Resources
Resource of the Month
Resource of the Month: December
This blog contains numerous craft ideas for five different age groups. Browse for inspiration and instructions for crafts around the year.
(Most craft plans are free; there is no obligation to buy the for-purchase craft bundles or cutting device files.)
Featured Book of the Month
Book of the Month: December
How to Raise an Amazing Child the Montessori Way / Seldin
Newburgh Free Library – Parenting
J PAR 649.12 SEL
A parent’s guide to building independence, creativity, and confidence in their children using Montessori learning techniques, written by Montessori president Tim Seldin.
An international bestseller, How to Raise an Amazing Child the Montessori Way adapts Montessori teachings for easy use at home. Packed with Montessori-based preschool activities and educational games that build confidence and independence through active learning, this authoritative illustrated guide helps raise self-reliant and creative children. Celebrate physical and intellectual milestones from birth to age six with activity checklists, and encourage development through proven child-centered teaching methods.
This edition has been updated to include information about the neuroscience of child development and shares advice about screen time in the digital age, coparenting, other family changes, and gentle discipline methods.
The Newburgh Basics
“The Newburgh Basics Campaign is inspired by the fact that 80% of brain development happens in the first three years of life… The Newburgh Basics are five evidence-based parenting and caregiving principles that encompass much of what experts find is important for children from birth to age three.”
1. Maximize Love, Manage Stress
2. Talk, Sing, and Point
3. Count, Group, and Compare
4. Explore Through Movement & Play
5. Read and Discuss Stories
“Every child from every background can benefit from routinely experiencing Newburgh Basics learning experiences.”
Get Ready to Read Pre-reading skills, or early literacy, can be developed from the time babies can begin to hold an object! Parents and caregivers are a child’s first teacher.
Babies can learn to recognize the beginning of a book (front cover), how to turn a page, and begin to distinguish images from words on a page using Board Books.
Teach your child how to hold a book and turn the pages.
Point to words and follow with your finger as you read aloud.
As a child gets older, expose them to different types of printed material (books, magazines, menus, packaging).
Teach the printed alphabet and numbers. “ABC/123 books” are a separate collection in the picture book section.
Once a child begins to recognize basic words, the “Easy Reader” collection is the place to look for books to begin to read. These books have a controlled vocabulary to allow beginning readers to build word sound skills and increase sight word recognition.
Most importantly for getting a young child ready to read is that you talk to them, to develop language skills, and read to and with them as much as possible. Young children model what the adults in the world around them are doing and appear to value. Make time for books and reading!
Pick Books for Me Service
Pick Books for Me service
Early Literacy Guide & Family Reading Day
Have fun with our guide on Early Literacy. Includes information, books, play ideas, crafts, videos, and more. Learn More
Instructions for the literacy activities and board games at Family Reading Day/Day of the Child:
Day of the Child 2023 final draft
DayByDayNY
DaybyDayNY is a website for young children and their families. It is part of the New York State Library early literacy initiative Ready to Read at New York Libraries.
Interactive Calendar and Resources
This interactive calendar (https://www.nysl.nysed.gov/libdev/earlylit/resource-list.htm) includes activities for young children designed to foster school readiness, including art and craft ideas, fun and educational web sites, preschool health information, and links to online stories and e-books.
Free Children’s Books Online
This subject guide offers links to hundreds of e-books offered free. Most book sources do not require a library card to access. Includes text e-books, book videos, and audiobooks, plus selected booklists.
NYS Home School and Educational Resources
This subject guide contains many resources “to help adults support youth learning and help young scholars support themselves.”
NFL’s YouTube Videos
10 Ways to Read Picture Books and 10 More Ways to Read Picture Books. Or try the video “Ten Ways to Teach a Child Using Practically Anything…in this Case, a Rubber Duck.” For more videos see our Virtual Programs Guide.
Local Information
There are some excellent and supportive organizations for parents, caregivers and children in Orange County. The web links below have been chosen for their valuable services and important parental information to the community in which the Library resides. This list will be added to on an as needed basis in the future. Any new suggestions for local Newburgh community organizations can be sent to the website section
Child Care Council of Orange County, Inc.
Cornell Cooperative Extension Orange County, NY
Informal/inclusive group offering outings/activities for members and their homeschooled children.