What are the Palmetto Basics?
The Palmetto Basics are five fun, simple, and powerful ways that every family can give every child a great start in life. The Spartanburg County Public Library has adopted the Basics as a parenting initiative serving families with children from birth to five years old. Our goal is to prepare all children in Spartanburg County for kindergarten!
Looking for More Information?
What is kindergarten readiness?
Did you know that 80% of your baby’s brain is developed by the time they’re three years old? During these early years of brain growth, infants and toddlers absorb massive amounts of information from interacting with other people. This early learning becomes the foundation for all future learning.
The Pinwheel Challenge
You can help your baby’s brain grow by practicing The Basics. The Pinwheel Challenge is the best way to track your progress with your child and earn a free t-shirt! Learn more below:
Instructions:
- Download the Pinwheel Challenge or pick one up at your library.
- Use the Basics Tip Sheet or Basics Recipe for Fun Cards for inspiration and do a Basic with your child.
- Color in a space on the pinwheel.
- After you’ve colored in one section of 100 Basics, return to the Library with your sheet to choose your first Basics icon. You’ll also receive a Basics Bag. Earn additional icons as you complete the remaining sections of your pinwheel.
- Once you’ve filled in the 500 spaces, return to the Library with your Pinwheel sheet for a free shirt. (Sizes range from 12 months to 5T.)
Frequently Asked Questions
- Why are the Palmetto Basics for children five and younger?
The Palmetto Basics is a program that exists with the intent to develop kindergarten readiness skills. These skills happen before your child enters kindergarten. - Where do I pick up a Welcome Bag and the icons?
You can pick up a Welcome Bag at the Circulation Desk of any of our County Library locations or at the Children’s Desk at Headquarters. When you’ve completed 100 Basics actions, bring your Pinwheel Challenge sheet to any library to redeem your icon. - Can caregivers redeem multiple icons at the same time?
Yes. - Can caregivers count reading the same book or doing the same activity multiple times?
Yes! Children learn through repetition. - Can I do the Pinwheel Challenge with more than one child?
Yes! Only one Pinwheel Challenge sheet is necessary to complete the challenge for two or more children. - How long should it take most people to complete the Pinwheel Challenge?
The Pinwheel Challenge is meant to span the early years of your child’s life. The main goal is that your child finish before beginning kindergarten. - Can we complete more than one Pinwheel Challenge sheet in a year?
Yes! The more Pinwheel Challenge sheets you complete, the more your child benefits! However, you can only earn one t-shirt a year.