Pennsylvania's Cruise Into Kindergarten

I’m currently serving on a committee created by the State Library of Pennsylvania to create a smooth transition into Kindergarten for all children in Pennsylvania focused on what the public library can do.  We’ve been working for about a year and a half and I am so excited to see some of these amazing ideas come to life!
The brand-new (still finishing the details!) Cruise Into Kindergarten website is now up and running!  On the website is an interactive game for parents with young children to play together.  What I absolutely love about the game is that it encourages play and learning at the same time which is so crucial to a child’s development.  We’ve been very careful to provide games that can be played both on Macs and PCs, as well as making it accessible to mobile devices as well.
The website also provides some amazing booklists for families and a few resources about screen time.  I think it’s important for parents/caregivers to understand how technology can benefit children, but also how it can be harmful if not used correctly.
The other exciting part of this program is providing a online state resource for children’s librarians filled with program ideas, professional development opportunities, as well as place for Pennsylvania public libraries to take ownership over their role in providing early literacy programs for their community.  The website will have a host of resources, including the importance of play in a child’s life, an explanation of ECRR and ECRR2, and a place to connect with librarians from around the state who can provide training to staff members, childcare professionals and parents/caregivers.  I am so excited for the potential of this website and resource center for libraries across the state!