Better Beginnings

Do you love counting songs? Let us know your favourites in the comments.

Rhyme Time or Story Time? It's up to you, which session you attend. Whilst the sessions are designed to suit particular ages, families are always welcome at all sessions.

Rhyme Time is best suited for babies and children aged 0-2, however all ages are welcome. Rhyme time will generally have lots of songs, one story and lasts for approximately 25-30 minutes.

Story Time is great for children aged 3-5, however all ages are welcome. At Story time we are helping children learn the skills they will need for when they go to school. Story Time will have more stories and a handful of supporting rhymes, followed by a craft and/or play activity.

Reach out to your local public library to and find out which session is best for your family.

City of Canning Libraries

Who knew art with paper shapes could also build reading skills?

Let your child draw and cut out triangles, squares, and circles, then see what they create. As they stick and arrange the shapes, point out their features and compare them to letters to show the connection. You might spot an L hiding in a rectangle or an O hiding in a circle.

Choo! Choo! This week’s books are right on track. If you have a train obsessed toddler, this list is for you.

Sharing books about your child’s interests makes reading more exciting, sparks curiosity and builds a love of stories.

Do you have any other good locomotive-themed book recommendations? Share them in the comments below.

• I Like Trains by Daisy Hirst
• Train Party by Karen Blair
• Trains, Trains, Trains! Find Your Favourite written by Donna David and illustrated Nina Pirhonen
• How Trains Work written by Clive Gifford and illustrated James Gulliver Hancock
• The Train at the End of My Street by Tom Jellett
• Snakes on a Train by Kathryn Dennis

Affirm Press Walker Books Australia Lonely Planet Kids Penguin Books Australia Macmillan Children's Books Karen Blair Picture Books

Reading time is also cuddle time. Sharing a book together is also the perfect time to cuddle up together. Children love it when you listen, talk and read with them.

Welcome to our June Home Literacy Calendar! It’s packed full of fun, easy activities to read, talk, sing, draw and play with your child every day.

Wind down at the end of a busy day by playing a simple board game together. Count the dots on the dice. What’s your favourite board game to play with little ones? Tell us in the comments below.

Use nappy change time to share a rhyme or three. Singing and rhyming during everyday routines turns them into moments of laughter, learning and bonding. Try Round and Round the Garden.
What's your favourite rhyme?

Talk about the things you might see in the sky, during the day and at night.

What's your child’s favourite colour? How many books can they find with that colour on the cover at the library or at home? Spotting details on book covers helps sharpen attention to visual cues while making reading fun.