Early Childhood Engagement: Take & Make Kits

Young children and their families love the library. Being read to is a core part of healthy brain development. It is how we learn language, develop critical thinking skills, practice fine motor skills, build strong bonds with our caregivers. Storytime is one of the most successful programs at any library. It is the most highly requested program by educators and caregivers alike because it can capture young children and transform them into young readers. Libraries often hold a special place in the public's heart because of how impactful story times are for developing a love of reading. Early literacy skill development is not limited to what children learn physically in the library or daycares. To engage young children and their families in continuing learning at home, I have created monthly literacy-themed take & make kits in my branch for the past year. Each take & make kit features information about an early literacy skill, a themed song/nursery rhyme/poem, and an age-appropriate activity for caregivers to do with their little ones. While the target audience has always been young children, five and under, these kits have appealed to children ages 11/12 too.

During the first three months of making the take & make kits, I quickly realized that we were running out of them very quickly (at the time, I was only making 15 as a trial), supplies were often limited, and families wanted more engagement. I improved the program by creating 30 take & make kits each month, releasing 15 at a time, and dedicated space to showcasing picture and board books that would extend the learning and allow families to create a complete "storytime" experience at home. This new setup has been a wild success! You can find some pictures of my Take & Make monthly displays below.