Are you looking for something to do with your baby during the cold, gray days of winter? Does it seem like all the activities you find are too “old” for your infant?
If so, look no further than the downtown Farmington branch of the Farmington Community Library, which runs a fantastic Baby Time program. Twice per month, babies and their parents can engage in interactive songs and stories, led by a puppet-bearing librarian, which mesmerized five-month old Elliot. My son loved the fast-paced mix of singing and stories, especially the parts that were a workout for mom: like when I bounced him on my legs along the bumpy road and he popped up in the air to chime the time like a cuckoo clock. The program is educational as well as fun: the librarian leading the activities mentioned that nursery rhymes help children develop what’s known as “phonological awareness,” or the ability to hear distinct words within sounds…a process necessary for reading.
Elliot won’t be reading on his own anytime soon, but taking him to Baby Time at the library is all part of my plan to instill a love of literature from a young age. So far, it seems to be working!
Following the structured part of the program, parents can stay for “social time” while their little ones play with the colorful toys that suddenly appear. Especially since he’s not in daycare, this is a fantastic opportunity for little Elliot to interactive with others his own age.
Baby Time at the Farmington library is held the first and third Thursday of the month at 10:30 (at least through April) on a drop-in basis. The program is targeted at babies from birth through 16 months. Check the library’s website for more details.
