Although I am the newest member of the Youth Services team, I have been attending the programs offered by the Children’s Department for over a year as a parent! With a current 19 month old, I have spent the last year exploring the storytime and STEAM programs offered here, so I will be writing a series of posts exploring my transition from Parent Patron to Staff Member. I’ll be telling you what my favorite services were when I was a parent patron, and what I’ve learned as a staff member which would enhance that experience!
Parent Patron perspective:
First up is Baby Time! Whether storytime or playtime, this is a fantastic opportunity to get out of the house with your little, listen to stories, sing, learn rhymes, sign language, and early literacy tips. During playtimes you have more time to chat with other parents and meet community members with different areas of expertise. La Leche League meets directly after Baby Time twice a month; they are a wonderful resource for parents, providing support on a variety of topics. If your baby is napping, don’t worry- you can arrive late to any of these programs! When my little was still taking a morning nap, we were routinely late to Baby Time.
Staff Member Addition:
When I joined the staff here, I learned how our storytimes are all rooted in early literacy education. All staff members who lead storytime at the Handley branch have taken a 6 week training program where they learn about how to use early literacy techniques in their storytimes. As a new parent, we are always looking for ways to educate our littles, and attending a library program like Baby Time will give you easy early literacy tips that you can practice during the week with your little. You get out of the house, meet other parents, and leave with easy educational tips; its a triple win!
Check out our calendar for upcoming storytime and playtime events!
By Lydia Drown