Parents Resources

Babies learn by looking and listening from the first day of life. Childhood, particularly the first few years of a child’s life, is a very important period for the development of language skills. Parents and carers can play a important role in this development by talking and singing to their children and sharing books, songs and rhymes in a happy, loving home environment.

As children grow, reading remains a crucial factor in their success in education and life. It’s important that parents continue to demonstrate the value and enjoyment of reading by encouraging regular reading times, and allowing children to see them reading too. A love of reading can also be encouraged through regular visits to the library where children can browse a huge range of books and choose their own to borrow.

The Library provides a wide range of activities and resources for babies to young adults. These include:

• Books & Magazines
• CDs & DVDs
• Multi-media packs
• Literacy resources
• Spark Discovery science kits
• Collections of HSC resources including study guides, Board of Studies publications and materials for use by senior high school students.
• Digital resources for kids via Storybox, Overdrive and other online apps
• Free access to research databases

We aim to provide the best resources for all ages. Remember: if you can’t see it, ask for it! We welcome purchase requests.

Activities

School holiday programs are generally aimed at school aged children, while we provide programs for babies and preschoolers each week during term. We aim to promote what the library has to offer as well as provide a meaningful activity for young people. These activities give children the opportunity to meet others, to learn or experience something different and to share some fun. Some of our library activities are fully supervised while others require carers to stay. Bookings may be required, and it is a good idea to book early, so you don’t miss out.  

Activities include:

• Holiday activities during the school holidays for all ages.
• Storytimes for preschoolers during school terms
• Early Bird Early Literacy program
• Baby Bounce
• Class Visits
• Author Visits
• Exhibitions

Our Baby Bounce program features a wide variety of songs and rhymes to share with your little one. If you want to learn the songs, practise at home with our Baby Bounce Booklet.

Early Bird Early Literacy Program

The Early Bird Early Literacy program at the Port Macquarie Library is a literacy program for parents and their babies, 12 months and under. The program is designed to give parents an opportunity to share and experience the love of reading with their baby and gives parents practical ideas on using stories, rhymes, songs and music to help babies gain an early love of reading.

This program runs over two consecutive weeks at 10am on a Monday morning. For bookings and times, please see What’s On Kids & Teens.