April showers bring May flowers! May also brings school visits and summer reading program prep for the Youth Services staff. We are busy getting everything in place and can't wait to share it with everyone. Remember, the summer reading program is for all kids, even the littlest babies. All the details will be in our June, July, and August newsletter so check it out as soon as it hits your mailbox! Or you can pick one up at the library or read everything online.

Looking for some great books online for your family? Tumble Books to the rescue! This online resource has lots of great story books and read- alongs for everyone to enjoy. Then try the puzzles and games for more fun! 

You can search for favorite characters or authors, and set the language you prefer. 

There's also a great selection of non-fiction videos that kids will LOVE!

Happy reading, watching, and learning together!

Now children do come with instruction manuals! Arlington Heights Memorial Library, in partnership with Family Place Libraries, now offers

 Bright by Text, a national parent texting program. This free service puts fun and informative expert tips, games and child development information directly into the hands of parents and caregivers. The texting service includes two to four weekly texts on topics like development milestones, games and activities, health and wellness, STEM, safety and caregiver support. Bright by Text partners with experts like PBS, Vroom, Sesame Street, CDC, Bright by Three and others to develop content for families. Messages are set up by your child’s age, anywhere from prenatal to age 8, and are available in either English or Spanish. In addition to expert content, Bright by Text messages may include information and resources specific to the Arlington Heights community, like library and local resources and events. Bright by Text helps parents and caregivers make the most out of time with their children by illustrating fun and easy activities, providing positive parenting tips and resources and engaging content to guide a child's development. The program is proven to build nurturing caregiver-child relationships, and positively impact a child's healthy development and school readiness. To register for this free service, text the word FAMILYPLACE to 274448 or visit https://bit.ly/2yGBWOb for more information. 

Reading together helps children learn how books work. Shared reading also helps children develop an interest in reading and want to learn to read themselves.

• Point to words and letters. Name the letters and make their sounds.
• Read to your children in the language that is most comfortable for you so you can talk about the book more.
• Make reading together an enjoyable activity, and your child will want to repeat it again and again.

Children can learn pre-reading skills through writing. Both reading and writing represent spoken language and communicate information. 

• Writing begins with scribbles and marks. Give your children many opportunities to draw and write. Keep crayons, markers or magnetic letters within reach.
• Encourage babies to grip toys, which helps build their hand muscles so they can write later on.
• Talk to your children about what they draw, and write captions or stories together. 

As children hear spoken language, they learn new words and what they mean. This will help children understand the meaning of what they read.

• Make sure your children have a lot of opportunities to talk with you, not just listen to you talk.
• Respond to what your children say and extend the conversation. 
• If English isn’t your first language, speak to your children in the language you know best. This allows you to explain things more so your children will learn more.

SINGING

Singing slows down language so children can hear the different sounds in words. This helps when children begin to read printed language. 

• Sing the alphabet song to learn about letters. 
• Clap along to the rhythm in songs so children hear the syllables in words.
• When you sing, babies are drawn to the sound of your voice and to the playful sounds of words and rhymes.