Family Literacy Programs at the Providence Public Library

With literacy skills playing such a key role in school readiness, Ready to Learn Providence’s partnership with the Providence Public Library has proven one of its most important. Activities sponsored by R2LP and held at neighborhood library branches have introduced the magic of books to hundreds of young children and families in Providence.

Cradle to Crayons

Cradle to Crayons is a free nine-week program offered at most Providence Public Library branches for children ages 1-3 and their parents or caregivers.

The program, funded by Ready to Learn Providence and CVS/Pharmacy Charitable Trust, is designed to introduce young families to the library in a comfortable setting and to develop early literacy skills through songs, rhymes, storytelling and play. Library staff members offer tips that can be used at home or in child-care settings to encourage an early interest in reading and learning. Community resource specialists attend some sessions to share information on child development, health and safety.

Bilingual staff (English/Spanish) attend most sessions, and materials are available in both languages. Twice during the nine-week session each child receives a free book through Reading is Fundamental.

For more information and a schedule of upcoming sessions, go to http://www.provlib.org/happening/kidsandteens/default.html.

If you are interested in attending Cradle to Crayons, please call Erica Wilder at 455-8037. For information in Spanish, call Paola Harris at 455-8058.

Beginning with Mother Goose

Beginning with Mother Goose is a free literature-based program held at branches of the Providence Public Library. It teaches adults how to share children’s books, rhymes and songs with infants and toddlers.

The three-hour program is offered in both Spanish and English for parents and child-care providers. The program is offered either as one three-hour session or as a one-hour weekly program for three weeks.

R2LP funding has made this program possible. Those funds paid for the training of library staff and for the purchase of kits around which the program is built.

The kits include ten pieces of quality children’s literature, such as The Snowy Day, I Went Walking and Goodnight Moon. A parent guide, which provides interactive activities related to the books, and a tape of original children’s music are also part of the kit. Each of the ten libraries in Providence has ten kits.

After each session, parents and caregivers leave with activities to do with their children, such as making a touch-and-feel book, playing with rhyming words, and tapping out the syllables of a song.

The Beginning with Mother Goose program was developed by the Vermont Center for the Book.

If you are interested in attending a Beginning with Mother Goose program, please call Erica Wilder at 455-8037.  For information in Spanish, call Paola Harris at 455-8058.

Learning and Reading Kits (LARK Kits)

Ready to Learn Providence partnered with the Providence Public Library to create 80 LARK kits for use by preschool child-care providers and educators.  Sixty of the kits contain bilingual (English/Spanish) books and materials for use with preschool age children.  An additional 20 kits were created for use with toddlers. These 80 kits supplement 120 LARKs currently available through the library.

Each LARK is bursting with 10 books, music, visual aides such as puppets and flannel boards, and a wealth of hands-on fun, such as games and puzzles. The activity folder in each kit offers a choice of activities, helping educators to teach thematic curriculum units in a developmentally appropriate way.

LARK Kits may be checked out from and returned to any Providence Public Library location.

To see a complete list of currently available LARKs, visit the Providence Public Library website. 

For information about borrowing LARKs, call Cheryl Space at 455-8042 or the Providence Public Library children’s room at 455-8025.  For information in Spanish, call Paola Harris at 455-8058.