Developmental Stages by age group
Babies, Toddlers and Pre-schoolers
What they can do
Toddlers can walk/move around on their own, respond to verbal direction but still need help controlling their actions. They have limited language skills.
Pre-schoolers: have language skills, are learning to patterns, and can make connections in between actives.
Babies can't talk yet, but, can listen and make noises. They are learning when they make noises or faces will receive an reaction. At 18 months they learn that every object has a name.
Impact of print and media
Some parents use the T.V. as a babysitter
Online materials provide resources for parents to read to their children.
Books play a huge part of their learning during these first few stages.
Role of the adult
Toddlers have more movement and need to be accompanied by an adult for storytime.
Read at home to their children in addition to attending storytime
Babies spend time with their parent or caregiver through lap time.
It is important a parent or caregiver is informed about programs the library offers so they can attend them. Libraries can provide online materials and reminders about programs.
Program examples
Lap time
Storytime
Tweens and Teens
Children 5-9 & School Age Children
What they can do
Phonemic awareness
Decoding & word recognition
Learning to read
Vocabulary & concept development
Impact of print and media
Reading e-books
Mp3 players
playaways
gaming
Social networking
Role of the adult
Children begin to rely less on their parents for everyday life.
Gender becomes important
Example of programs
After school programs and homework help
Summer Reading Program
Crafts
Reading groups
What they can do
Barely have time to visit the library
Role of the adult
They often reject their parents suggestions and heavily relays on their peer's opinion.
Example of programs
Informal game night
Teen Websites
Video game tournaments
Impact of Print and Media
No need for a physical location to visit
No interest to visit the library
telephones
Cds
Books
Computers
Mp3 players
Tweeting
Gaming
Watching videos
Surfing the web
Finding directions
TAB (Teen Advisory Board)
Fasick, Adele M. From Boardbook To Facebook. Santa Barbara, Calif.: Libraries Unlimited, 2011. Print.