Resources for Parents

The Library is a great place for children to investigate facts, discover new worlds and use their imagination. Visit us at the Library and we can assist you and your child in providing fun reading materials, educational materials and resources, and so much more.

You can also use our website as an online research tool for your child’s projects by using our online databases or even for finding that perfect book. Go ahead and explore!

Early Literacy

Early literacy skills begin to develop in the first 5 years of life. Your child’s early experiences with books and language lay the foundation for success in learning to read. The most important thing you can do to foster early literacy is provide an atmosphere that’s fun, verbal and stimulating, not school-like.

You are the key to your child’s success in learning to read. When you read, talk or play with your child, you’re stimulating the growth of your child’s brain and building the connections that will become the building blocks for reading.

There are six pre-reading skills that can be learned from birth.

1. Narrative Skills: Ability to describe events and tell stories. Read a book with your child and ask them what happened in the story.
2. Phonological Awareness: Awareness of sound structure and ability to manipulate sounds in words. Rhyming is a good way to encourage this skill.
3. Print Motivation: Interest and enjoyment of books.
4. Vocabulary: Using words correctly and learning new words. Instead of using the word “happy” in a story use a variation such as “glad” or “content”.
5. Print Awareness: Understanding what a book is and how it can be manipulated. Hold a book upside down and see if your child corrects you.
6. Letter Knowledge: Recognizing that each letter in the alphabet is distinct, has a unique name and sound. Sing the alphabet song and read alphabet books, such as Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin. Jr.

(Source: American Library Association)

The Welland Public Library has many resources related to parenting.

Parenting Resources

The Library has set aside an area just for you! In the children’s area, we have a “Parenting Collection” that is full of books to answers some of your many questions.

You can do a Power Search in our catalogue and select the “Parenting Collection” location to see what titles we have or even better, visit us and browse the many titles.

In addition to our resource materials at the Library, these are some websites that you might find helpful.

Kids Health (http://kidshealth NULL.org/)

Healthy Babies Healthy Children (http://www NULL.niagararegion NULL.ca/living/health_wellness/parenting/hbhc NULL.aspx)

Our Kids: summer camp guide (http://www NULL.camps NULL.ca)

Bullying (http://www NULL.ontario NULL.ca/safeschools)

Community Links for Parents

Le centre de santé communautaire (http://www NULL.centredesantecommunautaire NULL.com/)

Early Childhood Community Development Centre (ECCDC) (http://www NULL.eccdc NULL.org/)

Niagara Region: Children and Youth (http://www NULL.regional NULL.niagara NULL.on NULL.ca/living/children/default NULL.aspx)

Ontario Early Years Centre (OEYC) (http://www NULL.children NULL.gov NULL.on NULL.ca/htdocs/English/topics/earlychildhood/oeyc/locations/oeyc NULL.aspx?Center=168)

 Internet Safety

The Internet is a tool for communication and life-long learning. The Internet is also unregulated and can provide access to information and images that may be inappropriate for your child or teenager. The Welland Public Library encourages parents and guardians to become familiar with the Internet and the risks involved in its use.

The following websites provide information on how you can help educate your child about online safety.

Bewebaware.ca (http://www NULL.bewebaware NULL.ca)    –  Provides online safety tips for kids of all ages.  Tips on social networking, cyber bullying and website evaluation.

NetSmartz.org (http://www NULL.netsmartz NULL.org)    –   Online resources, interactive games & videos for parents, educators, teens and kids.

RCMP Internet Safety (http://www NULL.rcmp-grc NULL.ca/is-si/index-eng NULL.htm%20)    –    A trusted source with links to Internet safety resources.

Social Smarts: Privacy, the Internet and You (http://www NULL.youthprivacy NULL.ca/en/gn_intro NULL.html%20)   –    A Canadian government resource aimed at tweens and younger teens that looks at privacy risks related to social networking, texting, and online gaming.

Media Smarts (http://www NULL.mediasmarts NULL.ca/%20%20)  –  Discusses digital and media literacy including media diversity, gender representation and sexual exploitation.