April 14-15 — Let’s Grow Kids and the Vermont Department of Libraries have teamed up to promote the importance of early learning and early literacy in recognition of Week of the Young Child and National Library Week (April 10–16).
During the week, members of the Let’s Grow Kids speakers bureau and early childhood experts will be traveling to close to 30 libraries from Highgate to Wilmington, from Lyndonville to Killington, and many towns in between to offer free 15-minute presentations on early childhood development. Each presentation will be given during the library’s established story time and will be followed by a question and answer period. Some libraries will be offering a supervised play area including organized crafts and activities for children while their parents listen to the presentation.
The Week of the Young Child is an annual event sponsored by the National Association for the Education of Young Children to celebrate early learning, to focus public attention on the needs of young children and their families and to recognize the early childhood programs and services that meet those needs. National Library Week is a national observance sponsored by the American Library Association to celebrate the contributions of the nation’s libraries and librarians.
In addition to the presentations, Let’s Grow Kids will be distributing 12,000 bookmarks to libraries across the state to educate borrowers of all ages about the importance of the early years and that supporting early learners is crucial to healthy development and a lifelong love of reading.
“A library is an important community resource that helps families promote the healthy development of their children,” said Let’s Grow Kids Campaign Director Robyn Freedner-Maguire. “We’re excited to partner with Vermont’s libraries again this year to help us raise awareness of the importance of quality experiences in the early years.”
Local libraries that are participating include:
Fletcher Memorial Library, Ludlow, 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, April 13
Pittsford Public Library with RCPCC playgroup, Pittsford, 10 a.m. on Thursday, April 14
Sherburne Memorial Library, Killington, 10:30 a.m. on Friday, April 15
For more information including a full list of participating libraries, visit letsgrowkids.org/week-young-child.
