Parents or caregivers and their young children can soon “hop aboard” The ABC Express in Coalhurst, a new early childhood literacy program offered through the Lethbridge Public Library Bookmobile, in partnership with Family and Community Support Services.
This half-hour Bookmobile program will be provided free to Coalhurst families beginning Apr. 25, 2025. It will be delivered every second Friday, as part of the current FCSS Stay and Play program, which runs from 9:30-11:30 a.m. at the Coalhurst and District Community Centre.
“It’s encouraging to see the Bookmobile and FCSS, who have long been committed to enhancing quality of life for Coalhurst residents, come together to bring this new program to the Town of Coalhurst,” says Mayor Lyndsay Montina. “Investing in early childhood literacy is investing in the future of our community. This new program opens doors for our youngest learners and families will benefit from this enhanced service.”
The ABC Express program aims to encourage parents to interact with their children using the five early literacy practices of singing, playing, talking, reading and writing from Every Child Ready to Read.
“Rather than programming directly to the kids, our programs are instead aimed at encouraging parents to interact with their children using these five practices to get them ready for reading independently,” notes Emily Kundrik, LPL Bookmobile coordinator.
The FCSS Stay and Play program provides a space for parents/caregivers and their children ages zero to six to engage together in self-guided and structured play, which encourages healthy attachment and development.
Through hands-on activities like working memory games, turn-taking and interactive exposure to language and print, FCSS staff help support the development of executive functioning, early literacy, social skills and other age-appropriate skills.
“Barons-Eureka-Warner FCSS has offered Stay and Play in Coalhurst for over two decades and it is one of our most attended programs,” adds Petra DeBow, FCSS Manager. “We’re excited to enhance this valuable program through collaboration with the Bookmobile. We hope this partnership will bring more awareness around early literacy and its importance to the community of Coalhurst.”
This partnership program will continue until at least the end of June.
