San Francisco Library introduce babies to literacy skills

Bay City News Service

April 2, 2006

As part of San Francisco's celebration of Week of the Child this week, San Francisco Public Library has launched a program designed to help introduce literacy skills to children as young as a few months old.

"Every Child Ready to Read" is a national project of the American Library Association. Its six early literacy guidelines for parents, caregivers, childcare professionals and community organizations will be incorporated into the San Francisco Public Library's existing programs for children.

Early literacy programs help promote brain growth and prepare children for reading readiness, according to the library.

The "Every Child Ready to Read" guidelines include introducing children to books at libraries; encouraging awareness of the printed word, letters, and phonemes, the smaller sounds in words; teaching children the names of objects and encouraging youngsters to describe things and tell stories.

Some of the library's existing programs for children include "lapsits" for babies, toddlers and their caregivers, which introduce children to books and songs. At the library's preschool story times, children listen to stories, "learn fun fingerplays and explore musical play with instruments," according to the library.

The library's additions to its literacy programs are some of the many activities for children and families planned in San Francisco this week.

A "Family Day" at the library's main Civic Center branch is scheduled for Saturday, April 8 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

For more information about the "Every Child Ready to Read" program or to schedule a workshop, contact Christy Burgess at (415) 557-4218.

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