At BestStart Whangaparāoa, we pride ourselves on supporting our tamariki in the very best way we can—whether that is through promoting wellbeing, developing self-help skills, fostering a love of learning, or supporting smooth transitions to primary school.
One of the newest ways we are doing this is through the introduction of our very own Preschool Library. Each tamaiti has received a special library book bag, kindly provided by BestStart. With the support of their whānau, they are able to borrow a book from our little library to enjoy at home.
Reading with tamariki creates wonderful opportunities for connection and quality time together. It supports communication and language development, introduces new vocabulary, and strengthens concentration, comprehension, and early literacy skills. Having a library within our preschool also encourages tamariki to develop a love of books and reading, make their own choices about what they would like to read, and begin to understand the importance of caring for shared resources within a community.
This initiative also helps prepare tamariki for their transition to primary school. By regularly borrowing and returning books, they become familiar with the concept of a school library and learn valuable skills such as responsibility, organisation, and caring for books. They also gain confidence in following routines, making independent choices, and participating in experiences that mirror those they may encounter when they begin school. These early experiences help make the transition to primary school feel more familiar, positive, and exciting.
Over the past few weeks, the positive feedback from our whānau has been wonderful to receive. Some of the lovely comments shared with us include:
"There has been so much enjoyment reading the books at bedtime. Thank you for introducing our children to going to the library and nurturing a love of books."
"We love this. Thank you so much!"
"Thank you for organising such a wonderful initiative."
We are delighted to hear these stories from our families and tamariki. Seeing so many children enthusiastically choosing books, sharing stories with their whānau, and making the most of this initiative as an easy way to enjoy more reading together is truly heartwarming.