Take Home Packs

This month children can develop pre-writing skills with these fun salt tray skaters.

If you missed getting a kit you can put together your own at home by opening up and printing off the following links:

Instruction sheet

Sheet of skaters

Pre-Writing sample cards

You will also need a tray or container, some salt and a chubby handled paintbrush.

Watch this how to video to see how to put this activity together.

We suggest you print off our January 2021 Early Literacy Activity Calendar and keep in a handy spot. Try doing a few activities with your child each week!  Click on the calendar image below to view a printable version. 

This month children will practice letter recognition as they assemble a snowman.  If you missed getting a package you can put together your own at home by opening up and printing off the following links:

Instruction Sheet

Snowman Head and Hat

Snowman Body

You will also need some scissors, glue or tape as well as a marker or crayon and something to glue your finished snowman onto.

Watch this video for more information about this activity, including how to modify it based on the developmental stage of your child.

We suggest you print off our February 2021 Early Literacy Activity Calendar and keep it in a handy spot. Try doing a few activities with your child each week!  Click on the calendar image below to view a printable version.

This month we are exploring the many uses of washi tape - a pretty, decorative paper masking tape. If you missed getting a package you can put together your own at home by opening up and printing off the instruction sheet link below:

Instruction Sheet

If can't locate washi tape, painter's tape or masking tape work just as well. 

Watch this video for examples of how you can use washi tape to build early literacy skills based on the developmental stage of your child.

We suggest you print off our March 2021 Early Literacy Activity Calendar and keep it in a handy spot. Try doing a few activities with your child each week!  Click on the calendar image below to view a printable version.

This month children will work on developing scissor skills through a variety of cutting activities.  Set your child up for success with a good pair of preschool scissors.  If you have a lefty at home, talk to staff at your local library branch - we have left handed children's scissors for sale - cost is $4.00

If you missed getting a take home package you can put together your own at home by opening up and

printing off the instruction sheet link below:

Instruction Sheet Front

Instruction Sheet Back

If you would like to print off more of the cutting strips, here are the full page templates:

Cutting Line Templates

And here is the head template for making crazy hairstyles:

Head Template

Watch this video for tips on how to introduce scissors skills to a young child.

We suggest you print off our April 2021 Early Literacy Activity Calendar and keep it in a handy spot. Try doing a few activities with your child each week!  Click on the calendar image below to view a printable version.

This month children will create a torn paper craft that develops their ability

to grab a small object with the thumb and forefinger.

If you missed getting a take home package you can put together your own at home by

opening up and printing off the instruction sheet link below:

Instruction Sheet

Here are templates for the different shapes to cut out for this craft:

Egg Template

Bird Template

Watch this video for instructions on how to put the craft together.

We suggest you print off our May 2021 Early Literacy Activity Calendar and keep it in a handy spot. Try doing a few activities with your child each week!  Click on the calendar image below to view a printable version.

June

This month preschoolers will construct an alligator that will serve as a fun activity that promotes 

the development of fine motor skills, colour recognition and counting skills.

If you missed picking up a pack, here are the instructions:

Here is the template for the alligator's head.

Here is the template for the teeth and scales cutting strips.

Watch this video for instructions on how to put this together, and how to "feed" your alligator.

We suggest you print off our June 2021 Early Literacy Activity Calendar and keep it in a handy spot. Try doing a few activities with your child each week!  Click on the calendar image below to view a printable version.

For the summer months we are offering free weekly "Summer Fun Packs" for children of all ages.  Information about these packs will be posted in the "Maker Pack" section of this webpage (see below).

We suggest you print off our July and August Early Literacy Calendar and keep in a handy spot.  Try doing a few activities with your child each week!  Click on the calendar image below to view a printable version.

September

It's back to school for a lot of children so this month we are handing out fat pencils with every pack.  We like this size of pencil as preschoolers are able to grip onto wider objects better than thin ones for a sustained time. Also larger pencils are easier to coordinate when you have little fingers!  This month's pack has some great activities that you can do with a preschooler using this pencil.

Here are the instructions.  Click on the sheet below for a printable copy:

Watch this video for instructions on how to do the Dot-to-Dot.

You can also have your child trace the lines and shapes in this worksheet.  Tracing builds important pre-writing skills that will prepare your preschool and kindergarten students for handwriting exercises in the years to come.  Click on the sheet below to print a copy.

We suggest you print off our September 2021 Early Literacy Activity Calendar and keep it in a handy spot. Try doing a few activities with your child each week!  Click on the calendar image below to view a printable version.

October

This month we have a few suggestions on how a preschooler can use clothespins to develop

and strengthen fine motor skills.  We also have some fun letter recognition activities.

Here are the instructions.  Click on the page to bring up a printable copy.

We suggest you print off and put this months Early Literacy calendar in a handy spot. Try doing a few activities with your child each week!  Click on the calendar image below to view a printable version.

November

This month we are celebrating Dino-Vember!

Children can put together a simple craft and explore various homemade tools to apply paint.

Here are the instructions.  Click on the image to access a printable copy:

Watch this video to get some tips and ideas about this month's activity.

Here are the templates for the dinosaur shapes, click on them to access a printable version:

Our monthly Early Literacy calendar is a great resource - we suggest you print this off and put up in a handy spot!

December

This month preschoolers can enjoy two festive tree crafts using just one piece of paper.

Here are the instructions, click on the image for a printable copy.

Watch this video for tips on how to do these crafts.

Contact your local library branch if you require scissors for a left handed child.  We will sell you a good quality pair for $4.00.

Our monthly early literacy calendars have lots of tips and suggestions to incorporate simple early literacy activities in your every day life.  Click on the image below for a printable copy.

This month, make a Polar Bear Defense Catapult.

Instructions are included in each kit, but you can also print them here.

Watch this quick how-to video if you need some help with this activity.

This month, light up Valentine's Day with a light up robot card.

Instructions are included in each kit, but you can also print them here.

Watch this quick how-to video if you need some help with the activity.

This month, make a leprechaun trap!

Instructions are included in each kit, but you can also print them here.

Watch this how-to video if you need some help with the activity.

This month, make a Spring Circuit Bug!

Instructions are included in each kit, but you can also print them here.

Watch this how-to video if you need some help with the activity.

This month, make a helicopter!

Instructions are included in each kit, but you can also print them here.

Watch this how-to video if you need some help with the activity.

This month, make a flotation device!

Instructions are included in each kit, but you can also print them here.

Watch this how-to video if you need some help with the activity.

Week 1: Popsicle Stick Fish here are the instructions on how to complete this craft. Here is page 2 of the instructions.

Week 2: Popsicle Stick Catapult  here are the instructions on how to complete this craft. Here is page 2 of the instructions.

Week 3: Sewing and Weaving here are the instructions on how to complete this craft. Here is page 2 of the instructions.

Week 4: Let's Fly a Kite here are the instructions on how to complete this craft.

Week 5: Paper Cup Fireworks here are the instructions on how to complete this craft.

Week 6: Jellyfish Suncatcher here are the instructions on how to complete this craft. Here is page 2 of the instructions.

Week 7: Firing Forces here are the instructions on how to complete this craft.

Week 8: Pom Pom Shooter here are the instructions on how to complete this craft.

This month, make a binary code keychain!

Instructions are included in each kit, but you can also print them here.

Watch this how-to video if you need some help with the activity.

This month, make a maze!

Instructions are included in each kit, but you can also print them here.

Watch this how-to video if you need some help with the activity.

This month, make a Balloon Puppeteer!

Instructions are included in each kit, but you can also print them here.

Watch this how-to video if you need some help with the activity.

Want to learn how to use a stop motion animation app? Watch this YouTube video created by library staff.

This month, make a maze!

Instructions are included in each kit, but you can also print them here.

Watch this how-to video if you need some help with the activity.