The Licking County United Way is partnering with organizations that serve parents of young children to distribute Born Learning materials. In addition, community volunteers have installed Born Learning Trails in two community parks as part of the Licking County United Way's Day of Caring. Born Learning Trails As visitors walk the paths, they will find signs and stencils which make up the Born Learning Trail. The signs explain activities such as Hop! Toss! Shake! Wiggle!, which gets children's brains and bodies moving, building fine and gross motor skills as well as the thinking that's key to kindergarten success. Another activity, Talk! Listen! Sing!, encourages playfulness with letters and sounds building pre-literacy skills.  Born Learning Trail - Rotary Park, Newark Owens Corning volunteers installed a trail at Newark's Rotary Park during the June, 2009 Day of Caring. This trail was sponsored by State Farm and Newark Parks Department.  Born Learning Trail – Gellar Park, Heath In June, 2010, Christopher McConnell, Boy Scouts of America Troop 4002, organized the installation of a trail at Heath's Gellar Park as part of his Eagle Scout project. This trail was sponsored by The Park National Bank and Heath Parks Department. For more information and for tips on how to turn everyday moments into learning moments, visit www.bornlearning.org. |
Because you want the best for children, we created this simple guide for selecting toys and books. Books and the right toys can be fun and help prepare children for school.
The less a toy does, the more opportunity a child has to create and learn from it. Simple toys are easier for children to use, require less supervision and last longer.
Toys should match a child's development level and age. Look on the packaging for this information.
Toys should be clean and should not contain unsafe, toxic or flammable materials, sharp corners or small, detachable parts.
A toy should be made of stable and solid materials and be easy to operate.
Look for toys that a child can play with in many ways.
Choose toys that allow for pretending, role-playing, problem-solving and practicing skills.
For older children who are more likely to share, choose toys that they can use with others.
Toys for babies-Rattles, toys with letters on them and mobiles.
Toys for toddlers-Materials to scribble, draw and write, toys that can be pushed, pulled or stacked and toys with letters on them.
Toys for older toddlers-Objects that can be counted, matching games, materials to scribble, draw and write and toys for dramatic play.
Tips about toys are brought to you by the Licking County United Way and Born Learning. Learn more at www.bornlearning.org
Books for Babies-Choose books that have pictures with bright contrasting colors. Select board, plastic or cloth books with textures and objects to touch and feel. Babies like books about babies, families and familiar objects-pets, toys, food, and books with photos and pictures of children doing familiar things (e.g., eating, going to bed, playing, etc.).
Books for Toddlers (18-36 months)-Select books with photos and pictures of children doing familiar things like eating, sleeping, playing. Choose informational books about food, animals, families, counting, shapes, the alphabet, colors, etc. Toddlers also like nursery rhymes and stories with repetitions text.
Books for Preschoolers (3 & 4 years old)-Select books with predictable patterns and repeated phrasing that children can "read". Choose counting books, books about numbers, colors and shapes. Preschoolers also like poems and rhymes and alphabet books.
Lteracy tips are brought to you by the Children's Reading Foundation of Licking County. Learn more at, www.readingfoundation.org/licking-county