Library plans ‘Countdown to Kindergarten’ for preschoolers

MADISON – With the “Countdown to Kindergarten” session, librarians at Madison Public Library hope that parents will be equipped to answer the question, “Is your child ready for kindergarten?”

This annual program for kindergarten readiness will convene on April 6 from 10 a.m. to noon in auditorium 1 and 2. The library’s address is 142 Plaza Blvd.

Lisa Blackmon, Youth Services Librarian, encourages parents to bring their three- to five-year-olds “to explore and practice the skills your child needs for a smooth transition into kindergarten. Families can come and go as fits their schedules.”

“As spring approaches and families of our preschool patrons start thinking more about that transition to ‘big school,’ I want to target the needs of those families,” Blackmon said. “School readiness has been important to me for decades in my roles as teacher, parent and now librarian.”

Librarians promote skills for readiness in storytimes, but “we also like to connect caregivers with all the wonderful resources our community has to offer. Military Child Education Coalition, Help Me Grow Alabama and Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters or HIPPY will attend Countdown to Kindergarten to show parents they have support from various resources,” Blackmon said.

Children will visit various centers (similar to real classrooms) placed throughout the auditoriums. Each center will represent a task or activity that kindergartners might encounter, such as opening a lunch container or finding one’s name on the board.

Over the years, the library staff has received valuable input from teachers in Madison City Schools. This year, secondary students from Human Services Academies at both James Clemens and Bob Jones high schools will guide guests at all stations.

“We’ll cover some traditional areas like literacy development but also some practical skills that teachers have emphasized to me — like putting on a coat,” Blackmon said.

Undoubtedly, one ‘most important’ skill doesn’t exist for kindergarten. “The U.S. Department of Education breaks down school readiness into five domains. One that stands out is ‘Approaches Toward Learning,’ (which) is all about building up children who are curious, persistent, imaginative and resilient,” she said.

Is a six-year-old too young to visit Madison Public Library? “No child is too young to visit the library,” Blackmon said. “We have kindergarteners who keep track of their own library cards, check out books on their own and attend programs with other school-age children. I love getting book recommendations from kindergarteners.”

“The little ones just need a bit more assistance. Libraries are wonderful for people of all ages,” she said. “Every week, we have newborns and their caregivers join us for baby storytime, just as we have senior citizens join us for our Brain Building program.”

For more information, email lblackmon@hmcpl.org.