Research shows the more words a young child knows, the greater their chances of success in school.
That is why the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s ArtPlay Community Education presents Vocabby’s World, a community vocabulary program made possible by the PNC Foundation and Hugh Kaul Foundation.
Parents and families of young children, from newborn to age 5, are invited to join Vocabby’s World and ArtPlay the third Saturday of every month at Woodlawn United Methodist Church, 139 54th St. North. Vocabby is a yellow taxicab mascot that sings, dances, and teaches arts and science concepts through early education to Birmingham’s youngest learners. During these fun, free playtimes, preschoolers grow language skills by being introduced to new words through song, movement, hands-on activities and creativity. Free books, curriculum and art materials reinforce the new vocabulary learned.
“We know that the more words you introduce and reinforce into a child’s vocabulary, their chances of success in grade school are exponentially raised,” said Heath Mixon, director of ArtPlay. “We are making vocabulary learning fun with arts-integrated lessons.”
Upcoming Vocabby’s World sessions include:
- 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 20, “Winter Wonderland”
- 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 17, “Where Are the Animals?”
- 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 16, “Watching Clouds”
- 10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 20, “What's in the Garden?”
- 10:30 a.m. Saturday, May 18, "Back to the Garden"
- 10:30 a.m. Saturday, June 15, "Fun with Water"
- 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 20, "Vocabby's World Visits the Orchestra"
- 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 17, "The One and Only Me"
For more information, visit ArtPlay and Vocabby’s World on Facebook and Instagram or contact Julie Danley at jldanley@uab.edu.