Wordplay for Kids

Instilling a love of reading in a child pays dividends long after early literacy skills have been mastered. The key to successful programming is to make children become participants, encouraging a “literary ear” and love of the beauty of language itself. To help children develop artful language patterns, correct grammar, and a large and rich vocabulary, Wadham offers a range of complete programs for children ages 5-12 that introduce literature in a systematic way. Organized by age, each program:

• Begins with a list of suggested age-appropriate poems, ranging from choral poetry and nursery rhymes to short, humorous selections and longer narrative poems, all designed to be shared orally
• Includes read-alouds that encourage engagement, such as folklore, fairy tales, mythology, and fables
• Suggests an activity directly based on each read-aloud, with handy information about target audience and size, program length, setup time, and materials and supplies needed
• Comes with a planning calendar showing the length of time necessary to complete the program
• Features a booklist of additional titles that can be used to create even more programs

A fun way to transmit cultural literacy while helping to create a love of poetry, the rhythm of language, and verbal skills, Wadham’s programs help children’s librarians, school librarians, and storytime leaders encourage all children to be lifelong readers.