Language and Cognitive Skills

From the moment they are born children are learning language. There are lots of every day, simple things you can do to help support your child’s language development.

Check out the below ideas, resources and activities that promote reading, talking, yarning and singing with your child.

The Best Start Book Bag Program is back! Each bag is packed with a delightful story book, a nursery rhyme sheet, activity sheets and information about our library services and membership.

The bags will be provided by our Maternal and Child Health Nurses at your child’s 4 week, 8 month, 18 month and 3.5 year age and stage visits.

Our aim? To promote the joy and benefits of reading, singing, and talking to children from a young age. Make it your goal to read a story every day with your child and share a song or nursery rhyme together.

Remember, it's never too early to start reading to your little ones. From the moment they are born, babies love to hear your voice.

Together, let's nurture the future bookworms of Greater Shepparton.

This is a great opportunity to ignite the love of stories in your little ones.

Enjoy a series of FREE sessions where you and your child can immerse yourselves in exciting stories, catchy songs, fun rhymes, and creative craft activities.

These sessions are most suited for you and your little ones, aged from 2 years to 6 years.

No bookings required, just walk in and join the fun.

• Mooroopna Library – It's story time on the third Wednesday of the month at 10.30am
• Shepparton Library – We're all about stories every Monday and Friday at 10.30am
• Tatura Library – Catch us on the second and fourth Thursdays of the month at 10.30am

Let the magic of books transport your child to fascinating worlds and experiences.

For more information about programs and services available at Goulburn Valley Libraries, visit gvlibraries.com.au or call 1300 374 765.

Nurture your little one’s love for rhymes and stories from the start.

These FREE engaging sessions are filled with 30 magical minutes of soothing songs, rhythmic rhymes, and enchanting stories.

Suitable for you and your baby; aged 0 to 2 years. No need to worry about booking in – just show up and join the fun!

• Mooroopna Library – Rhyme Time comes alive on the third Thursday of the month at 10.30am
• Shepparton Library – It's baby party every Wednesday at 10.30am

For more information about programs and services available at Goulburn Valley Libraries, visit gvlibraries.com.au or call 1300 374 765.

Emma from GV Regional Libraries has been exploring our toddler book section and guess what? She's found two absolute gems she just can't keep to herself. Next time you're in, be sure to give these a look!

First up, all aboard for Train Party by Karen Blair! Who can resist the fun and frolic of a party on a mini train ride? Perfect for all our little adventurers under five, with plenty of sounds to mimic, sights to behold, and topics to chat about.

Next, embark on an outdoor journey with A Stick and a Stone by Sarina Dickson. A perfect read if you and your kiddos enjoy nature walks and finding treasures! You're bound to fall in love with this book.

Also, check out the list of suggested reads by ‘Out of this World’ picture books. Simply click the download below.

Happy reading, families!

Unearth a treasure trove of delightful children's books nestled inside our Book Swap Boxes scattered across Greater Shepparton. These magical boxes are an enchanting way to extend your child's access to a diverse range of books, fostering their imagination and love for reading.

Each Book Swap Box is a little library filled to the brim with carefully chosen, pre-loved books that your little ones can explore. Whether they wish to indulge in a storytime adventure on-site or continue their reading journey at home, these books are theirs to enjoy.

Embark on this literary quest and uncover our Book Swap Boxes at these beloved locations across our vibrant community:

• North Hub
• Aquamoves
• Kialla Riverside Community Centre
• St Georges Rd Primary School
• Arthur Mawson Kindergarten
• Westmoreland Crescent Maternal Child Health Centre
• Mooroopna Children & Families Centre
• Tatura Community House
• Merrigum Maternal Child Health Centre
• Tallygaroopna Post Office

Our Book Swap Boxes are your passport to endless adventures, imaginative journeys, and delightful tales. So, get ready to read, swap, and share the joy of storytelling today!

We are delighted to introduce the Book Tubs initiative, part of our Best Start program. This project aims to encourage early reading habits, fostering a love for books among children at an early age.

We have equipped a range of GP clinics and local playgroups with Book Tubs, filled with a variety of quality second-hand children’s books. Available to families visiting these centres, the book tubs provide a wonderful opportunity to engage your child in reading activities whilst waiting for an appointment, or to borrow at the end of a playgroup session.

We encourage parents and guardians to use this opportunity to put away their phones for a mere 15 minutes, to read a book with their child. This simple act of reading together can not only make waiting times more enjoyable but also contribute significantly to your child's development. It helps stimulate their imagination, encourages conversation, aids in speech development, and equips them with essential early literacy skills.

If you are interested in obtaining a book tub for your clinic or playgroup, we invite you to reach out for more information. Please contact Belinda Schmedje, our dedicated Best Start Project Officer, on 5832 9806.

Join us in turning every waiting moment into an engaging storytelling adventure and lay the groundwork for your child's future learning journey.

Did you know your little ones can pick up new words while going about daily activities? Engaging your child in routine tasks can be a fantastic way to support their language development! Transform ordinary chores into fun learning sessions, while teaching them about communication and turn-taking.

Imagine hanging out the laundry with your child and using this opportunity to discuss concepts such as 'big' and 'small', or exploring the vibrant world of colours. Cooking together can be more than just preparing dinner, it's a valuable time to delve into the fun world of measurements - "Let's add a cup of flour" or "We need two carrots. Can you help me count them?"

Dive into our suggested activities designed for various age groups. You can enjoy these playful learning experiences either within the comfort of your home or while on an outdoor adventure.

Searching for an exciting literary adventure for yourself, or an enchanting tale for your tiny tots? Discover the magic of pre-loved books at 'The Book Inn'!

Located at 94 Wyndham Street in the heart of Shepparton, 'The Book Inn' is a second-hand bookstore run by FamilyCare and their dedicated volunteers. Boasting a massive collection of quality books for readers of all ages, the prices are as friendly as the volunteers, ranging from just 50c to $2.00.

You're welcome to visit The Book Inn from Monday to Thursday, 10am to 4pm, and Fridays from 10am to 1pm. For more details, give Andrea Tuohey at FamilyCare a call on 5823 7000.

Get set to dive into the captivating worlds of Language, Speech and Listening, and Play. The Family Haven, Lighthouse, and Best Start are pleased to offer upcoming language and speech information sessions, perfectly tailored for parents of children aged 0 to 5 years.

Our expert speech therapists, Sonia Priestly and Karen Speedy, will lead these fun and interactive sessions at the Family Haven, 18 Young St Mooroopna from 10.30am to 12 noon on the following dates:

• Wednesday 23 August
• Thursday 31 August

This is a great chance to 'have a chat with a speechie' and get your questions answered. The sessions are absolutely free, and parents and kids are invited to stay for lunch at 12pm.  

Any questions bubbling up? Courtney Wilson at the Family Haven is just a call away at 0428 736 961. We can't wait to see you there!

As part of Book Week celebrations, Greater Shepparton City Council's Best Start Program invites you to share the joy of reading.

Do you have good quality, gently-loved children's books looking for a new home? We’d be thrilled to take them! These books will find new readers at our Book Swap Boxes around town, in waiting room book tubs, playgroups, and our budding School Community Libraries.

Drop-off Details:

• When? Between 14 to 30 August
• Where? Council Offices, 90 Welsford Street, Shepparton

Too busy? No worries! For book collections, simply reach out to our wonderful Belinda Schmedje at Belinda.schmedje@shepparton.vic.gov.au.

This is a fantastic chance for professionals working closely with families of young children. Speech Pathologist Karen Speedy will be hosting a session filled with actionable tips on supporting the language development of children aged 0 to 5 years.

What's in Store for You?

• A deep dive into typical speech and language development
• Understanding receptive and expressive language
• The fascinating journey of speech sound development
• Tools to assist CALD children in language development

Do you work in Family Support, Maternal and Child Health, Early Years, or primary, secondary and tertiary services? Don't miss out on this enriching session!

When: Tuesday 24 October, 9am to 1pm
Where: FamilyCare, Welsford Street, Shepparton
Price: Absolutely FREE

Book your spot now! Register on Eventbrite

• The ABC of Language Development: A Multilingual Guide

  We're proud to present a straightforward three-step resource, available in multiple languages, simplifying the process for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse children to learn language and the nuances of the English language.

  PDF, 342 KB

• Decoding Language Development: Key Ages and Stages

  The journey and stages of language skills development is a fascinating one. Here's a brilliant resource that showcases the language abilities children typically acquire at different ages. It also provides helpful activities to support their language growth at each stage.

  PDF, 61 KB