St. Maarten Library launches early learners campaign to build love of reading

GREAT BAY--The St. Maarten Library is placing early childhood literacy in the spotlight this month with its “From Peekaboo to Possibilities” campaign, encouraging parents, caregivers and educators to make reading, storytelling and conversation a regular part of children’s lives from the earliest years.

The Early Learners Babies & Toddlers Campaign runs from September 1 to 19 and focuses on children from birth to age six. The initiative is designed to show families that literacy development begins long before a child can read independently.

The Library said simple activities such as listening to stories, looking at pictures, singing songs and talking about books can help young children develop language, imagination and communication skills while building a foundation for future learning.

The campaign has already included community readers visiting day-care centers and early stimulation schools across St. Maarten. Those visits continue through September 17 and are intended to bring books to life for babies and toddlers while showing how reading and storytelling can become part of everyday routines.

A special Author Story Time will be held on September 12 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Vine Yard Office Park. The session, hosted by the St. Maarten Library in collaboration with Collective Prevention Services, will feature author Ingrid T. Fyffe reading from her children’s book A Cupcake’s Journey.

The campaign will also include a panel discussion on September 15 at the University of St. Martin from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The discussion will focus on the benefits of introducing children to books early and will provide practical guidance for parents, caregivers and educators supporting literacy, language and communication development.

Panelists will include Chevon James of P2C Logopaedics Consultative Services, Lorraine Leacock of Kinetic Melodies, D’Antoinette Roger-Sorton of Enable Holistic Occupational Therapy and Ivanca Sterling of Collective Prevention Services. Ingeborg De Weever will moderate the discussion.

On September 17, author Amy Arrindell will lead an Author Workshop at the St. Maarten Library from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The session will focus on ways parents and caregivers can incorporate reading, storytelling and meaningful interaction into everyday life with young children.

The campaign will culminate on Saturday, September 19, with a Grand Early Learners Celebration at Emilio Wilson Park from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Families can expect story time, a puppet show, capoeira, arts and crafts, literacy activities and entertainment for young children. A Miniature Book Character Parade, led by the Generation New Status Drum Band, will also form part of the celebration.

The parade begins at 10:00 a.m., with children invited to dress as their favorite book characters and join families from across the community in celebrating books, imagination and learning. Refreshments and face painting will also be available for purchase.

Through the campaign, the St. Maarten Library is reminding families that there is no need to wait until formal schooling begins to introduce children to reading.

The Library said even a few minutes spent sharing a book each day can expose a child to new words, ideas and possibilities while helping to build a stronger foundation for learning.

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