The "Babies like reading" program

In 2011, Suzhou Library launched a parent-child reading promotion program -- "Babies like reading". This program is for families with infants and young children, and designed to encourage the parents to share the joy of reading with their children, to get infants started with books at an early stage, and to cultivate children's interest and ability in reading.

This activity is open for online registration and on-site distribution. Each year, families with 0-3 year old babies will receive a "Reading packages as present",which includes a reading book for children, a guide book for parent-child reading, a reading improvement recorder and a brochure.

Places for activities: Children's Hall of Suzhou Library, some branch libraries and communities

Time for activities: see the notices from the children's department

In addition to the "Reading packages" for 0-3 year old babies, a series of programs for children of different age groups have been organized, which include: "Learning children's songs from sister Yueyue", "Stories from the Sister of Story", "Book-loving mothers in communities", "Parents' salon", "Contest of storytelling for children", "Suzhou children's fairy tale drama performance competition" and "Textbook story play competition for pupils in Suzhou" and other activities.

Stories from the Sister of Story

Students majored in pre-school education from Suzhou Early Childhood Education College and Suzhou Vocational University regularly come to the "Happy reading park" to tell stories, play games, sing children's songs, draw paintings, and do handcraft with children; in order to cultivate the children's interest in reading and their spirit of cooperation. In addition, the parents can also learn storytelling skills.

Place of activities: "Happy reading park" on the ground floor of Children's Hall in Suzhou Library

Time of activities: 10:00~11:00 on Sunday mornings

Parents' salon

The Parents' salon is a learning and exchanging platform established for the parents, and its forms include exchange within QQ group, seminars, theme lectures and other forms. There are exchanges between librarians and parents, or between experts in different fields and parents on children's reading, study, psychology, safety and other issues which parents concern.

Place of activities: "Happy reading park" on the ground floor of Children's Hall in Suzhou Library

Time of activities: 10:00~11:00 on Sunday mornings

Learning children's songs from sister Yueyue

This is an activity organized for 0-3 year old children which includes listening to music, rehearse songs and imitation exercise. The children can enjoy the interesting and attractive musical atmosphere while rehearsing songs and exercises with their father and mother, and the interesting children's songs can stimulate the children's interest in language and their sensitivity on music.

Place of activities: "Happy reading park" on the ground floor of Children's Hall in Suzhou Library

Time of activities: 10:00~10:30 on Saturday mornings

Book-loving mothers in communities

Book-loving mothers, volunteers from kindergarten teachers and children's parents, will go to different communities after being trained, to organize storytelling gatherings, to popularize knowledge on early reading, children's nutrition and health, and to help children develop good habits of reading from childhood.

For time and place of activities, see the notices from the Children's Department.

Contest of storytelling for children

The participants are children parents, kindergarten teachers and "Sister of Story"。 This contest aims to encourage more parents and teachers to participate in early childhood reading, to improve the adult's literary appreciation and language expression, to create a good reading atmosphere in classroom and at home, and to lead more children into the beautiful literature world.

This contest is held once every year, see notices from the Children's Department for the time and place of the contest.

Suzhou children's fairy tale drama performance competition

"Fairy tale drama" aims to present reading on the stage. The children can have deeper understanding of the stories when playing them; their language skills and cooperative skills can be improved, their spirits can be inspired, and their emotions can be lifted.

This contest is held once every two years, see notices from the Children's Department for the time and place of the contest.

Textbook story play competition for pupils in Suzhou

With the help of textbook drama, the students can have deeper understanding of the text; their abilities for observation, thinking, innovation and cooperation can be improved; good reading habits and aesthetic taste can be developed; and they can have good physical and mental development.

This contest is held once every two years, see notices from the Children's Department for the time and place of the contest.

"Colorful Summer" series of activities

In order to accompany the children to spend a pleasant summer, the "Colorful Summer" series of activities were organized by Suzhou Library. These activities include "I am a small fireman", "Save myself, save each other", "I am a young citizen of Suzhou", "A tour to the library" and others.

Places of activities: Children's Hall of Suzhou Library

Time of activities: Summer holidays every year