What is Beautiful AND Messy?

Every year March reminds me about the beauty and messiness of growth! How the little things all come together to create what we need to grow.

Trees start to get their leaves. The grass begins to grow. Showers start to puddle the yard. So beautiful!

But the messiness comes too! Allergy sufferers sniffle through the day. My dogs get lost in the tall-ish, uncut grass. The fun of the one puddle you miss!

So what does all this have to do with early literacy….with daily book sharing?

It’s all a bit beautiful and messy. Children don’t learn in a linear way. They excel, derail, and try again. But then there are those beautiful moments when something “clicks”-and you see it! You see that growth.

It’s usually slow and cumulative. Sometimes it almost sneaks up on you.

One day the trees are bare. The next, the world is green.

As parents, we can help this growth with simple interactions. The Three T’s-“Tune In,” “Talk More,” and “Take Turns”!

-When you tune in to what your child is saying, you are developing communication skills.

-When you talk more with your child, you are increasing not only the number of words s/he hears but also expanding vocabulary.

-When you take turns, you are building your parent-child bond and modeling how to interact with others.

All the little things you do with your children are creating that place for them to grow. Reading every day, asking them questions, listening to their answers, pointing out words, making silly rhymes, singing songs.

There are lots of resources to keep learning and growing fun. The Onslow County Public Libraries have great reading programs. The Onslow County Parks and Recreation host our Story Walk at the Parks. Our Little Free Libraries help build home libraries for all ages.

All these programs and so many more help you as your child grows!

Happy Reading!!

Lisa Davis, Early Literacy Coordinator

Resources

For more information about the Onslow County Public Libraries, please go to http://www.onslowcountync.gov/150/Library

For more information about the Onslow County Parks and Recreation, please go to https://www.onslowcountync.gov/152/Parks-Recreation

For more information about Story Walks and Little Free Libraries, please go to https://www.oneplaceonslow.org/for-parents-and-early-educators/free-books-literacy-programs/

For information about how parent-child interactions influence third grade reading proficiency, please go to https://buildthefoundation.org/2018/01/what-works-for-parent-and-child-interactions/