We Love Reading

I've been looking for a group or activity for A to be involved in that we can go to regularly.  I would LOVE to get A into an art class or a music class, and she would have an absolute blast, but we just can't afford that extra money going out every month.  I knew the local library did story time in the children's department, but I found out that it's actually split up by age groups.  Also, it's free.  A and I ventured out on Monday to check out the 0-2 year old group, and it was a MAJOR hit.

When we arrived, the woman who runs the group, Bonnie, introduced herself, and immediately A gave the biggest smile and relaxed.  There was another woman there as well who helped out with different things, but I didn't catch her name.  I wrote A's name on one of the name cards and Bonnie asked her to stick it on the board in the front of the room.  She thoroughly enjoyed putting her name up there and taking everyone else's off.  There was music playing, so while we were waiting for the group to start she decided to show off her dancing skills.  She opened up very quickly and enjoyed being around the other kids.

It wasn't too boisterous, which helped her confidence, I think.  I'm pretty sure all but one of the kids was younger than her.  There were also a couple of small babies, which she thought was awesome.

They start out reading a story, and then alternate between singing songs and reading.  A just kind of walked around, looking at the other kids, and occasionally would walk up to see what was going on in the books.  There was a parent-child reading time where they gave each parent the same book and we read to our own kiddo.  The one they chose was actually one that we had already previously checked out for A.  It has pictures of animals and little swatches of fur that the kids can feel and a squeak button for the mouse.  She kept bringing them up to me to read to her again and again.

After that, they have a time period where the kids can play and the parents can do this scrapbook type project and connect with other parents.  They bring out crates of different toys and a ball pit for the more mobile kids and take turns holding the babies so the parents can work on the scrapbook.  It's basically a three prong folder that is decorated for the child and then each week there are different things you can use to make a new page to add for that day.  It will be a good memory type thing when she gets older.  The words to the songs they sing are also included so you can sing them at home.

We will definitely be going back.

In the main lobby.

"Mommy!  Fan!"

Walking and reading.

Sharing her book.

"I think I'll follow her."