Popular Redlands children’s program now available from home

Redlands Coast libraries have turned to video to ensure younger residents can continue to enjoy the magic of story time through its popular First5Forever program.

As Council moved last week to close non-essential services to help slow the spread of COVID-19, the library team began creating the first of a series of daily First5Forever videos to ensure parents and children aged up to five years could stay connected with this very special program.

The first fun video was posted on Friday, with the library team aiming to post one every weekday at 9.30am to reflect the usual in-branch First5Forever activities.

An event will be created on Facebook as a reminder to parents to jump onto Facebook at 9.30am each weekday. The sessions will be approximately 15 minutes and include the key messages of the early literacy program First 5 Forever, which is a partnership funded program through the State Library of Queensland.

A library spokesperson said First5Forever was fun way to provide children aged 0-5 years with strong early literacy foundations through the key themes of talk, read, sing and play.

“By videoing the program and making it available from home, we hope to continue giving parents the best opportunities to help their children learn and succeed,” the spokesperson said.

“Parents and caregivers have an invaluable role in supporting their child’s early development and First5Forever, in turn, supports parents and caregivers to do that.

“We are really thrilled to be able to keep it going during the current pandemic, with some wonderful feedback from parents.”

The libraries will also be posting after-school activities and things you can do from home with children during the school holidays.

To see the videos and school holiday activities follow facebook.com/RedlandLibraries