Tips for Using the Print and Digital Calendar

• Every month includes a booklist of suggested titles to read with your child. These are just suggestions. Choose books together with your child that you will both enjoy.
• Each day has an activity to do together. Like the booklists, these are suggestions. You can change them to better suit your child or make up your own activity.
• Some activities use salt dough or homemade play-dough. Easy recipes for both are in the “Arts & Crafts” section of this calendar located in the back.
• If a book or activity is not interesting to your child, stop and try something else. The goal is to make learning fun.
• Children love to read the same books over and over, and doing so gives them a certain assurance and confidence. Read a book as many times as a child wants.
• Every child learns at his/her own pace. If you are doing these activities with more than one child, make sure to praise each child’s effort without comparing them to each other.

The digital calendar is designed for families to explore the importance of digital literacy. 

• We've carefully selected activities to be completed via print.
• The Interactive Seek N Find game is hosted on our agency's main website, and is not easily adapted to mobile devices. 
• Links have been evaluated at the time of publication; please let us know if you find any dead links.
• Games and links may take you to a third party website. We strongly advise parental review. 

• Reading out loud and talking about books is one of the most important things you can do to get your child ready for reading and success in school.
• Set the Mood: Make yourself and your child comfortable. Sit next to each other or with your child on your lap. Develop a routine of when you might read together.
• Preparation: Look over the book before reading it together to make sure you are comfortable with it. Hold the book so the child can see it.
• Expression: Change your voice for different characters; make your voice soft and loud. Put life and energy into your reading!
• Patience: Take time to answer your child’s questions. Their questions show that they are engaged in the story. It’s ok if your young child can’t sit still through the story. A child who moves around or plays with a quiet toy may still be listening to every word.
• Participation: Let them repeat phrases with you or leave out a word here and there; see if they can fill in the blank. Look at the pictures to help tell the story; ask your child what is happening or what happens next.
• Pace: Don’t race while reading. Take your time.

• Visit Often: Your local public library always has new books and other resources for you and your child to explore.
• Attend Events: Most libraries have free programs for young children such as storytimes, puppet shows, and summer reading programs.
• Go Online: You can access the Internet for free and find out information on health and wellness, child safety, and school readiness.
• Ask a Librarian: If you have trouble figuring out where to start or how to use the library, ask!

There is a lot of good information that wouldn't fit in this calendar. Use the links and resources listed in the back of the calendar to learn more. There are also organizations in your community that offer a wealth of information. This calendar provides contact information for many of these organizations, but be sure to check for others that may be near you.

Remember to have fun with your child as they read, learn, and grow!

• They use sounds to attract attention.
• They are attracted to patterns and high contrasts of color.
• They respond to human voices, music, singing, and sounds.
• They rely on senses and like to touch, smell, grasp, and taste.
• They learn to understand simple words and directions.
• They learn to imitate simple sounds and motions.
• They learn to help hold a book, turn pages and lift flaps in flap books.
• They begin to understand many words, far more than the number they can say when speech begins.
• They have a very limited attention span.

• They want to learn to use things.
• They like stories, songs, rhymes, and looking at books.
• They tend to play next to, but not with, others.
• They listen and repeat words.
• They know how to hold a book and turn the pages.
• They do not yet understand numbers but will repeat them.
• They are just learning to talk so it may be hard to understand what they are saying.
• They are just learning how to speak softer and louder.

• They are becoming independent and are beginning to have friends.
• They are imaginative, talkative and they understand rules and consequences.
• They know that printed words have meaning and may recognize some words.
• They can ask questions and explain things to others.
• They understand how to count and may be able to count to ten or higher.
• They can talk in short sentences.
• They want to make friends and play in groups.
• They take turns in conversations.
• They can print their name.
• They can draw pictures.