Interactive Virtual Sessions Help Ensure ‘Every Child Is Ready to Read’

Written by Keith Armour, Education & Homework Support Manager, Downtown Main Library 

We all know that the past year has been stressful for adults and many of us have missed out on a great deal of activities. Parents and caregivers have done a wonderful job learning new skills to help their children grow during these difficult times. The Library continues to provide materials to check out, curbside service, and virtual storytimes to help them. 

We’re starting the new year off by introducing you to the program Every Child Ready to Read (ECRR). It was developed by librarians and educational experts along with the American Library Association. The goal is to help parents and caregivers prepare children for kindergarten and the journey of learning. 

The Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library holding virtual classes for two different age groups—birth to 3 and 4 to 5. Parents and caregivers are invited to attend along with children, to learn fun activities — talking, singing, reading, writing, and playing—that develop early literacy skills. 

“The ECRR sessions were created to empower parents to help their children develop pre-reading skills,” said Kerry Obrien Rhoad, Senior Children’s Librarian at the Blue Ash Branch. “The sessions offer researched information and great ideas for activities that parents/caregivers can duplicate at home with items they already have. The sessions are a great opportunity to connect what you do every day with your children to the skills they need to be able to learn to read."  

It’s important to also remember that literacy extends far beyond just reading. It also involves writing, listening, speaking, and language. Even subjects like understanding math and science require these essential skills.  

Miss Kerry offers a sneak peek of what you’ll learn in the ECRR Series.  

Birth to Three Series 

11 a.m. to noon Mondays 

Feb. 1 — Fun with Letters with Children’s Librarian Miss Kim 

Feb. 8 — Fun with Words with Children’s Librarian Miss Mandi 

Feb. 15 — Fun with Math with Children’s Librarian Miss Kerry 

Feb. 22 — Fun with Science with Children’s Librarian Miss Sarah 

Ages 4 to 5 Series 

 7-8 p.m. Tuesdays 

Feb. 2 — Fun with Letters with Children’s Librarian Miss Kim 

Feb. 9 — Fun with Words with Children’s Librarian Miss Mandi 

Feb. 16 — Fun with Math with Children’s Librarian Miss Kerry

Feb. 23 — Fun with Science with Children’s Librarian Miss Sarah

More Literacy Tips from our Children’s Librarians 

Interested in more Literacy Tips from the Library?  Check out our YouTube playlist or read the tips below.

• Talking with children helps them learn oral language, one of the most critical early literacy skills. The experience of self-expression also stimulates brain development, which underlies all learning. 
• Singing, which also includes rhyming, increases children’s awareness of, and sensitivity to, the sounds in words. This helps prepare children to decode print (written language). 
• Reading together, or shared reading, remains the single most effective way to help children become proficient readers. 
• Writing and reading go together. Writing helps children learn that letters and words stand for sound and that print has meaning. 
• Playing is one of the primary ways young children learn about the world. General knowledge is an important literacy skill that helps children understand books and stories once they begin to read.