Children
Resources, programs, services, and more for all the families in the Fort
Childhood Development Tips
Here are five early literacy practices to help your child grow and develop to be a reader for life!
Write
- Reading and writing go hand in hand. Together they will help your child get ready for school.
- Encourage your child to be creative and make marks on paper. This will lead to making letters, drawing and making words.
- Have paper and crayons available at home to encourage your child to write.
Talk
- Learning to talk is the first step to reading and writing and is one of the most important early literacy skills for your child to acquire.
- Your child learns language by listening to you and others talk and joining in on the conversation.
- Talking with your child helps develop phonological awareness, builds vocabulary and narrative skills, as well as encourages print motivation.
- Have a conversation with your child today, tell her a story, or talk about the pictures when you share a book together.
- Use new words with your child. Studies show that that size of a child’s vocabulary is a strong indicator of reading success.
Sing
- Singing is a wonderful activity to share with your child that stimulates brain connections, builds listening skills, increases vocabulary and helps boost memory.
- Don’t worry if your singing isn’t perfect or on key – your baby loves the sound of your voice.
- Singing slows down language so that your child can hear the different sounds and learn about syllables.
- Sing with your child anytime, anywhere –in the car, at home, while walking or waiting for the bus.
- Sing a favorite lullaby, nursery rhyme or folk song such as Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, Hush Little Baby or If You’re Happy and You Know It, or make up your own song to these familiar tunes.
Read
- Let your child see you read. You are a great role model for your child.
- Have books around your house for your child. Visit the library and borrow from a wide range of reading material.
- Read aloud together every day. Reading aloud builds vocabulary, phonics, and language development – all important skills to become a successful reader.
- Reading aloud helps to create a bond with you and your child.
Play
- Your child learns through play. It provides wonderful opportunities for your child to develop life skills, language and creativity.
- Physical play develops your child’s coordination, stamina and self-image. Social play promotes cooperation and communications skills. Fantasy play allows your child to express emotions and develop imagination.
- Dramatic play helps develop your child’s narrative skills and understanding of story sequencing.
- Play with your child several times a day. Go play outside, with pots, pans, water, sand, Play-Doh and/or paint. Dress-up, have a tea party or play a game of tag. The possibilities are endless.
We are thrilled to offer new modified programs for adults this fall in different formats that allow us to adhere to health and safety measures. These types of programs include:
Take-Out: Registration is not required. Patrons may pick up supplies from the programming table (in-library) on a first come first served basis.
Blended: Registration required. Program supplies are picked up from the library’s hold shelf the week before the program starts. After registration patrons will receive details of how to access the virtual meeting, or pre-recorded video.
Virtual: Registration is not required. Patrons may view the program video through Facebook or Youtube. The link is available on the event description.
In-person classes will not be available, but we hope you enjoy some of our modified favourites, such as Homemade Alphabet Soup or Toddler Storytime and our new offerings as well.
Please note that several of our other services for children will be unavailable for the time being. This includes: all in-person programming, use of the Program Room, all after-school programs, the baby play zone, early literacy computers, the multi-touch table, the duplo table and craft table.
We will still be offering our Grab & Go bags, and Baby Literacy bags as well, which can be picked up in person during our modified hours.
Please check the website and social media regularly for updates.
Our Grab & Go service is perfect for busy families who want great picture book. Each bag contains items recommended by library staff. Simply grab and go!
Every week we put out a new craft for you to take home!
We have teamed up with the Fort’s Welcome Wagon Birth of Baby to provide every new born baby in the Fort with a free Baby Literacy Bag filled with items that support early literacy and learning! You can pick up the bag at the library or it will be delivered with a basket of goodies from a Welcome Wagon representative (call Melany at 780.267.8612 or email welcomenewbabyab@gmail.com).
A wide selection of board books, picture books, easy-to-read, nursery rhymes, audio books, DVDs, music CDs, concept books and more.
Come to us or we’ll come to you! Fort Saskatchewan Public Library offers:
- Free tours of the library for all grade levels
- General introduction or in-depth look at a topic of your choice
- In-class visits
We can also provide library cards for your class! We’ll send a form for students to take home to be signed by a parent or guardian, process those forms at the library, and then bring back beautiful new cards to your students. All for free.
To schedule a field trip, a class visit, for school cards or for more information, please email fsasklib@fspl.ca.
At Fort Saskatchewan Public Library, we’re pleased to provide parents and caregivers with a great selection of resources, programs and services to support children at every age and stage.
Do multiple members of your family have library cards? Try out Library Elf! Library Elf is a library account management service that allows you to monitor checkouts and holds within your family and across different libraries. Library Elf offers text, email and RSS alerts for holds.
Young Reader's Choice Awards (YRCA)
Started in 1940, YRCA is sponsored by the Pacific Northwest Library Association and spans across Canada and the United States. You read the books and pick the winners. Start reading today!
Learn MoreLatest childrens books
Hot off the shelves, sure to wow kids of any age
Upcoming Children's Events
Upcoming children-related events and programming at the Library
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