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The joy of reading in kindergarten: Preschool children discover the library!
Preschool children visit the Oberleichtersbach library, run by Thekla Heinz, to promote early reading and media use.
The joy of reading in kindergarten: Preschool children discover the library!
A significant conclusion to the “Fuchsbau” preschool project took place in the Oberleichtersbach kindergarten. The preschool children visited the Catholic public library, where they were welcomed by Thekla Heinz, a dedicated kindergarten employee and part of the volunteer library team. Heinz showed the children around the library and explained to them that they can borrow books, games and other media without having to buy them. Some of the children had already been to the library with their parents, while others were entering the premises for the first time.
As part of the visit, Thekla read an amusing story: “School! Frieder shouts, and grandma comes with me”. The children listened attentively and responded to the stories with happy giggles. She said goodbye to the little audience with best wishes for the first day of school. This annual visit by preschoolers to the library lays the foundation for a long-term reading relationship. The children will return as school children next year to learn their first letters and use their loan card.
Promoting reading as a central concern
From the second grade onwards, regular interaction with the library will be an integral part of everyday school life. Promoting reading is the library team’s top priority. Preschool children's visits don't just take place during regular kindergarten hours; The library is also active outside opening hours and is involved in the community. Opening times are Wednesdays from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
The library has a specially designed children's area with comfortable seating and a wide range of offerings that invite you to browse and linger. The library also takes part in the community's annual holiday program and offers creative activities for children.
Nationwide initiatives to promote reading
The importance of promoting reading is underlined by various programs in Germany. The nationwide early childhood reading program “Lesestart 1-2-3” is aimed particularly at children from educationally disadvantaged backgrounds and runs from 2019 to 2027. The aim is to improve reading skills and promote social participation.
Another important aspect is the “Buchkita” seal of quality, which recognizes daycare centers for actively promoting reading and supporting reading and language development. The “I am Bib(liotheks)fit” program aims to teach kindergarten children how to use books and libraries. This is supported by materials and planning concepts for events.
There is also the Nationwide Reading Day, an initiative by DIE ZEIT, Stiftung Lese and the Deutsche Bahn Foundation. Since 2004, this has taken place annually on the third Friday in November and sends a high-profile signal for the importance of reading aloud.
The combination of local initiatives such as visits to the library and nationwide programs shows the commitment to early reading promotion and lays the foundation for the positive development of reading skills in children.