This week’s session is full, but please email Rachel at rfecho@mclinc.org to be placed on the waiting list, because cancellations are very common!

Come Play With Me is based on research about the connections in the brain that need to be made at this very early age. This series of 5 workshops emphasizes and supports learning through play; the role of the parent as a child’s first teacher; facilitates early intervention; and teaches strategies that promote healthy child development and literacy. We offer these workshops periodically as a part of our role as a Family Place Library. Family Place Libraries™ are a nationwide network of hundreds of libraries who embrace the fact that literacy begins at birth, and libraries can help build healthy communities by nourishing healthy families. A proven change agent, Family Place Libraries transform libraries into community centers for early literacy & learning, parent education and engagement, family support, and community connectivity, helping to ensure all children enter school ready and able to learn.

During these workshops, children ages 1- through 3-years and their parents and caregivers play together, meet other parents and caregivers, become familiar with the librarian and library resources, and meet local health and human service professionals. It’s an opportunity to learn more about and bond with children in an informal, interactive setting. The Community Room will be set up with toys and activities including blocks, puzzles, gross motor toys, books, manipulatives, transportation toys, dramatic play, music, and an art or exploration activity. A different local family service professional will be available at each of the workshops along with a variety of books and other resources. The weekly focus topics and corresponding specialists are as follows:

March 6: Nutrition, Crystal Joiner, MS, RD, LD
March 13: Speech/Language, Jennifer Goldman, MA CCC-SLP, CBIS
March 20: Literacy, Rachel Fecho, Children’s Librarian
March 27: Music/Movement, Jana Gunby, Children’s Yoga Instructor
April 3: Development, Elaine Dougherty, OT

Funding for these workshops is made possible by a Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services as administered by Pennsylvania Department of Education through the Office of Commonwealth Libraries and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Tom Wolf, Governor.