Better Beginnings

Sharing a love of reading, rhymes, singing and talking with your baby is one of the best things you can do to give your baby a head start in life and at school.

The City of Melville Better Beginnings (BB) program offers a range of activities including:

• New parent information sessions on the importance of reading to your baby.
• Baby Rhyme Time and Storytime sessions.
• A range of books, rhymes and songs to share with your baby.
• Special parenting collections to assist you in learning about your growing baby, toddler or child.
• Helping you choose the right books for yourself and your baby.

Parents with new born babies can collect a free Better Beginnings reading kit from their nearest Melville library or from their Community Child Health Nurse.

The Better Beginnings free reading kit includes:

• A free gift board book for your baby from your local council.
• A nursery rhyme frieze and a BB poster.
• A list of first books for babies and toddlers.
• A brochure with tips for enjoying reading with your baby.
• Information about City of Melville Library activities and an enrolment form.

The Better Beginnings Family Literacy Program is delivered through public libraries throughout the state and aims to support parents as their child’s first teacher.

Better Beginings Family Literacy Program is coordinated by the Sate Library of WA and partially funded by Rio Tinto WA Future Fund.

Baby Rhyme Time

Baby Rhyme Time is a special session for babies aged from three to 24 months. It features a mix of songs, rhymes, activities and movements especially for parents and their babies.

Baby Rhyme Time is lots of fun and introduces little ones to the joys of literature and language, and helps them to develop the skills they need to learn to read and communicate.

Sessions are held at:

Story-Time

Pre-schoolers and their parents or guardians enjoy a story and do a simple craft activity together every week.

This is a free service recommended for children aged from two to five years. No prior booking is necessary.

Normal Session times:

Children's Book Week

Each year during the third week in August the libraries celebrate children's literature with guest authors and illustrators, after school activities, a great colouring competition and lots more.