Teton County Library Alta Wednesday ‘Bouncing and Books for Babies’ Program

Alta Wednesday ‘Bouncing and Books for Babies’ Program

Location: Alta Branch Library

Alta, WY- The Teton County Library Alta Branch invites parents and other caregivers with babies, up to 18 months old, to join a new weekly, half-hour reading and play session, “Bouncing and Books for Babies,” at 10:30 a.m. at the Alta Branch Library.

This new lap sit program for babies will continue weekly at the same time every Wednesday. Each session is structured to share reading and activities parents can use with their children to promote their child’s development. One role of libraries is to open the door to learning for preschoolers, before formal schooling begins.

“Alta Branch Library’s lap sit program uses great books, lively songs, rhymes and play to demonstrate that no age is too young for reading,” said Gretchen Notzold, Alta Branch Manager. “Babies get to meet other babies in the neighborhood and parents and caregivers have the opportunity to share ideas with each other.”

The lap sits also offer an opportunity to share materials available from the library. At least once every four months, Notzold plans to invite community resource experts on “all things baby” to share their knowledge and answer questions about child development.

“So, how do babies use books?” Notzold asks. “Babies love to observe. Every time you read to your baby, you reinforce basic reading concepts, such as turning pages and following text from left to right. As you point to the pictures, name them, and talk about them, your baby learns and soon your infant will begin to imitate you by turning pages or pointing to objects.”

“Babies also like to be held and spoken to,” Notzold said. “Books provide the perfect opportunity for them to learn speech patterns and how to make sounds.”

In addition, the Alta Branch Library offers a popular, weekly storytime program on Wednesdays at 11 a.m., immediately following the lap sit program. The weekly storytimes are designed for children, ages 2 to 5 years old. Library staff and volunteers read books, play games, sing songs and always provide an art project, such as finger painting, cutting out figures with scissors, pasting pictures on paper or molding clay for children. Parents are invited to show up with children, who fit into either the lap sit or the storytime program or both programs. A volunteer will supervise the “walkers” while the “non-walkers” are lap sitting.

Although designed for different ages, both the lap sit and storytime programs address six skill areas to capture children’s interests in language and literature. Those skill areas include using books, learning words, seeing letters, hearing sounds, and eventually, telling stories. For information these or other programs at the Alta Branch Library, call 307-353-2505 or visit online at http://www.tclib.org/alta.

###
Teton County Library offers open and equal access to information, literature and ideas…to encourage a lifetime of learning, to strengthen our evolving community, to inspire us all.