Extending learning outside of the classroom is not always easy for parents. Sometimes we don’t have the time to read to children or the power to make sure they’re really playing that spelling game on the laptop and not watching endless You Tube videos. As our world gets messier and our jobs as parents more complicated, it’s nice to have easy solutions to help our kids read and learn more at home. The Library’s newest collection of Wonderbooks and Launchpads are great tools for parents who are looking for independent educational activities for their kids.
Wonderbooks are picture books that come with audio built into the book so that kids can listen and follow along with the words on the page. These are great for kids who are just learning to read, but they’re also good for reluctant readers because the audio includes music and dramatic storytelling. Once the book is over, you can switch to learning mode where your child can answer questions like, “What was your favorite part of the story?” Wonderbooks reinforce reading comprehension and the notion that reading can be fun. They’re great to listen to together as a family or to experience independently.
Launchpads are preloaded tablets with educational activities to help kids learn and have fun at the same time. The tablets include a variety of games, interactive scenes and/or animated books with a variety of themes: creativity, STEAM, languages, animals and more. Each Launchpad is labeled with a target grade level for kids in Pre-K up to Grade 5. They don’t connect to the internet, so parents don’t have to worry about ads or inappropriate content and it makes them perfect for car rides!
We’re so grateful to Jackie and Steve Miron for their donation to support these new items. The Wonderbooks and Launchpads are great additions to our children’s collection that include a wide variety of items to encourage play through learning, including Discovery Backpacks, Early Literacy Kits and Explore the World Backpacks. With all these tools, families can easily encourage their children to play, read, and learn outside of the classroom.
Upcoming Event:
Movie Matinee
Wednesday, November 13th at 2:00 PM
A man is trying desperately to be certified insane during World War II, so he can stop flying missions. Rated R, runtime 2h 2min. Free popcorn! No registration.