Support heritage language learning at home with KFPL’s Growing Up Human series

Learning about child development gives parents, caregivers, and other people with little ones in their lives tools to support kids as they grow. Growing Up Human, the Kingston Frontenac Public Library (KFPL)’s series on child development, highlights information to best set the course for children’s lifelong health, behaviour, and learning, according to a release from the library.

Growing Up Human returns in 2023, beginning with Dr. Stanka Fitneva’s talk about how language is maintained and passed along to others throughout life, KFPL stated. Dr. Fitneva’s research focuses on language, communication, and social cognition.

“This is a great opportunity to learn how a child can thrive using multiple languages and how this cultural anchor can be maintained,” said Jake Miller, Librarian, Adult Programming. “We’re excited to kick off 2023’s Growing Up Human series with Dr. Fitneva and her expertise in this growing field.”

One in four Canadians has a mother tongue other than English or French, a record high, according to the 2021 census. The rich linguistic diversity of Canada is reflected in KFPL’s multilingual collections and programs like this, which help families support bilingualism and multilingualism at home, the library noted.

Growing Up Human: Maintaining or Passing on a Heritage Language to Children will be an online session via Zoom on Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023, from 7 to 8 p.m. Register online at https://calendar.kfpl.ca/event/7709192 or by phone at 613-549-8888.

According to the release, Growing Up Human is a partnered program between KFPL and the Child and Adolescent Development Research Group at Queen’s University. The series will continue through June 2023. Visit the events calendar at calendar.kfpl.ca for information on future sessions as it is posted.