Literacy in the LibraryTOOLS FOR INSPIRING YOUNG PEOPLE TO BECOME LIFELONG READERS AND LEARNERS |
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Taking Your Child into the WorldAugust/September 2008There is a commercial for a well-known DVD series for parents and children that promotes the advantage of bringing the world into the home. Through viewing a DVD, the child and parent can experience the world in a passive way. Living in Denver provides many opportunities for you and your child to experience the world in a very hands-on way. Young children are naturally curious and eager to learn. Nurturing this curiosity by encouraging children to participate in a variety of activities, making independent choices, and finding creative solutions to problems is the role of the parent. A rich environment of multisensory experiences: sights, sounds, smells, tastes and touch stimulates a child’s curiosity and engagement in learning about his/her world. Exploring, discovering and learning happen when a child is comfortable in her/his environment. An iPod and cell phone-free walk in your neighborhood on a regular basis can be part of that experience. Have you looked at that tree in your neighbor’s yard in the winter to see the stark contrast of the red cardinal against the white snow? Have you seen the sparrows building a nest in the tree from strings and grasses found in your neighborhood? The beautiful fragrant blossoms on the tree provide shade in the summer and the colorful yellow and orange leaves carpet the lawn in the fall. All of this awaits you just outside your front door. Imagine the questions your child might have about each of these seasonal changes. Clouds in the sky create an endless form of entertainment as you lie there in the grass quietly observing them floating by and imagining what they look like. What insects are flying around the flowers in your yard? Have you checked out a book from the library to learn about insects or spiders you might find in the garden? Helping your curious child to find the answers to her questions feeds that curiosity and creates more questions. Curiosity grows as the child matures and feels safe in his environment. Curiosity grows when the parent is not disgusted with the mud on his shoes as he discovers the tadpoles in the slimy pond. Curiosity grows when a curious parent is available to share the new discoveries and learning without distraction. Through the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD) funds, there are many institutions in the metro area that provide other views of the world for you and your child. We have provided a list of locations with contact information, upcoming exhibits, free days, and books to read before or after your experiences at the museums. These experiences provide opportunities for conversation and vocabulary building. Preparing your child to be a reader involves exposure to many experiences. Reading about the adventure afterwards reinforces the learning. Take your child out into the world and experience it first hand! It will mean more to both of you than a passive experience in front of a flat screen. By Susan Oakes, Outreach Librarian, The Denver Public Library
Nature WalkYour neighborhood Children’s Museum of Denver Denver Art Museum Denver Botanic Gardens Denver Museum of Nature and Science Denver Public Library - Central Denver Zoo
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