First 5 Forever at Rainbow Beach and Tin Can Bay libraries

First 5 Forever (F5F) is a universal family literacy program aimed at creating stronger language and literacy environments for Queensland children before they start kindergarten and school.

Librarian, Jane Gunn, is delighted with the attendance at the coast sessions, “At Tin Can Bay we have had lots of interest including from Family Day Care providers. We visited the C&K kindy and that helped promote the session. Numbers have swollen up to 10 bubs and kids, and parents/carers.

“In Rainbow Beach we’ve had a wonderful response from mums – spreading the word through playgroup and school. There are a close knit group of six kids and their adults.”

First 5 Forever story-time programs in your library are free, interactive sessions that include stories, songs, rhymes and craft.

Story-times provide opportunities for babies and toddlers to be introduced to language, to develop listening skills, and extend their memories with sequencing within the rhymes and the songs.

Fine and gross motor skills are also developed by involvement with the craft activities and actions that accompany the rhymes and songs.

Jane said there are definite benefits to the literacy program, “There is a real sense of achievement with something made  to take home. The repetition and rhyme, scissor cutting too, all helps create memory links with language.”

Plus it provides an opportunity for parents to meet others with young children, in an atmosphere where the focus is on fun.

The initiative is proudly supported by the Queensland Government and the State Library of Queensland, in cooperation with Gympie Regional Council. F5F sessions will be held every week at the Rainbow Beach Library on Mondays 10 to 11am and the Tin Can Bay Library on Thursdays 9.30am to 10.30am.