LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) — The Lima Public Library is offering a variety of indoor activities designed for families looking to stay active and engaged during the winter months.
Several families gathered Tuesday morning for the library’s Baby Toddler Play Time, a program geared toward children from birth to age 2. The activity provides young children with an opportunity to begin developing socialization skills by interacting with others their age.
The library supplies toys and opens its auditorium to give children a safe, open space to play. A librarian is also present to guide children as they learn early skills such as sharing, communication and cooperative play.
Rebecca Gunter-Poling, children’s librarian, said the program helps children build social and emotional skills that will benefit them as they grow.
“I've had a couple kids come to this program where they're learning how to share toys. Because some kids, they're either an only child or they're the youngest child, and they don't know really how to share. So this program forces them to interact with other children, so they learn how to share with toys, how to communicate. Hey, I want this. Hey, I want that. Stuff like that. It also helps them bonding wise, because some kids might actually end up in the same classes, because as they do get older, they go into preschool and stuff like that.”
Upcoming Baby Toddler Play Times are scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 3, and Tuesday, Feb. 17. Baby Toddler Story Times will be held Tuesday, Feb. 10, and Tuesday, Feb. 24, while Family Story Times are set for Friday, Feb. 13, and Friday, Feb. 27. All programs begin at 10 a.m.
