Family storytime in Sydenham promotes early literacy

Sep 20, 2012

Photo: Family Storytime at Sydenham Public library

On September 14 Brianne Peters, a programming librarian for the Kingston Frontenac Public Library, led the first Friday morning “Family Storytime” session at the Sydenham Public Library for an enthusiastic group of moms and their children. The sessions take place Friday mornings at 10 a.m. and will continue for 11 weeks with a short break after the sixth week.

Parents are encouraged to bring their children of all ages to the sessions whose goal is to promote early literacy. The sessions include stories, songs, puppet play, musical instruments and more, and offer up everything a young child needs to experience about language, specifically reading and writing, before they actually learn how to read and write. The program uses the early literacy initiative called “Every Child Ready To Read”, which promotes five important skills: reading, writing, thinking, playing and talking, and the program incorporates all of those skills in each session. 

“By coming to these programs children will learn those basic five skills so that when it comes time for them to start school, they have that important basic foundation in place and will be ready to learn how to read and write,” Peters said.