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A child playing with musical instruments

Singing Teaches Early Literacy

Singing with your child is a fun way to help your child get ready to read. Music helps children hear the smaller sounds of words and builds vocabulary.

How Can Singing Develop Early Literacy Skills?

  • Children develop listening skills and hear the rhythms and rhymes of language.

  • Children get an understanding of the smaller sounds in words because singing slows down language, and often songs have different notes for each syllable.

  • Clapping or playing instruments along with rhythms improves fine motor skills and also helps children hear syllables.

  • Children learn new words and concepts they wouldn't normally hear in everyday conversation, adding to their general knowledge.

  • Music helps children remember things longer because it activates a different part of the brain than regular spoken language.

What Kind of Singing?

Children learn best by doing activities with you. Make it fun and don't feel self-conscious about your singing voice – your child loves your voice and loves hearing you sing!

  • Sing anything you enjoy and are comfortable with: traditional songs, nursery rhymes, and any song you like, including rock or pop! If you enjoy it, your child will, too.

  • Sing throughout your day: learn or make up songs about routines, like cleaning up or brushing teeth – songs make ordinary tasks more fun!

  • Sing songs with rhyming words, silly words, and long stretched-out words.

  • Use the language you know best. They need to hear you in the language you're most fluent in.

Putting it Into Action

  • Need song ideas? Check out our catalog or stream kids' music from Hoopla.

  • Get up and move! Children develop motor skills as they clap, jump, twirl, and play instruments. (You can make simple instruments: a plastic bottle filled with rice becomes a maraca shaker, a round oatmeal container becomes a drum, and a rectangle tissue box wrapped with rubber bands can be a guitar!)

    A child playing a home-made tissue box guitar
  • Sing a book! Check our Songs and Rhymes section of picture books or make up a simple tune for one of your child’s favorite books.

  • Sing songs again and again (and again) – repetition reinforces learning!

Examples of using singing to build early literacy skills:

  • Are there any new words in a song? Talking about their meanings afterwards will build vocabulary.

  • Sing songs slowly: songs often break up the syllables of words by assigning a different note to each, as in "Are You Sleeping?/Frère Jacques."

  • Sing songs quickly! Changing up the tempo will help children hear the small sounds of words differently. For example, you can "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" gently, then swiftly down the stream . . .

  • Make up new verses to familiar songs like "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" together; this develops narrative (story-telling) skills.

  • Sing a familiar song to a different tune: it will emphasize the smaller sounds even further. For example, sing the Alphabet song to the tune of "Mary Had a Little Lamb." It breaks up the letters LMNOP so your child can hear them individually.

Sources:

Saroj Ghoting
Every Child Ready to Read 2nd Edition
Storytime Katie: Babies Need Words Every Day
Library Bonanza: Early Literacy Talking Points
Story Time Secrets: Babies Need Words Every Day

Preschool Events
Thu, May 22, 2:00pm - 3:15pm
Munster - Children's Program Room
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Sat, May 24, 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Lake Station-New Chicago - Large Meeting Room
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Tue, May 27, 10:30am - 11:00am
Dyer-Schererville - Children's Programming Room
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Tue, May 27, 10:30am - 11:30am
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Tue, May 27, 10:30am - 11:15am
Munster - Large Meeting Room
This event is full

Tue, May 27, 10:30am - 11:00am
Highland - Children's Programming Room

Tue, May 27, 11:30am - 11:50am
Griffith-Calumet Twp - Children's Programming Room

Wed, May 28, 10:30am - 11:00am
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room
This event is full

Wed, May 28, 5:30pm - 6:00pm
Hobart - Children's Program Room

Mon, Jun 02, 10:30am - 11:30am
Dyer-Schererville - Meeting Room Whole (A & B)

Tue, Jun 03, 10:15am - 11:00am
St. John - Large Meeting Room

Tue, Jun 03, 10:15am - 10:45am
Munster - Large Meeting Room

Tue, Jun 03, 10:30am - 11:00am
Highland - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Jun 03, 10:30am - 11:00am
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Jun 03, 10:30am - 11:00am
Hobart - Children's Program Room

Tue, Jun 03, 11:00am - 11:30am
Munster - Large Meeting Room

Tue, Jun 03, 11:30am - 11:50am
Griffith-Calumet Twp - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Jun 03, 11:30am - 12:15pm
Cedar Lake - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Jun 03, 12:00pm - 12:30pm
Griffith-Calumet Twp - Children's Programming Room

Wed, Jun 04, 10:30am - 11:30am
Dyer-Schererville - Meeting Room Whole (A & B)

Thu, Jun 05, 10:15am - 11:00am
St. John - Large Meeting Room

Thu, Jun 05, 10:30am - 11:00am
Lake Station-New Chicago - Children's Program Room

Thu, Jun 05, 10:30am - 11:15am
Highland - Children's Programming Room

Thu, Jun 05, 11:00am - 11:30am
Hobart - Children's Program Room

Thu, Jun 05, 11:15am - 12:00pm
St. John - Children's Program Room

Thu, Jun 05, 11:30am - 12:15pm
Cedar Lake - Children's Programming Room

Thu, Jun 05, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Griffith-Calumet Twp - Meeting Room

Thu, Jun 05, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Munster Branch - Children's Area

Mon, Jun 09, 10:30am - 11:00am
Dyer-Schererville - Children's Programming Room

Mon, Jun 09, 1:00pm - 1:40pm
Griffith-Calumet Twp - Children's Programming Room

Mon, Jun 09, 1:00pm - 2:15pm
Munster Branch Library - Large Meeting Room

Mon, Jun 09, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Highland - Meeting Room A

Mon, Jun 09, 5:30pm - 6:15pm
Cedar Lake - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Jun 10, 10:15am - 11:00am
St. John - Large Meeting Room

Tue, Jun 10, 10:30am - 11:00am
Dyer-Schererville - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Jun 10, 10:30am - 11:00am
Hobart - Children's Program Room

Tue, Jun 10, 10:30am - 11:00am
Highland - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Jun 10, 10:30am - 11:30am
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Jun 10, 10:30am - 11:00am
Lake Station-New Chicago - Children's Program Room

Tue, Jun 10, 10:30am - 11:15am
Munster - Large Meeting Room

Tue, Jun 10, 11:30am - 12:00pm
Cedar Lake - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Jun 10, 11:30am - 11:50am
Griffith-Calumet Twp - Children's Programming Room

Wed, Jun 11, 10:30am - 11:00am
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Wed, Jun 11, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Lake Station-New Chicago - Children's Program Room

Thu, Jun 12, 11:30am - 12:30pm
Cedar Lake - Meeting Room A

Thu, Jun 12, 12:00pm - 2:00pm
Merrillville Branch Library - South Parking Lot

Thu, Jun 12, 2:00pm - 2:45pm
Munster - Children's Program Room

Sat, Jun 14, 9:00am - 9:30am
Woodland Park - 1215 E 45th Ave

Sat, Jun 14, 10:30am - 12:00pm
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Mon, Jun 16, 10:30am - 11:30am
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Mon, Jun 16, 10:30am - 11:00am
Dyer-Schererville - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Jun 17, 10:15am - 11:00am
St. John - Large Meeting Room

Tue, Jun 17, 10:15am - 10:45am
Munster - Large Meeting Room

Tue, Jun 17, 10:30am - 11:00am
Dyer-Schererville - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Jun 17, 10:30am - 11:00am
Highland - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Jun 17, 10:30am - 11:00am
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Jun 17, 10:30am - 11:00am
Lake Station-New Chicago - Children's Program Room

Tue, Jun 17, 10:30am - 11:00am
Hobart - Children's Program Room

Tue, Jun 17, 11:00am - 11:30am
Munster - Large Meeting Room

Tue, Jun 17, 11:30am - 12:15pm
Cedar Lake - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Jun 17, 11:30am - 11:50am
Griffith-Calumet Twp - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Jun 17, 12:00pm - 12:30pm
Griffith-Calumet Twp - Children's Programming Room

Wed, Jun 18, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Griffith-Calumet Twp - Meeting Room

Wed, Jun 18, 3:30pm - 4:00pm
Hobart - Children's Program Room

Thu, Jun 19, 10:15am - 11:00am
St. John - Large Meeting Room

Thu, Jun 19, 10:30am - 11:00am
Lake Station-New Chicago - Children's Program Room

Thu, Jun 19, 10:30am - 11:15am
Highland - Children's Programming Room

Thu, Jun 19, 11:00am - 11:30am
Hobart - Children's Program Room

Thu, Jun 19, 11:15am - 12:00pm
St. John - Small Group Room A

Thu, Jun 19, 11:30am - 12:15pm
Cedar Lake - Children's Programming Room

Family Events
Sat, May 24, 11:00am - 12:00pm
St. John - Large Meeting Room

Sat, May 24, 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Lake Station-New Chicago - Large Meeting Room
This event is full

Wed, May 28, 10:30am - 11:00am
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room
This event is full

Wed, May 28, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Sat, May 31, 12:00pm - 4:00pm
Merrillville Branch Library - Main Level

Mon, Jun 02, 1:30pm - 3:15pm
Cedar Lake - Meeting Room A

Mon, Jun 02, 3:00pm - 5:00pm
Lake Station-New Chicago - Children's Program Room,Large Meeting Room

Tue, Jun 03, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Jun 03, 5:30pm - 7:30pm
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Wed, Jun 04, 10:30am - 11:30am
Dyer-Schererville - Meeting Room Whole (A & B)

Thu, Jun 05, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Griffith-Calumet Twp - Meeting Room

Fri, Jun 06, 1:00pm - 3:00pm
Griffith-Calumet Twp - Meeting Room

Fri, Jun 06, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Lake Station-New Chicago - Large Meeting Room

Fri, Jun 06, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Merrillville - Meeting Room A

Sat, Jun 07, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Lake Station-New Chicago - Large Meeting Room

Sat, Jun 07, 2:30pm - 4:00pm
Griffith-Calumet Twp - Meeting Room

Mon, Jun 09, 1:00pm - 2:15pm
Munster Branch Library - Large Meeting Room

Mon, Jun 09, 1:30pm - 3:15pm
Cedar Lake - Meeting Room A

Mon, Jun 09, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Lake Station-New Chicago - Large Meeting Room

Mon, Jun 09, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Highland - Meeting Room A

Wed, Jun 11, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Wed, Jun 11, 1:30pm - 3:30pm
Cedar Lake - Patio Area

Thu, Jun 12, 11:30am - 12:30pm
Cedar Lake - Meeting Room A

Thu, Jun 12, 12:00pm - 2:00pm
Merrillville Branch Library - South Parking Lot

Fri, Jun 13, 9:00am - 3:00pm
St. John Library - Outdoor Event

Fri, Jun 13, 1:00pm - 3:00pm
Griffith-Calumet Twp - Meeting Room

Fri, Jun 13, 1:00pm - 3:00pm
Munster - Large Meeting Room

Fri, Jun 13, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Lake Station-New Chicago - Large Meeting Room

Fri, Jun 13, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Merrillville - Meeting Room A

Fri, Jun 13, 2:00pm - 3:30pm
Highland - Meeting Room A

Sat, Jun 14, 9:00am - 9:30am
Woodland Park - 1215 E 45th Ave

Sat, Jun 14, 10:30am - 12:00pm
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Mon, Jun 16, 1:30pm - 3:15pm
Cedar Lake - Meeting Room A

Tue, Jun 17, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Wed, Jun 18, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Griffith-Calumet Twp - Meeting Room

Fri, Jun 20, 1:00pm - 3:00pm
Griffith-Calumet Twp - Meeting Room

Fri, Jun 20, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Merrillville - Meeting Room A

Fri, Jun 20, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Lake Station-New Chicago - Large Meeting Room

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