Fostering a culture of playful reading and love of books, modern early reading spaces will be installed in 23 more preschool institutions in the capital. Earlier this spring, after announcing a competition for ideas for installing early reading spaces, 300 thousand euros were allocated to the best projects.
"Fostering early reading is one of the key factors in a child's cognitive, linguistic and emotional development. From the first acquaintance with books, a child's ability to understand language is formed, their vocabulary expands, and their imagination and critical thinking develop. Although this is the first time that spaces that encourage early reading have been set up, I am pleased with the great interest and activity of the education community," says Vilnius Vice Mayor Donalda Meiželytė.
Research shows that children who are read to regularly or who are engaged in reading activities early on are more likely to have better achievement in language and other areas of learning in later stages of learning.
The Vice Mayor notes that preschool reading is not just about learning letters - it is a sensory, emotional and social experience: "Therefore, it is very important that educational institutions have high-quality, attractive and innovative reading spaces that would stimulate children's curiosity and desire to explore the world of books. A properly designed reading environment can inspire a child not only to read, but also to create, tell stories, listen and discuss."
84 applications were submitted for the competition to install early reading spaces. Applications were evaluated according to pre-determined criteria: functionality of the premises, response to children's individual needs, reading space implementation plan, financial contribution of the institution, and number of educational groups.
The early reading spaces are adapted to the age and needs of children: they should have comfortable furniture, various types of books (visual, audio, tactile, from different cultures and languages), and playful elements that encourage interactivity and active participation.
Reading spaces must not only be equipped, but also functional – they must host various reading promotion activities, such as audio readings, storytelling workshops, meetings with children's literature creators, or theatrical improvisations.
Updated collections of the best children's books will soon reach preschools.
Attached to the announcement are several visualizations of early reading spaces submitted for the competition.
