Local families are being encouraged to ‘Run, Run, Run All Day to the Library’ with the launch of the new Bradford Libraries Rhyme Challenge.
Bradford Council’s libraries service has announced the new rhymes for this year’s Rhyme Challenge including an alternative Bradford Libraries version of the rhyme Row Row Row Your Boat called Run Run Run All Day To The Library.
The annual Rhyme Challenge sees parents and children aged six and under learning five rhymes together with the reward of a certificate for taking part.
Along with active rhymes such as Hop A Little, Jump A Little; A Sailor Went to Sea Sea Sea and I Had A Little Turtle, families can also learn to sing Brother John in both English and Urdu.
Parents and children learning rhymes together can help young children create social bonds, develop speech and language and be a foundation for later emerging reading skills. Singing to babies is vital to help them learn language, according to a new study that concluded that infants learn languages from rhythmic information as seen in nursery rhymes or songs.
More than 5,000 people in the Bradford district including children under five and their parents took part in the challenge in last year and Bradford Libraries are hoping this number can be beaten this time round.
Families visiting Bradford Libraries can take the challenge during January and May this year.
Here's when our local libraries are taking part with special sessions:
Keighley Library –Saturdays 3, 10, 17, 24 February at 11am
Ilkley Library – Thursdays 11, 18, 25 January and 1 February 10am
Burley Library – Tuesdays 9, 16, 23 and 30 January at 9.30am
Menston Library – Thursdays 22, 29 February and 7, 14 March at 10.30am
The challenge devised by the council’s library service also takes place in toddler groups, pre-schools, nurseries, schools, and family hubs across the district.
There is also a prize draw for families to enter with prizes such as Gruffalo story sacks and nursery rhyme puppet sets.
Those wanting to take part in the challenge should contact their local library or speak to their nursery, toddler group or childcare provider.
Staff and volunteers working with the children, will also be in with a chance to win one of Bradford Libraries Rhyme Challenge Awards. Last year the awards were given for best practice in libraries, toddler groups and nurseries, along with a special individual award.
Councillor Sarah Ferriby, Bradford Council’s Executive Member for Healthy People and Places, said: “Our annual Rhyme Challenge allows families to have fun while also developing the speech and language and communication skills of under 5s. It is an excellent start for their journey to a life-long love of reading.”
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