Teach Early Years - Issue 14.2

KAREN HART IS AN EARLY YEARS SPECIALIST, DRAMA TEACHER, AND WRITER There’s lots to learn at the library the librarian’s area in the middle, and the information section with lots of free leaflets about activities in the borough, etc. We took some interesting leaflets back to the nursery with us to look at later. Every child was allowed to choose one book to take back to nursery with them, which children checked out themselves using the automated book scanner – a new little skill they accomplished. Back at the nursery, we talked about our outing, read some of our chosen books (with others put aside for the rest of the week), looked at the leaflets, and talked about everything we’d seen. The visit was a real success – a local outing that was completely free and left children with a sense of accomplishment through making choices, using new technology, and learning about a specific kind of building. I asked children why they thought we had libraries, and one little girl said, “To give everyone a nice day,” which I suppose is the right answer! LEARNING TO LOVE READING Library visits cover multiple areas of development, from walking to the site with friends (personal, social and emotional development) to looking at books and listening to stories (communication and language), but the biggest benefit is their potential to sow the seeds of a lifelong love of reading. The education secretary, Bridget Phillipson, recently urged parents I recently accompanied a nursery group of two- and three-year-olds on a visit to our local library. Given their previous visit had been to a big park with a sandpit, lots of climbing frames and a twirly slide, I was wondering if this outing might fall a bit flat, but I couldn’t have been more wrong! Before the visit we talked to the children about libraries, and although everyone had visited the library before, not many appeared to borrow books regularly. We talked about the types of things that go on in our library, which in common with many others these days organises mother and toddler groups, play days, and special holiday activities – children loved to share their stories. We also talked about not running and shouting in the library, as people would be working on computers and reading, while explaining that walking and talking is fine. When we got there, the first thing children wanted to do was have a good sort through all the books – a little activity in its own right. In nursery, they had been looking at animals that hatch out of eggs, so I suggested that if anyone found any books about animals that lay eggs, these could be good ones to borrow. It was a treasure hunt from that moment on, and we found some really good books on the subject to take back with us. Once we had a pile of interesting books, I read some to the children. There was a real mixture, including stories from well-known CBeebies TV shows, books about bugs, and an activity book about going to the dentist, with everyone wanting a turn at pulling the tabs and lifting the flaps. We finished our visit by having a walk around the library to see the various areas: the adult book section, the computer and photocopier area, These free, local resources offer countless opportunities to support development and promote a love of reading, says Karen Hart … 50 Teachearlyyears.com