Maggie Dow has been reading all of her life -- all 23 months of it, that is. Sure, Maggie depends on her parents, Steve and Trish Dow, to help her get the words off of the pages. But the things Maggie can do with books - point to letters and numbers, follow a story from beginning to end, and recognize and enjoy her favorite characters, for example - are all things that will most likely help her really learn to read more quickly when the time comes. Maggie's "book knowledge" has developed as a result of her parents' commitment to read to her. That's a commitment that local educators and librarians say can't come too early. "Children who are consistently read to before school begins are much better prepared to learn to read," said Sue Witter, a reading specialist at Monroe 2-Orleans BOCES. "Little ones can and should learn that books are a source of pleasure and there's nothing like some good 'lap time' with mom or dad to make that happen." Even little babies - like Maggie's new sister, Celia - can enjoy board books featuring bold, contrasting colors and simple backgrounds. Older babies love books about, you'll never guess, babies! "Babies can become genuinely interested in what's in the story, especially if they see something there that's like them," said Witter. "They will point to pictures and turn the pages, anticipating what is to come." Witter recommends soft or sturdy books for babies featuring simple, repetitive words, phrases, or rhymes. "Let your children help you decide when is the right time to transition to longer stories with characters and stories. A baby or child who asks to be read to is definitely ready for more." Maggie's current favorites, by the way, include Arthur, Clifford the Big Red Dog, Sesame Street, and "anything featuring something cute and cuddly," said Dow. The Dows have established a "pretty large storehouse" of books at home, enough so that it will be a while before Celia needs to start her own collection. Nevertheless, the local library's siren song lured the family in, much to Maggie's delight. "We could tell that she was so excited to see so many books in one place," said Steve of Maggie's first trip to the library at about age one. Noting responses like Maggie's, west side libraries are now planning for their youngest patrons. "We've dropped the lower age limit of those who wish to have library cards," said Patty Uttaro, the library director at Ogden Farmers' Library. "Parents who wish to could come in and get a library card for a brand new baby." The Farmers' Library also started offering a Baby Story Hour last spring, featuring stories which encourage touching and sounds. "It's fun to see the babies and their caregivers 'read' together," Uttaro said. "The caregivers certainly have to do more work than the babies." The fall session of the Baby Story Hour, led by children's librarian Ann Nolan, is scheduled to begin Monday, September 29 at 11 a.m. Registration is limited to 10 babies and their caregivers. For more information or to register, contact the library at 352-2141. Also offered at the Ogden Farmers' Library is the Books for Babies program, a way for families and friends to celebrate a new arrival and start the reading habit early by dedicating a book to a child. Nolan keeps the library's "Baby Box" filled with books that can be dedicated. Once a book is chosen to be designated in this way, it has a special bookplate imprinted with the child's name and birthdate pasted inside. The parents are invited to be the first to borrow the book and are given a library bag filled with goodies such as a "Born to Read" bib. "Our goal is to help even very small children discover what an enjoyable thing books can be," said Catherine Kyle, the children's librarian at Parma Public Library, which will be offering its first story time for one- to three-year-olds on Thursdays in October. "We've gotten enough copies of some board books so that every child and caregiver team can be following along at one of their own." Registration is required for participation in Parma's program as well. Contact the Parma library at 392-8350. "Reading is the foundation for so much of learning," said Witter, whose four children all started hearing their first stories virtually from birth. "Parents who read to their children are giving them a lifetime gift." Editor's note: Yes, indeed, the editor acknowledges that she and husband, Phil, are grandparents of Maggie and Celia Dow of Penfield. |
