Bridgewater Library Blog: Back to School Edition–Check out Cool Chemistry this Saturday at the Children’s Museum. Fascinating New Research on Child Development.

 

Having trouble viewing this email?  Read it online.
(You will also find links to great websites for families there.)

@ the Library:

School Daze Singalong (All Ages) No registration required. Celebrate a new school year with fun songs! Saturday, September 12, 2015. 11:00 - 11:45 AM

If your child has special needs or would do better in a quieter, slower-paced setting, consider also coming to our Sensory Friendly School Daze Singalong (All Ages) on Sept. 12th at 10 a.m. Registration required. Celebrate a new school year with fun songs. A sensory friendly program for children in a judgment-free environment.

AfterSchool Adventure: Harold & the Purple Crayon Squiggle Pictures (Ages 4-9)  Tuesday, September 15, 2015 4:30 PM - 5:15 PM  Registration required. Join us as we read the story of a kid who can create just about anything with his magic purple crayon, then create your own amazing drawings.

 

Storytimes, Toddler Times, and Baby Times continue…for information on these and other programs, click here.

Around the Community:

 

Let Your Fingers Do MORE Walking…

The Research Behind Language Development

The soft coos and playful babbling of infants may sound like pleasant nonsense to a parent’s ear. But as babies make these noises, they are making important progress toward language development: they are literally finding their voice. How caregivers respond to their children’s babbling can have a major effect on language development.  Read MORE.


Fascinating new post:

The decline of play in preschoolers — and the rise in sensory issues  By Valerie Strauss

(iStock)  Check out this post from pediatric occupational therapist Angela Hanscom, author of  “Why so many kids can’t sit still in school today,” as well as “The right — and surprisingly wrong — ways to get kids to sit still in class” and “How schools ruined recess.” Hanscom is the founder of TimberNook, a nature-based development program designed to foster creativity and independent play outdoors in New England.

“…Research continues to point out that young children learn best through meaningful play experiences, yet many preschools are transitioning from play-based learning to becoming more academic in nature. …Ironically, it is through active free play outdoors where children start to build many of the foundational life skills they need in order to be successful for years to come.

In fact, it is before the age of 7 years — ages traditionally known as “pre-academic” — when children desperately need to have a multitude of whole-body sensory experiences on a daily basis in order to develop strong bodies and minds. This is best done outside where the senses are fully ignited and young bodies are challenged by the uneven and unpredictable, ever-changing terrain.”   Read MORE.

 

How Children Learn To Read

BY MARIA KONNIKOVA

PHOTOGRAPH BY SEAN GALLUP/GETTY

Why is it easy for some people to learn to read, and difficult for others? It’s a tough question with a long history. We know that it’s not just about raw intelligence, nor is it wholly about repetition and dogged persistence. We also know that there are some conditions that, effort aside, can hold a child back. Socioeconomic status, for instance, has been reliably linked to reading achievement. And, regardless of background, children with lower general verbal ability and those who have difficulty with phonetic processing seem to struggle. But what underlies those differences? How do we learn to translate abstract symbols into meaningful sounds in the first place, and why are some children better at it than others?  Read MORE.

 

N.J. schools make teens wake up too early, CDC says

Early school start times are preventing adolescents from eating enough sleep, according to the Centers for Disease Control. (Star-Ledger file photo)  By Adam Clark | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com Read MORE.