- Heather M.
- Monday, April 24, 2023
First Steps to the Library highlights the skills young children need to be ready for school and helps caregivers understand how they can grow these skills.
It's Okay to Play
School Readiness Skill: Children engage in increasingly complex play.
As a matter of fact, play is necessary for your little one. Play builds these skills:
- Cognitive--When they are remembering which animal comes next in Good Night, Gorilla.
- Physical--When your child is pretending to be a BIG elephant.
- Vocabulary--When they learn the names of the animals in the zoo.
- Social--When your little one works with a friend to decide who will be the zookeeper and who will be the lion.
- Literacy--When they create signs for the animals in the zoo.
BONUS: Play helps your child de-stress.
from NAEYC's 10 Things Every Parent Should Know About Play
Sharing books together like Good Night, Gorilla can create opportunities for play. Using stuffed animals, you and your little one can act out the story. Take turns being the zookeeper and the animals.
Find more information about the importance of play from our friends at Richland First Steps.
First Steps to the Library is a partnership between Richland Library and Richland First Steps.