Families can track their reading progress with help from the library as they foster a love of reading at an early age.
If a parent were to begin reading one book per day to a child born this week, by the time that child was 5, that family would have read more than 1,800 books together.
With that in mind, the Burlington County Library has joined the nationwide “1,000 Books Before Kindergarten” initiative to encourage parents to read 1,000 books to their children before they begin kindergarten.
Library officials say the program not only introduces children to reading at an early age and helps them prepare for school, but the countless hours spent reading together between parent and child will help families bond.
Danielle Haubrich, youth services librarian for the Pineland Branch Library, said she was excited about the program because it was a simple yet fun way for libraries to promote early childhood literacy skills.
“Parents and caregivers are really a child’s first educator before they start formal schooling in kindergarten, so this program is a way to provide them with a great tool to help them with their children during that critical development period,” Haubrich said.
Haubrich said the program would help develop children’s vocabulary skills, as well strengthen the bond between parents and their kids.
“It just fosters a love of books and reading in children in general, so it’s all good things,” Haubrich said.
For families to track their progress in the program, participants are invited to use paper sheets from any branch of the Burlington County Library System or use the system’s Beanstack online reading tracker program for free.
By using the online system to track reading progression, kids can earn online badges. Any child who logs 1,000 books over the course of the next several years either through Beanstack or paper logs can receive a certificate of achievement from their library.
While families who participate in the program can read books from anywhere, each branch of the county library system will also have a collection of “1,000 Books Before Kindergarten” related books that librarians have set aside for children at the prekindergarten-aged reading level.
Some libraries have even already begun hosting launch parties for the program, with remaining events at the Bordentown Library on Jan. 17, the Pinelands Branch Library on Jan. 18, the Maple Shade Library on Jan. 19 and the Riverton Library on Jan. 20.
All events begin at 10:30 a.m. at their respective locations, with events set to feature appearances by characters Elephant and Piggie from children’s author Mo Willems’ “Elephant and Piggie” series.
The events will also feature stories, crafts and games.
Burlington County residents in 37 municipalities are eligible for free library membership through the Burlington County Library System. Those residing in Moorestown, Willingboro and Mt Laurel who have their own local libraries and who do not pay the county’s dedicated library tax are still eligible for library cards at a county library through paid membership.
To learn more about the “1,000 Books Before Kindergarten” program or the Burlington County Library System, visit www.bcls.lib.nj.us.
