Caregivers and young children can play and learn together at new workshop series

"We want you to have fun with your kids and play and learn and grow together," said Kids' World Assistant Manager Maria Papanastassiou to the caregivers and children who came out to the Arlington Heights Memorial Library's first family workshop program that began on Friday, Sept. 13.

This five-week series of play and learning is an opportunity for caregivers and children to connect with each another. Stations filled with new toys for children between the ages of 0 and 3 were stationed throughout the Hendrickson Room, with information about the benefits they offer for a child's development. The variety of toys included music, infant toys, manipulatives, puzzles, gross motor, dramatic play, exploration, books, block play and transportation toys.

"We don't have a chance to see other kids, so I thought it'd be great to see kids around the same age as my daughter," said Kana Sugisaki, who attended with her 18-month-old child. "It's [been] fun and very informative. At home it's [harder] to try everything. At this workshop, it's easier to see what kind of toys she's interested in."

"I like that there's a safe place for kids to play," said Monica Federer, who arrived with her three children between the ages of 15 months old and 3 years old. "It's kind of a challenge to find a place where I can bring all of them."

These workshops also provide resources and handouts aimed at connecting caregivers with information from organizations such as Every Child Ready to Read and Northwest Community Hospital.

Each week the series invites different specialists to keep the workshop informative and useful for parents. Several early literacy librarians attended the first workshop, talked with caregivers, and interacted with the children. Future workshops will include visits from a speech pathologist, dietitian and music therapist.

The workshop ended with an interactive singalong led by Papanastassiou and Early Literacy Services' Supervisor Rebecca King.

"Definitely do it," Federer recommended. "It's always a challenge with little kids to get out of the house, but it's a great opportunity to meet people and play and learn together."

There will be four more weeks of fun and play, and it is not too late to register. The series' next meeting will take place from 11 a.m.-noon on Friday, Sept. 20. Future dates and topics include:

• Sept. 20: Speech pathologist

• Sept. 27: Healthy development

Oct. 4: Dietitian

Oct. 11: Music therapist

Register at ahml.info for the Sept. 20 meetup to be registered for the entire series.