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1000 Books Before Kindergarten is a free family reading program at your Lafourche Parish Public Library, which encourages families with young children to have fun reading together while building crucial early literacy skills!
The concept is simple, and the rewards are priceless. Read a book (any book) to your newborn, infant, and/or toddler. The goal is to have read 1000 books (yes you can repeat books) before your precious one starts kindergarten. Does it sound hard? Not really if you think about it. If you read just 1 book a night, you will have read about 365 books in a year. That is 730 books in two years and 1,095 books in three years. If you consider that most children start kindergarten at around 5 years of age, you have more time than you think (so get started).
The key is perseverance. Make it exciting ... and this is where your LPPLibrary comes in. When your child reaches the 100 book milestones (100 books, 200 books, 300 books, etc.) stop by the library to check-in with us! We have rewards established for every step of the way, including a button proclaiming "I Read ___ Books Before K!" for each of the milestones. We will snap your child's photo & share it on social media with your permission so that the entire LPPL community can celebrate your family's amazing accomplishments!
Keeping a record of what you have read is simple - we provide you with a log to record your books read! Also, if you are able to, make sure to keep a record of “any” book that is being read to your child. This includes teachers, siblings, and especially librarians - books read at story time count! Ready to get started? Check out the steps below to start off on your fun-filled journey of reading 1000 books before Kindergarten!
How to Read 1000 Books Before Kindergarten:
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Visit any LPPLibrary branch to register your family for the 1000 Books Before Kindergarten program.
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If you prefer to participate virtually, you can register on Beanstack.
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Start reading! Record books that you read on the log we provide or enter your books online on Beanstack.
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Check-in with us at the 100 book milestones for rewards & photo opportunities. In participating on Beanstack, you will earn badges for every 100 books you read with a notification letting you know when it is time to come in to your library for a special milestone reward!
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Celebrate your success after reaching 1000 books!
We give you a button for every milestone of the 1000 Books journey!
Collect all ten!
How to Use Beanstack for 1000 Books Before Kindergarten:
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Keep track of all of your library challenges, including 1000 Books Before Kindergarten, in one place with Beanstack!
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Head over to Beanstack (or download the app) to register your family for 1000 Books Before Kindergarten.
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If you have already registered your family on Beanstack, such as for our Summer Experience, then you are already halfway there! Register for the 1000 Books challenge under your child's name on Beanstack.
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Read & log your books. Beanstack will track your progress to 1000 books for you!
Tracking 1000 Books has
never been simpler!
Get started at lafourche.beanstack.org or download the app!
Tips for Reading 1000 Books Before Kindergarten:
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Keep it fun & enjoyable: Children like to do what is fun & enjoyable. Stories should rarely be read in a monotone voice. Bring out the inner actor in yourself. Change your voice, make sounds, & laugh. Most of all, make it fun & enjoyable!
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Hold your child while you read: While you are still able to (provided that he/she hasn't grown too big), hold your child while you read. Does he/she have a favorite blanket or toy? If so, incorporate the blanket or toy into your reading. For example, try using the blanket to create a fort. Maybe you can read to the favorite toy.
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Interact with your child: Give your child the opportunity to read along. Ask a lot of questions. Although most books can probably be read in less than five minutes, lengthen the reading process through discussion and interaction.
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Read books about what interests your child: Is your child excited about Dora the Explorer? What about Peppa Pig? Maybe Curious George? Try to find books about things that interest your child. When your child is old enough to visit the library (we believe children are never too young), take him or her to choose his or her own books.
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Incorporate reading into a daily routine: Does your child like to be read to in the morning, after lunch, dinner, or at bedtime? Make reading something that your child looks forward to every day. At the same time, do not make reading a rote and mundane event. If your child wants to skip his or her daily reading, that's okay too.
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Repetition: Does your child like to be read the same story over and over? That's okay, and these re-reads count toward your 1000 books goal. Go ahead and read the same stories again and again. Your child will start enjoying the repetition and become familiar with the way stories are organized.
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Keep track of your child's success: Keep track of your child's success using the 1000 Books before Kindergarten log. Give your child praise after he or she reads a certain amount of books with you. Soon, your child will be asking you to "write down" the books after he or she reads them!
Source: https://1000booksbeforekindergarten.org/seven-tips-for-reading-to-infants-and-toddlers/
1000 Books Before Kindergarten Resources:
FAQs
Q: Can I register my newborn?
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Yes! We recommend reading to babies as early as possible, plus it gives you plenty of time to reach the 1000 book goal.
Q: Can we read our own books for the program?
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Yes! Any and all books read count towards the 1000 book goal.
Q: How long do we have to read 1000 books?
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You have from the day you register until the day your child starts Kindergarten to read 1000 books.
Q: Do re-reads count?
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Yes! Re-reads play an important role in developing a child's love for books, and you may count each re-read toward the 1000 books goal.