SURREY Libraries staff have created a video series called Start with Stories. The videos showcase fun songs and rhymes that parents, caregivers, and early childhood educators can learn and use to help children to grow into confident, happy, and imaginative readers.

“We know that early literacy lasts a lifetime, and the Start with Stories video series makes early literacy fun and easy for our community,” said Chloe Humphreys, Youth Services Librarian at Surrey Libraries. “We’re excited to share these videos with Surrey families, helping to ensure reading and school success later in life.”

Start with Stories is available to everyone for free on YouTube. The videos highlight five important early literacy activities people can share with children from birth. Research shows that singing, talking, reading, playing, and writing with children every day helps them develop essential pre-reading skills. Surrey Libraries will add videos throughout the year to keep the series fresh and relevant.

“Children learn best when spending time with a loving caregiver,” said Sara Grant, Manager of Youth Services at Surrey Libraries. “Whether singing a song at the park, or sharing a rhyme before bed, Start with Stories will inspire families to learn together.”

The Start with Stories videos can be accessed at surreylibraries.ca/start-stories. Here, people can also learn more about early literacy, find great books and explore Surrey Libraries’ storytime programs.