Monroe Library unveils Early Learning Space

By Shannon Dye

Have you visited your Monroe Public Library lately? Are you looking for a place to bring your children where they can play in a free, safe and educational environment? The new Early Learning Space at the Monroe Library (1070 Village Way) is the place for you.

Reading, writing, talking, singing and playing are the early literacy practices we promote at every storytime at the Monroe Library. These practices help pre-readers become ready-to-read once they begin kindergarten (www.sno-isle.org/kids/ready-readers). We sing lots of songs, read (of course), talk and play. We wanted to extend the learning that happens in storytime to children of all ages and to families who aren't able to attend storytime. That's when the idea for an Early Learning Space at the library took root.

There was a need for ways to encourage these early literacy practices to happen in the library more frequently, and as I gathered information, more questions arose. Where do families spend time when the weather is crummy? Are there any free places in Monroe for families to go for an engaging and enriching experience? I had heard parents say time and time again that they drove to neighboring towns and cities in search of activities for their children. I knew that there was a gap there that we could help close.

The result of asking these questions is a redesigned children's area, where there are opportunities for children to practice reading, writing, talking, singing and playing. Magna Doodles await children to scribble on them, and "word-builderGÇ¥ toys make it easy to learn word sequences in a fun way. The new kitchen set invites children to play imaginatively, and there's a puppet stage where they can narrate the story of "The Three Little Pigs.GÇ¥ There's a soft area for babies to crawl, and a mirror for them to see themselves. There's also a gigantic "town rug,GÇ¥ where I've observed adults and children alike on the floor, driving cars on the streets and airplanes lifting off the runway. That's one of the many amazing results of the redesign. Together, parents and children are practicing the five early literacy skills without even knowing it.

Just as I had hoped, the new space is being enjoyed by children of all ages. We all know that learning never stops; even tweens like to bring a story to life with puppets and a stage. I envisioned a place where children could be surrounded by learning opportunities, and I wanted to make it fun so that even parents felt compelled to join in. Children learn through experiences that encourage discovery, and this learning process happens through reading, writing, talking, singing and playing. It's the fun stuff that kids do that helps them learn and gives them a desire to keep learning.

We invite you and your family to stop by the Monroe Library to explore our new children's space. Our hours are Monday to Thursday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday from-á 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. Come and say hi!

Shannon Dye is a Children's Services librarian at the Monroe Library.