• Our Programs
• Early Education & Care Programs
• School Age Programs
• Adolescent Programs
• Early Books
• Senior Programs
• Community Outreach
• Old Colony Initiative

Purpose

Our Early Books, Family Literacy Program was initiated in 1996 to promote and support home and family as the foundation of a child’s lifetime of learning. Focusing on families with children three years of age and under, Early Books is designed to reach out to children and their families in the preschool years. The objectives of the Early Books, Family Literacy Program are to foster habits and interests; enhance educational, personal, and emotional development; nurture an early and lasting passion for books; strengthen positive family interaction; and establish education as a family priority.

Parents, regardless of their educational level, are the best first teachers for their children and a love of learning is their children’s best first defense against the crippling cycle of low educational achievement and persistent poverty historically prevalent in South Boston. Early Books is committed to break this cycle. Through its exciting mix of family centered programming, Early Books strives to develop parents’ skills and confidence along with their children’s.

Program

Early Books activities are designed to provide parents with opportunities and abilities to positively impact the growth, development and education of their children. Our events include: Friday Night Family Fun Nights, Pajama Story times, Monday Morning Story times, Preschool Dances, Infant Message, and Birthday Parties. Innovative Educational Classes designed for children four and under including: Tot Time, Messy Hands, Sticky Fingers and others are scheduled throughout the year. Parents are asked to attend all classes and events with their children and participate in all activities.

Facility

The Early Books, Family Literacy program is located at 136 H Street, on the second floor of the South Boston Neighborhood House John T. “Doc” and Mary Tynan, Senior Center. Programming takes place at that site as well as our main site at 521 East Seventh Street.

Funding

The Early Books, Family Literacy Program is funded by the City of Boston, Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) and the Ratchesky Foundation and is supported by the United Way of Mass Bay, John Hancock, Tom Niles, Gillette retirees, South Boston Knights of Columbus Council 78, South Boston Child Care Cluster, Barnes & Noble at Downtown Crossing, and Domino’s Pizza.

Cost

Early Books, Family Literacy story times, family fun nights and preschool dances are free to all families. There is a cost for the Educational Classes, Infant Message and Birthday Parties.

For more information contact Chris Kane, Early Books, Family Literacy Program Director at (617) 269-7769 or email ckane@sbnh.org