Fayetteville Free Library Early Literacy webinar, delivered in November 2015 in partnership with Central New York Library Resource Council.

1. Building Early
Literacy Skills
with Babies
Stephanie C. Prato
Director of Play to Learn Services
sprato@fflib.org
@scprato
FFL Early Literacy Webinar Series, in partnership with CLRC

2. Background
• What is Early Literacy?
• Developmental Stages
• The Word Gap
• ALSC Babies Need Words Every Day
Campaign

3. What is Early Literacy?
Pre-Reading Skills Why is it important?
• Literacy development
begins at birth.
• 700 new neural
connections are formed
every second
• Parents as first teachers
• Librarians as partners in
early learningCitation: Center on the Developing Child
(2009). Five Numbers to Remember About
Early Childhood Development (Brief).
www.developingchild.harvard.edu.

4. Developmental Stages
0-3 Months
• Babies can recognize familiar
faces, voices, and smells.
• Their eyes are still developing
and they see best 12-18 inches
away.
• They can grip a finger or a toy
you put in their hand.
3-6 Months
• Babies can sit with help.
• They can wave their arms, kick
their legs, and make sounds
(babble, gurgle, coo).
• They start to recognize their
names.
Citation: “Your Baby’s Development Handouts.” www.zerotothree.org

5. Developmental Stages
6-9 Months
• Babies are learning to think
and solve problems
• They may crawl or scoot.
• They copy actions you make,
like waving “bye-bye” and
shaking my head “no-no.”
• Some babies develop
“stranger” anxiety
9-12 Months
• Babies can understand more
words than they can say.
• They are starting to walk!
• They love to do things over and
over again
Citation: “Your Baby’s Development Handouts.” www.zerotothree.org

6. The Word Gap

7. Enriching Ways to
Communicate with Babies
Citation: “The Early Language Gap is About More than Words”
http://www.shankerinstitute.org/issue-areas/early-childhood-education

8. Babies Need Words Every Day Campaign

9. Fayetteville Free Library
Collections
• Choosing Books for Babies
• Tips for Reading with Babies
• Board Books
• Born to Read Kits

10. Choosing Books for Babies
For babies 0-12 months
• Simple, large pictures
• Bright colors or high
contrast images (black &
white)
• Photos of other babies
• Photos of familiar objects
For babies 9-24 months
• Goodnight books
• Books with simple
rhymes or predictable
text
• Touch and feel books
• Animal books

11. Storytime Favorites
• Mostly board books
– Karen Katz
– Sandra Boynton
– Leslie Patricelli
• Books with sounds
• Books you can sing
• Some picture books work
too!
– Baron Barton
– Eric Carle
Book Recommendations

12. Tips for Reading with Babies
• A few minutes is okay!
• Try singing a book or talking about the pictures
• Make it interactive
• Have a conversation

13. Board Books
Easily Accessible and Shelved in Categories
• NEW books
• ABCs
• 123s
• Rhymes
• Stories
• Machines
• Daily Life
• Bedtime
• Celebrations
• Interactive (Touch and
Feel/ Peekaboo
• Love
• Baby’s Body
• Colors/ Shapes/
Opposites
• Nature
• Community
• Behavior

14. FFL Born to Read Kits
• 25 kits on different topics
• Each kit includes:
– 3 board books
– music CD
– toy
– information sheet with
early literacy tips,
rhymes, and extension
activities

15. Fayetteville Free Library
Programs
• Cuddletime
• Enhancing Your Baby Storytime
• Music and Movement
• Let’s Learn

16. Cuddletime
Program Outline
• Hello Name Song
• Rhymes and Songs
• 2 Books
• Read a long or “focus
book”
• Activity (bubbles, scarves,
shakers)
• Goodbye Song
• Free play time

17. Enhancing your Baby Storytime
• Incorporate baby signs
• Shakers
• Scarves
• Music
• Bubbles
• Mirrors
• Puppets
• Balls

18. Music and Movement
Tools
• Singing and Music CDs
• Instruments
• Props
• Tempo
• Rhythm
• Fine and gross motor
skills
Skills:

19. Let’s Learn
Create enriching, temporary play spaces

20. Siblings Welcome!
• Older children can
be great role
models
• Make them helpers
and involve them
in the program
when possible

21. References and Resources
Albert Shanker Institute. (2013). “The Early Language Gap is About More than Words” (Video).
Association of Library Services to Children ALA. (2015). “Babies Need Words Every Day: Talk, Sing, Read,
Play.” ala.org/alsc/babiesneedwords
Center on the Developing Child. (2009). Five Numbers to Remember About Early Childhood
Development (Brief). developingchild.harvard.edu
Hart, B. & Risley, T.R. (2003). “The Early Catastrophe: The 30 Million Word Gap by Age 3” American
Educator, pp.4-9.
Kirchoefer, Kathy. (2013) Getting Babies into Books (eCourse). ALA Editions.
ZERO TO THREE: National Center for Infants, Toddlers and Families. (2014). “Tips for Choosing Books
with Babies and Toddlers.” zerotothree.org
ZERO TO THREE: National Center for Infants, Toddlers and Families. (2014). “Tips for Sharing Books
with Babies and Toddlers.” zerotothree.org
ZERO TO THREE: National Center for Infants, Toddlers and Families. (2014). “Your Baby’s Development
“(Handouts). zerotothree.org

22. Thank You!Do you have any questions?
Fayetteville Free Library
Homepage: www.fflib.org
FAQs for Librarians: www.fflib.org/makerfaqs
Making! www.fflib.org/make
Twitter: @fayettevillelib
Facebook: facebook.com/fayfreelibrary
Susan Considine
Executive Director
Fayetteville Free Library
sconsidine@fflib.org
@sconsidine