~ Early Childhood Programs & Services ~

• Early Childhood Services
• Preschool Learning Centers
• Weekly Story Time
• Parent/Toddler Workshop
• Upcoming Events
• Early Childhood Information
• Grandparents Raising Grandchildren
• Take Time to Read
• Family Fun Saturday
• Mother Goose on the Loose
• Mom's Club of Beaumont/Cherry Valley (Beaumont stay at home moms)

Early Learning Family Place builds on the knowledge that good health, early learning, parent involvement, and supportive communities play a critical role in young children's development.

Nancy R Wood, Early Childhood Specialist & Outreach Librarian, is trained in developmentally appropriate practice, and family support. The resources of the library are used to effectively serve young children and families.

Early Childhood Services at Beaumont Library provide resources, programs and services to families in the Beaumont Library District with children ages birth to 5 years old.

Our Mission

With the participation and interaction of parents and care givers, Beaumont Library District encourages, enhances, and builds the early literacy skills of children to better prepare them for reading and lifelong learning.

Our Commitment

We are committed to assisting parents in their role as first and most important teachers of their children. A secondary consideration is to assist relative caregivers and family or center-based caregivers in their most important job as teachers of young children.

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Here's more information about the Family Place model developed by Middle Country Public Library, Long Island, New York

HISTORY of Family Place

Family Place began as part of the children's programming at Middle Country Public Library in Selden, New York. Sandra Feinberg and her staff have developed and expanded the program over the last 23 years. During the 1990's, Middle Country Public Library and Libraries for the Future collaborated to bring Family Place to libraries across the country. In November 2007, there were over 200 sites in hundreds of communities in 25 states.

Family Place provides an over-all umbrella of philosophy and service that covers all early childhood programming at Beaumont Library District.

CORE ELEMENTS OF FAMILY PLACE

• Programs and collections for families with children 0 to 5
• Environment and space
• Outreach to the community
• Coalition building

PROGRAMS AND COLLECTIONS FOR FAMILIES

The Parent/Child Workshop, a multi-week program, involves both toddlers (from 18 months up to age 3) and their parents and caregivers in socialization experiences, directed learning centers, and language and literacy activities. Selected community professionals are available during the workshop to interact with parents one-on-one. These professionals emphasize the role of parents as the first teachers of their children, discuss early intervention techniques, and teach concepts for healthy child development.

A print and multi-media resource collection is available and specifically designed for parents, caregivers, and early childhood professionals.

ENVIRONMENT AND SPACE

An interactive early childhood space is developed for children and families. This space is set up like an early childhood classroom: books, small & large motor materials, sensory and tactile activities, blocks, science and math experiences, etc. Free brochures on various topics are available to take home.

OUTREACH TO THE COMMUNITY & COALITION BUILDING

Nancy Pickett Wood, the Early Childhood Specialist and Outreach Librarian, works with groups in the community to acquaint them with library programs under our Early Childhood Services umbrella. ALL members of the Beaumont Library District community who have young children are invited to participate in the Early Childhood Services of the library.

The Early Childhood Advisory Council facilitated by the Early Childhood Specialist is a group of local professionals working together to provide services to young children and their families. Early Childhood Services provide outreach to various community organizations. The following groups are represented on the library's Advisory council or are serviced by early childhood services:

• Beaumont Adult School
• Beaumont Library District Adult Literacy
• Beaumont Unified School District
• City of Beaumont
• Community Education sites
• Early Care and Education Centers
• Family Child Care Providers
• Moms Groups of Banning and Beaumont
• Nutrition Department, Riverside County Health
• RCOE Head Start and Early Head Start
• Renu Hope Foundation
• San Gorgonio Memorial Hospital

This program is supported in whole or in part by the Riverside County Children & Families Commission under the provisions of their Planning & Innovative Grant Program utilizing funds from Proposition 10. Additional contributors are: The Community Foundation of San Bernardino & Riverside Counties, The Friends of Beaumont Library District, Laura May Stewart Trust, Rotary Club of Beaumont-Cherry Valley, the MOMS Club of Cherry Valley, and