boo!” Blonde, feathery hair stood and swayed like a field of wheat on Ben’s tiny head as I read the words from his book. I hadn’t meant to say ‘peek’ so powerfully, but Ben’s saucer-sized eyes had been riveted to the large, lift-the-flap pictures.… READ MORE
“Come Walk In My Moccasins” – A Resource For Parents And Professionals For Young Children
by Susan Ramsay, Early Literacy Specialist Though mounds of snow are still with us, the first day of spring is imminent and already being welcomed with birds singing and longer days of sunshine. Squirrels are out in droves looking for hidden stashes of nuts but I have not yet seen or… READ MORE
Time sensitive books for young children
Do you have the time? When clocks fall back or spring forward to accommodate Daylight Savings Time, second guessing our internal clocks is common. To a young child, time can be even more elusive. Though adults may envy children’s ability to live in the moment, young children struggle to… READ MORE