Early Learner News:
January 2023
Knowledge Is a Seed That Grows When You Read
Reading aloud to your baby is a wonderful, shared activity you can continue for years to come — and it's important for your baby's brain.

Reading aloud:
  • teaches a baby about communication,
  • introduces concepts such as numbers, letters, colors, and shapes in a fun way,
  • builds listening, memory, and vocabulary skills, and
  • gives babies information about the world around them.

Kids whose parents talk and read to them often know more words by age 2 than children who have not been read to. And kids who are read to during their early years are more likely to learn to read at the right time. Try to read every day, perhaps before naptime and bedtime. Reading before bed gives you and your baby a chance to cuddle and connect. It also sets a routine that will help calm your baby.

It's also good to read at other points in the day. Choose times when your baby is dry, fed, and alert. Books also come in handy when you're stuck waiting, so have some in the diaper bag to fill time sitting at the doctor's office or standing in line at the grocery store.

Read to your baby for a chance to win prizes during Black Hills Reads' 2023 Race to Read Challenge! See information on how to join below.

A Book a Day Keeps Boredom Away.
The most important benefit of providing pre-reading activities for preschoolers is to instill a love of reading early. Another advantage is that your little learners can develop a great interest in books and they’ll be more likely to ask you to read to them every day. In addition, if they have been exposed thoroughly to all the basics that will be used in the actual reading, they will have a better grasp of advanced reading skills.

Here are some activities for both home or in childcare:
  • Get a copy of your kid’s favorite picture book (buy an inexpensive copy that you can find at a thrift store) and separate all the pages and reshuffle it. Then, instruct your kid to remake the story from his memory by arranging the pages in the correct order.
  • Pause and ask your child what they think will happen next as you are reading a new book. Getting your child to think critically about a book, beyond what they have read on the page, is a great skill that will help them with comprehension down the line. When you talk about a story with your child, you're helping them build their vocabulary, and helping them to make sense of what is going on.
  • Take a stack of plastic cups, and write a single letter on each. Then line the cups up in a row, spreading them out a bit. Give your child a small soccer ball (or any soft ball), and instruct them to kick the ball toward the letter cups. Once they knock a cup down, instruct them to say the name of the letter on the cup. For a more advanced version, say a letter first, and see if they can aim for the corresponding cup.
  • Join reading challenges such as the Black Hills Reads 2023 Race to Read Challenge. Encourage other family members and friends to join and challenge them as well!

Illustration of an open book with the Race to Read Challenge Logo on one side and a map of South Dakota plus text reading "On your mark, get set, read!" on the other side.
The Greatest Gift is A Passion for Reading
Black Hills Reads is gearing up to host the 2023 Race to Read Challenge! This year's challenge will start on January 9, 2023, and end on March 2, 2023—which is also Dr. Seuss' birthday! Throughout the challenge, readers across the state will accumulate ‘miles’ for every book they read. These miles will then be used to determine how far our figurative book mobile travels as we ‘race’ around the state! 

Our goal with this challenge is to get kids and adults alike excited about reading. As such, any school, community organization, business, individual, or family in SD that would like to participate is welcome to join! There will be several opportunities throughout the challenge for communities to host reading events and celebrations as we track our overall progress as a state—plus, $650+ in gift card prizes will be awarded to the highest reading individuals, families, organizations, and communities! There will also be opportunities to earn ‘bonus points’ and extra prizes on the Black Hills Reads Facebook Page. 

To participate in the challenge, fill out the Participant Sign Up Form or email RaceToReadSD@gmail.com. Black Hills Reads also has funding available for organizations who would like to host their own celebration or event for readers throughout the challenge. Apply for funding by completing this Race to Read Event Registration Form or email hanna@unitedwayblackhills.org.  
imagination BOOK STOP
Check out the latest lesson plan for the book:

For more lesson plan ideas around books families receive from the Imagination Library go to Black Hills Reads Resources. Each Book Stop features information about the book, discussion ideas and activities.