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Play, Learn and Grow Toolkit
Quick Links
Activity Supply List
Thank you for sharing Play, Learn, and Grow with your community!
Several simple toys and crafts are referenced in the video. By providing these kits, caregivers will be able to immediately practice what they have learned with the children in their care.
For your convenience, we have created an Amazon Shopping List, but there are many other options, so feel free to shop around! Some of the craft supplies may also be up-cycled!
We are hoping to collect feedback from participants. Please direct families to the online survey or include a print copy (PDF) with the survey link in your activity kits. Participants will be entered to win a $20 gift card.
Read and Grow Supplies List
Type |
Item |
Price |
Source |
Gift |
Picture Book |
$3.00 each |
Scholastic |
I-Spy Bottle Craft |
Clear Plastic Bottle |
$12/ 12 |
Amazon |
I-Spy Bottle Craft |
Letter Beads |
$17/ 260 (makes 10 sets) |
Amazon |
I-Spy Bottle Craft |
Pom Poms (filler) |
$7/ 1500 (more than you’ll need, but a great deal) |
Amazon |
Move and Learn Supplies List
Type |
Item |
Price |
Source |
Gift |
Dance Scarves |
$15/ 20 |
Amazon |
Song Cube Craft |
Small Gift Box |
$10/ 25 |
Amazon |
Song Cube Craft |
Song Clip Art |
Color Printing 2pgs |
In-house printer |
Song Cube Craft |
Glue Sticks |
$7.50/ 30 |
Amazon |
Explore and Play Supplies List
Type |
Item |
Price |
Source |
Gift |
Magnifying Glass |
$7/ 10 |
Amazon |
Gift |
Non-Fiction Book |
$3 each |
Scholastic |
Binoculars Craft |
Cardboard Tubes |
$13/ 24 |
Amazon |
Binoculars Craft |
String or Laces |
$5.50/ 12 |
Amazon |
Binoculars Craft |
Construction Paper |
$3.50/ 96 sheets |
Amazon |
TOTAL: $150 / 10 kits
for Read & Grow, Move & Learn and Explore & Play
Book Recommendations:
We included two affordable titles from Scholastic in our kits, but there are so many great books out there, and every library has a different budget. Feel free to include any picture book that supports dialogic reading and any non-fiction book with engaging facts and photos.
- Calling All Cars by Sue Fliess - $2.96
- National Geographic Kids: Look & Learn Series (boardbook) - $3-$3.71
Print Materials
Activity Sheets
Learning tips, extensions activities, and craft instructions
Song Cube Graphics and Lyrics
Download Song Cube Graphics and Lyrics (PDF)
Social Media Posts
Instructions:
- We'd love if you tag us: @growingreaderstogether
- Decide if you want to share the videos and activity sheets as part of a larger campaign. For example, you could time posts leading up to an early literacy event at the library that you want to promote. Or promote one segment of the video each month, with posts that feature the video one week, activities from the extension sheet the next, and end with the survey and a call for families to share what they have tried!
- Copy/paste the text to Facebook or Twitter. Be sure to include links to the video, survey, or activity sheets.
- If you can, include a picture to boost views!
- Add a hashtag! Use specific hashtags like #[YourLibraryName] so people can search to find you. Use more general hashtags to join a larger conversation, and connect to your community or related trends. Try these:
#playlearngrow
#earlylearning
#learningthroughplay
#playmatters
#childcaretips
Posts:
Content Focus |
Suggested Text |
Character Count |
Links to Include |
Play, Learn, and Grow |
We all love the children in our care. We want them to be healthy and happy and grow each day. Fortunately, that’s naturally what children do! These videos from Growing Readers Together offer new ways to play and learn together. |
229 |
Watch now at bit.ly/PLGvideos |
Play, Learn, and Grow |
The time you spend with the children in your care MATTERS. Whether you are reading, dancing, or exploring the world, the way you talk and play with them makes a difference in how they grow, learn, and develop. |
209 |
Learn more at bit.ly/PLGfull |
Brain Building |
Did you know that babies and toddlers are natural brain builders? At birth, babies already have 100 BILLION neurons, or brain cells and these neurons are building connections every moment of the day. These connections are made by playing, talking, moving, exploring, and reading together with you! |
297 |
See how at bit.ly/PLGintro |
Brain Building |
The most important factor in developing healthy bodies and minds is the responsive and attentive relationship with a caring adult. That means you play a vital role in setting the stage for children to learn, grow, and thrive! |
226 |
|
Read and Grow |
It may seem like a small difference, but reading with your children, rather than to them, can have a huge impact on their learning. Reading with a child means asking questions, talking about the pictures, or connecting the book to your child’s world. |
251 |
Get more tips at bit.ly/PLGread |
Read and Grow |
You can find ways to “read” together beyond storytime. When out shopping, point out words on signs. In the kitchen, show them how you read a recipe. Make a game of finding the letters and reading opportunities all around us. |
225 |
Find more activities at bit.ly/PLGtips1 |
Read and Grow |
A plastic bottle becomes a reading tool when you use it to play I-Spy. Fill the bottle with buttons, beads, or small toys. Together, look for something red or something that starts with the letter A. Identifying shapes is the first steps to learning letters, and the more words a child is familiar with, the better they will understand the words they read in school. |
367 |
|
Move and Learn |
From the moment we are born and grasp the finger of a caring adult, we are developing muscle control and coordination. As children crawl and leap, toss and stack, stomp and clap, they are practicing the skills needed to read and write. Children need to move and play to build a foundation for success. |
302 |
Watch these skills in action at bit.ly/PLGmove |
Move and Learn |
It's amazing how many muscles are involved in just sitting up straight and holding a pencil. This simple act requires core strength, balance, and coordination! Children develop these motor skills as they move, play, create and explore. |
236 |
|
Move and Learn |
Got boxes? They make great, light weight building blocks! When children balance the boxes, they are using muscle control to stack and build. Don’t forget to ask questions like – what could we try differently? How could we build this higher? Which box is the biggest? The more you ask questions and narrate what you see, the more children are able to learn from an activity. |
373 |
Check out more activities: bit.ly/PLGtips2 |
Explore and Play |
What do scientists and toddlers have in common? They both love to ask questions and experiment! Exploring the world with a caring adult helps them learn new words, tell stories about their observations, and build their brilliant young brains. |
243 |
Discover more at bit.ly/PLGexplore |
Explore and Play |
Ask questions! When children experiment or describe how things might work they develop language and thinking skills. For young children, wondering and explaining is more powerful than knowing the right answer. |
210 |
|
Explore and Play |
Everyday objects like cardboard tubes can create opportunities for young children to observe nature. Build a bug house or pretend binoculars. Exploring nature is a wonderful play-based way to bring science into your day. |
220 |
More ways to play bit.ly/PLGtips3 |
Play, Learn, and Grow |
Did you check out @growingreaderstogether‘s video this week? Post your thoughts or a picture of an activity you tried, and be featured on our feed! |
146 |
Got a minute? You could win a $20 gift card! bit.ly/OECsurvey |
Contact Us
A limited number of activity sheets and DVDs are available upon request. Your regional early literacy librarian is also available to help you host a workshop or answer any questions you may have.
Connect With Us
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