Parents and toddlers do a movement exercise during a recent parent/child workshop at the Norway Memorial Library.

Library workshops for parents/toddlers

NORWAY – The Children’s Department of the Norway Memorial Library will offer a series of workshops for parents or caregivers and children age 1 to 3 as part of its ongoing Family Place Library programming.

The workshops will be held from 10:15 to 11:30 a.m. on five Mondays, April 7, 14 and 28 and May 5 and 12. They will emphasize the role of parents as the first teachers of their children, facilitate early intervention for developmental issues and share strategies for healthy child development.

Each session will include a healthy snack, time for play and an opportunity to talk with local child development professionals, including Anne Campbell, children’s services coordinator, Norway Memorial Library, parenting resources; Karen Toohey, University of Maine Cooperative Extension, nutrition; Shirli Allen-Heald, the Growing Place Preschool, play and cognitive development; Michael Davis, Child Development Services, speech and language development; and Dareth Law, OT, movement and physical development.

Family Place Library is a national program that operates in 200 communities in 25 states. Norway Memorial Library was one of the first three libraries in Maine to add the Family Place Library to its Children’s Department, with funding from the Sandy River Foundation.

In addition to the parent/child workshops, Norway Memorial Library offers parenting resources, books and programming for infants and toddlers, and play and learn educational materials that are available for checking out.

For more information or to register for the workshops, call Campbell at 743-5308 or visit the library Children’s Department.