Families with pre-schoolers encouraged to visit their local library

Wiltshire Council is encouraging families with pre-schoolers to visit their local library and join in with a wide range of events to support pre-schoolers’ social skills and learning including baby days, story sharers and rhymetime sessions.

Baby days will take place at six Wiltshire libraries throughout November. The drop-in events are an opportunity for families to find out about support and activities available from our Family Hubs and local partners including The Big Brush Club, Spurgeons, Bookstart and more. Families will also receive a free board picture book, subject to availability.

Baby days take place at the following libraries:

• Salisbury Library - Tuesday 12 November, 10am-1pm
• Warminster Library - Wednesday 27 November, 9.30am-12.30pm

Families can also join our new family reading challenge Story Sharers, with the aim to share as many books as possible with children before they start school. Families will receive a members leaflet and as they share books they will earn stickers and certificates. Sharing books supports early speech, communication and language skills as well as positive health and wellbeing for the whole family. This free challenge runs year-round and is available in most libraries and will be available in all libraries by the end of the year.

A popular event at Wiltshire Libraries is Rhymetime – free, fun and friendly sessions including a mix of songs, rhymes and movement that can help with children’s speech, communication, language and motor skills. The sessions are also an opportunity for parents and carers to meet other families. Booking is advised. To view sessions and book people can visit https://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/libraries-childrens-area-five-under

Families can visit their local library to collect a free Bookstart baby pack if they haven’t received one from their health visitor. The pack includes a book, finger puppet and a booklet of ideas for sharing books with young children. Specialist Bookstart resources are also available for families with children with additional needs or with English as an additional language.

Parents and carers can also activate their baby’s library card, given when the birth is registered, if they haven’t done so already. There is a wide selection of picture books for toddlers and pre-schoolers, as well as ‘talk it over’ books which can be used to help children with challenging experiences, emotions and behaviour.

Pre-school and nursery settings are encouraged to take out a pre-school library membership which allows them to borrow up to 24 books for six weeks. Those who register their membership during November will be entered into a prize draw for one of four BookTrust backpacks which include a collection of 11 books, a hand puppet, stickers and story activity cards. The resources are great for story times and to inspire a love of books and reading.

Cllr Ian Blair-Pilling, Cabinet Member for Libraries, said: “Reading with your child from a young age can help with the development of key skills and inspire a lifelong love of reading, which can benefit our health and wellbeing.

“Libraries are a fantastic place for pre-schoolers with fun social sessions such as rhymetimes and exciting challenges the family can take together such as story sharers. I would encourage families to come along to one of our baby days to find out about all the great support and activities on offer from Wiltshire Libraries and partner organisations.”