Have you ever played Lotería? Let me share with you the fantastic benefits of playing Lotería or a similar well-known memory game: Bingo.
Children practice many early literacy skills when playing memory games such as Lotería and Bingo: exposure to new vocabulary, visual recognition and attention to detail, fine motor skills, and hand-eye coordination. The environment you create when playing the game is also important. The game can played in small or large groups: design a group that creates a sense of well-being and excitement in the new learning opportunity. Children will also work on problem-solving skills, engaging with others, asking questions (why, how, who), and incorporating math, facts, and brain development. Play these memory board games in groups and take turns. This will develop important school-readiness skills: playing with others, following directions, and taking turns.
Another benefit of Lotería? It can be played pretty much anywhere: at home, in the park, in the library, or outdoors.
Let’s celebrate Family Literacy Day together on January 27th!
“Let’s Explore Reading” is the theme for Family Literacy Day. You can start by exploring your local library! Gather everyone up and head over or just go online to www.yolocountylibrary.org/learning/early-learners
Your family will find a reading adventure by exploring new books and reconnecting with your local library community. Learning as a family helps to build strong literacy skills for both adults and children and it may also strengthen family bonds. What do you want to read about as a family? Maybe you want to listen to a book together. Maybe you want to find a discount pass to a park or fun museum.
Let’s set new goals! For example, let’s learn about nature. Let’s be adventurers and explore the outdoor classroom.
Count how many times we go outside and smell the roses.
Let’s count how many steps from our school, library or grocery store it takes.
Find something new (leaf, tree, plant) ask your librarian to guide you to a reference book.
Pick a spot in a greenish area in your local park, backyard, front yard to sit and enjoy a good book.
Invite friends to come along with you on a walk or to the library to explore new books.
Take pictures of your outdoor adventures.
HAVE FUN!
Take time every day to read or do a learning activity with your children. Playing and reading are crucial to a child’s development. Not only will the children gain literacy skills, but parents and caregivers can learn and have fun as well.
Time off for the holidays? Many of us will be sharing kindness, embracing our loved ones, and making lasting memories. This is an exciting time of the year for children and there are lots of ways to include literacy into the FUN!
Spending time together can often include reading and storytelling. Try to find opportunities during the winter break to read together. Visit your local public library for books on holidays you celebrate. Our library has a big selection of books. Check out books on holidays that are celebrated around the world.
Here are other early literacy activities your family can do over the winter break.
Come up with a list of “common” holiday words.
Get your flashlight, pillow, and blanket. Read your books under the covers.
Create a calendar of how many books you have read during the winter break.
Have fun with crayons, pens, and paper. Use scratch paper and thick crayons, pencils, and pens for fun doodling and scribbling time. This is great for fine motor skills! Ask children to:
Draw a picture of you and them
Write what they want to eat
Be curious about what they draw – ask them to show you more!
Play alphabet games with toys you have at home.
Name the first letter of each toy and write it on a card.
Pick a letter card and have your child bring you toys that start with that letter.
Singing the ABC song while you move from one activity to the next:
Change the words, be silly, have fun!
Waiting for dinner to be served
Washing hands or changing clothes
Cleaning up toys
Getting in the car
Make a family book: collect family pictures to create your own book.
How words can be put together to communicate ideas and information leads to comprehension; talking with children is especially good at helping them think. Ensure your child can speak with you, not just listen to you talk. Respond to what your child says and follow their lead. Answer your child’s questions as completely as possible. Your explanations help your child learn more about the world.
If your child isn’t talking, ask questions, wait for them to react with a gesture or by babbling, and then give feedback, such as, “Yes, the two bunnies are chasing each other.” Ask your toddler to tell you about something that happened to them today; ask for more details so your child can expand on the story. Ask questions with more than a “yes” or “no” answer. This encourages your child to think about possible solutions and to ask more questions. It increases comprehension skills.
Use new words. Good readers have a large vocabulary. Knowing lots of words helps children better understand what they read. Begin early, even before your children learn to talk. Take turns. Children are just beginning to learn how to have a conversation. You need to ask questions and listen to your children’s responses. Make connections. Help children remember past events and connect them to current and future activities. It helps children understand that language can represent events that are not happening now.
Join our summer reading program open to all ages. Sign up!
Do you know about our Dial-A-Story? Call and listen to a story while on the go, waiting, or walking. Stories are available in English and Spanish. 530-298-9990.
For many immigrants, like me, who come from provinces or small towns, discovering the library is an experience like no other. I remember as if it were yesterday the aroma of a new book. The amazement I felt while doing a search on a library computer (so simple compared to the tablet I now use). The multitude of books within reach, the access to technology, and programs for all ages – my amazement has been and continues to be the fact that this infinite knowledge can be accessed at no cost in a library. That is why today, with great pride and gusto, I share with you a list of free programs and resources available to you in our libraries.
Ready Rosie
Sign up for this virtual newsletter to learn with short family videos. The videos are available in English and Spanish.
Launchpad Tablets
Did you know that you can take home a learning tablet for 3 weeks? Stop by your library today to check one out with your library card.
Bilingual Storytime
We accompany them to listen to stories, sing songs, and do crafts in person or virtually. Click here to see the calendar of events at your nearest library.
Call (530)298-9990 to listen to a story in English or Spanish.
English Conversation Group
Join this virtual group to chat in English with other members of the community. To join this learning community (for people 18 and over), contact Nancy Pacheco at nancy.pacheco@yolocounty.org or phone number 530-666-8019.
Bilingual Backpacks
Take one of our bilingual backpacks home today for three weeks to enjoy with your family. Each of our backpacks contains different themes with books in Spanish and English and fun crafts to enjoy as a family.
Storytime Kits
These kits contain several books in English in Spanish as well as toys for your little one to enjoy.
DVD Movies
Enjoy your favorite movies in Spanish or English as a family. The popular Disney movie Encanto is now available in our collection. Watch this video to learn how to put a hold on this and get on the waiting list.
E-books and Audiobooks
Download the Libby and Overdrive apps with your library account to read books on your tablet or to listen to audiobooks on any device.
Books on CD/ Books with CDs
Listen to your favorite book on CD like Harry Potter for hours without reading a word. Listen and read together with a book/CD combination that you find in the classic tale of Strega Nona. Stop by your local library to see our collection of books on CD or books with CDs.
TAGS: Library, Events, Kits, Audiobooks, eBooks, Books on CD, Early Literacy, Resources
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Find your next great read. Learn more about books and genres you like with Novelist Plus.
Featuring great books and exploring topics important to families, this page will make learning together interesting and fun.
