The kitchen table isn’t just for eating, it’s a place where conversation, learning, and family bonding can thrive. Family mealtimes offer an incredible opportunity to connect, share, and foster valuable literacy skills in children.
Here are three ways to make family meals into a powerful tool supporting your children’s literacy development and school readiness:
Conversations Spark Learning:
Ask open-ended questions about the day’s events or discuss favorite books and stories. This expands your children’s vocabulary, gives them practice in telling stories, and develops communication skills.
For example, instead of asking, “How was school today?” try asking, “What was the most interesting thing you learned today?” These questions encourage your child to think critically, express themselves clearly, and engage in deeper conversations.
Literacy through Cooking and Recipes:
Mealtime provides a natural setting for learning through cooking. Reading recipes is a fantastic way to combine literacy and life skills. Children can learn to read instructions, follow steps, and remember sequences. Cooking also introduces them to new vocabulary related to ingredients (vocabulary), measurements (math), and cooking methods (science).
Encourage your child to help plan and prepare meals. Let them read the recipe, measure the ingredients, and even write a shopping list. By involving them in meal prep, you are teaching them practical literacy skills they can apply in everyday situations.
Building Family Bonds:
Mealtime provides an opportunity to share stories, laugh together, and encourage a sense of belonging. These moments of connection contribute to a positive emotional environment that can make children more eager to engage in reading, writing, and learning.
Spotlight:
Check out our Storytime Kit: Healthy Food Habits! This kit includes books in Spanish and English, hands-on activities, and fun learning resources designed to teach children about healthy food choices.
As parents, we all want the best for our kids, including a healthy mind and body. One great way to make this happen is by spending time outside. Fresh air and outdoor activities do more than just help your children stay active—they can also boost their learning, creativity, and overall well-being. So, let’s take a closer look at how going outside can make a big difference in your child’s life!
Why is fresh air important?
When we talk about spending time outdoors, it’s not just about getting away from screens or taking a break from schoolwork. Fresh air has real benefits. Here’s why:
Boosts Brain Power: Research shows that spending time in nature can help improve memory, focus, and problem-solving skills. The more time your child spends outdoors, the better they will feel and think.
Improves Health: Outdoor play encourages physical activity, which is great for growing bodies. Whether they are running, climbing, or jumping, your kids will get stronger and healthier.
Reduces Stress: Just like adults, kids can get stressed. Fresh air helps to calm them down and reduces anxiety. Nature offers a peaceful environment where children can relax and reset.
Fosters Creativity: Nature is full of wonders—bugs, trees, clouds, and much more! When kids are outside, they use their imagination and creativity to explore. This sparks new ideas and helps with problem-solving.
Looking for some fun outdoor activities to enjoy with the whole family? Our Nature Explore Backpacks are the perfect addition to any adventure! Take them to the park, enjoy a picnic, or head out for an exploration in nature with our all-in-one kits.
Inside your backpack, you’ll find tools to discover:
Con el tiempo, las familias recogen innumerables historias, momentos y recuerdos que no siempre tienen un principio o fin claro. Pero esos recuerdos son lo que nos hace ser quienes somos, y es importante atesorarlos—tanto los que ya tenemos como los nuevos que creamos. Una forma de hacerlo es comenzando una nueva tradición familiar: el Día de la Memoria.
Entonces, ¿qué es exactamente una tradición familiar? En pocas palabras, una tradición familiar es la historia de nuestra familia—nuestras experiencias compartidas, los recuerdos que tenemos de nuestros padres, abuelos e hijos, y los momentos que nos unen. Pero, ¿por qué son tan importantes las tradiciones? Nos ayudan a mantenernos conectados con nuestras raíces, reflejan nuestros valores y refuerzan el sentido de unidad en nuestra familia.
Hagamos que sea una parte divertida y regular de nuestras vidas volver a visitar nuestras tradiciones familiares y crear nuevos recuerdos cada mes. Ya sea a través de una actividad, cocinar una comida, crear una imagen o simplemente compartir historias, el Día de la Memoria nos permite honrar el pasado mientras creamos algo nuevo con nuestros seres queridos.
Aquí te contamos cómo empezar:
Escoge un día cada mes en el que todos en la familia puedan reunirse—ya sea una tarde de fin de semana, una noche después de la cena, o un tiempo libre en el calendario.
Comienza con algo visual—una foto, un dibujo o un objeto que tenga significado en tu familia. Deja que inspire conversaciones sobre tradiciones pasadas.
Disfruta el momento. Tómate el tiempo para rememorar, reír y compartir recuerdos. Esto se trata de vincularse y crear conexiones.
Hazlo oficial. Añade tu Día de la Memoria al calendario como un evento mensual recurrente, para que se convierta en una tradición.
¿Necesitas inspiración? Puedes consultar nuestra colección de libros, actividades y kits sobre tradiciones familiares, incluyendo nuestras Mochilas Bilingües que cuentan con recursos sobre tradiciones familiares, música, comida y más. Estos kits están disponibles en nuestras sucursales o en el catálogo en línea.
Cada familia tiene una historia que contar—¡asegurémonos de que nunca olvidemos contarla!
Over time, families collect countless stories, moments, and memories that don’t always have a clear beginning or end. But those memories are what make us who we are, and it’s important to cherish them—both the ones we have and the new ones we create. One way to do this is by starting a new family tradition: Memory Day.
So, what exactly is a family tradition? Simply put, a family tradition is the story of our family—our shared experiences, the memories we have of our parents, grandparents, and children, and the moments that bind us together. But why are traditions so important? They help us stay connected to our roots, reflect our values, and reinforce the sense of unity in our family.
Let’s make it a fun, regular part of our lives to revisit our family traditions and make new memories each month. Whether through an activity, cooking a meal, creating a picture, or simply sharing stories, Memory Day allows us to honor the past while creating something new with our loved ones.
Here’s how you can get started:
Pick a day each month when everyone in the family can come together—perhaps a weekend afternoon, an evening after dinner, or a free time on the calendar.
Begin with something visual—a picture, a drawing, or an object that holds meaning in your family. Let it spark conversations about memories and traditions.
Enjoy the moment. Take time to reminisce, laugh, and share memories. This is all about bonding and creating connections.
Make it official. Add your Memory Day to the calendar as a recurring monthly event, so it becomes a tradition.
Need inspiration?
Borrow a Bilingual Backpack. These backpacks feature resources about family traditions, music, food, and more. These kits are available at our branches or online catalog.
We know that communication is at the heart of every relationship. Whether verbal or nonverbal, how we express ourselves shapes how we connect with our children and how they navigate the world around them. One of the simplest yet most powerful forms of communication we have at our disposal is a smile.
A smile is universal, transcending language, culture, and even age. For children, a smile can be a powerful tool for emotional and social development. It is more than just a gesture of happiness – it can carry meanings such as “thank you,” “I see you,” “I appreciate you,” or simply, “I am here with you.” By teaching children to recognize and use the power of a smile, we are helping them develop emotional literacy and deepen their connections with others.
A Smile as a “Thank You” – In the fast-paced world we live in, sometimes simple gestures of gratitude can get overlooked.
A Smile as “I See You” – Every child wants to feel seen, heard and understood. Sometimes, it’s not enough to just tell them we see them – we need to show them through our actions.
A Smile as “I Appreciate You” – A child picking up their toys, helping to set the table, or simply sharing a smile with a sibling – all these actions deserve acknowledgment.
A Smile as a Form of Communication – Words are not a child’s first form of communication – expressions are.
Smiling for Connection and Comfort – A smile is also a form of comfort.
Teaching Smiles as a Lifelong Skill – When we teach children to smile in return, we are teaching them a valuable life skill – to acknowledge the world around them with positivity and warmth.
Do you know about dictionary games? Pick a word of the day and look up the definition of the word. Start using the word in sentences. Spell and write the word and use it in written sentences. Use the word in conversation during the week. Look up words that your child might be studying at school. This will increase your child’s vocabulary and their ability to read at grade level. For younger children, listening to the word, even if they don’t understand it, will benefit their development and school readiness.
Estás construyendo vocabulario con juegos de diccionario. Aumente el vocabulario de su hijo agregando nuevas palabras de un diccionario a los juegos. Escoge una palabra del día y busca la definición de la palabra. Empieza a usar la palabra en las oraciones. Deletrea y escribe la palabra y úsala en oraciones escritas. Usa la palabra en una conversación durante la semana. Busque palabras que su hijo podría estar estudiando en la escuela. Escuchar la palabra beneficia el desarrollo cognitivo del niño.
Motivate your child to repeat the word various times. If some words are tricky to pronounce, break the word into syllables. This will help sound out the word if the child is learning long new words. Write the word somewhere in the house where the child can see it; some children are visual learners. Children learn by repetition, so be creative and find ways to use new words in the car, while shopping, and doing errands.
Motive a su hijo a repetir la palabra varias veces. Si algunas palabras son difíciles de pronunciar, divídelas en sílabas. Podría ayudar a pronunciar la palabra si el niño está aprendiendo palabras nuevas y largas. Escriba la palabra en algún lugar de la casa donde el niño pueda verla; Algunos niños aprenden visualmente, así que úselo en el automóvil mientras conduce. Los niños aprenden por repetición.
Story Time Kit Spotlight of the month:
Did you know we have a “Families” story time kit? You will find many books about all kinds of families – families with two last names, families with grandparents, and lots of stories about families with new babies on the way. You will also find puppets and other fun activities to do. This kit, and others like it, can keep the children busy during rainy days or long car trips. Check it out at your local Yolo County Library branch.
Here are some ideas for families:
-Read together!
-Draw pictures of family members
-Make a family tree
-Make a family bingo game
Kit de la Hora del Cuento Destacado del mes:
¿Sabías que tenemos un kit de cuentos para “Familias”?
Aquí hay algunas ideas adicionales para ampliar los kits en casa o en la escuela.
-¡Leer!
-Pida a los niños que hagan dibujos de los miembros de su familia
-Hacer un árbol genealógico
-Hacer un juego de bingo familiar
-Lleve el kit con usted para un largo viaje en automóvil o vacaciones familiares
Family Literacy posts are written by Leticia Flores, Family Literacy Specialist, Yolo County Library
The holidays are coming up! It can be a great time to spend with loved ones. On the other hand, it can be rather difficult for family members who are grieving for the ones who are not here. We often think that children are not able to understand changes within family dynamics.
While it is true that it may be difficult for children to understand, for the most part, children are resilient and accepting. All they want is to be in a family with love and stability, healthy boundaries, behavior, and love. After all, families are just groups of people who respect and genuinely love one another as they face life together.
Here are three ways to help your child learn about different families:
1) Keep it simple. Help your little ones understand by stating simple phrases like, “Sarah lives with her Aunt. Her Aunt is her family” or “Riley has two moms. They are their family”. It might feel difficult to talk about sad concepts like death or separation. This blog and Yolo County Library have more information about talking with children about grief.
2) Talk to them about the different families they know – their neighbors and friends. It can be difficult to talk about families that are different from your own. If there is something you don’t know, nurture curiosity by simply stating “I don’t know, let’s find out together”. Check out the organizations listed below to help you learn together as a family.
3) Read with your child and your loved ones. There really is no better way to learn something new. It is an excellent way to spark a conversation about what family means and to embrace the ways your family is truly unique.
Here are some books that help children understand the diverse families and welcome the differences in their own. Even though some of these books are in Spanish, you can still talk about the story based on the illustrations.
The Family Book by Todd Parr
Some families are big, some families are small, others have two moms or two dads. No matter what kind of family you have, it is special in its own way.
Stella Brings the Family by Miriam Baker Schiffer
Miriam’s class will celebrate Mother’s Day. The only problem is that she has two daddies. With the help of her family, Mirian finds a solution to make this day memorable.
Organizations:
Pflag – LGBTQIA+ families organization, support available in English and Spanish.
Childmind.org Resources for kids and families navigating divorce, support available in English and Spanish.
Adoptuskids.org has various resources to help parents who adopt or foster, support is available in Spanish and English.
What Should I Read Next? Answer a few simple questions about what you like to read (or need to read) and library staff will email personalized recommendations directly to your inbox.
Free access to The New York Times Online for 72 hours. Click on the “REDEEM” button. Then create an account or log in with your email address and password. For more information, please watch the short videos which can be found on the Research page. If you have questions about accessing the NYT, please contact NYT@library.ca.gov.
Find your next great read. Learn more about books and genres you like with Novelist Plus.
We acknowledge that we are on the traditional territory and homelands of the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation. For more information, please go to: www.yochadehe.gov
Why is fresh air important?
Birds
