I’ve signed up for Baby Time at the Union City Library. It’s a 4-week (once a week) “parent-participation” program :
The Union City Library Baby Time, from 10:30 – 11:30 a.m., is a fun introduction to books, songs and games for our youngest Library patrons, and an opportunity for the parent to make new friends and socialize.
Space is limited to 20 adult/child pairs, one child from birth – 15 months per adult as each child needs an adult lap to sit on. Attendance at all four meetings is highly recommended.
I’m creating this post because when I first signed up for the activity, I really had no idea what it would be like – it would have been nice to get a little more info. (I’m sure I could have just called the library and asked…)
Although the program is scheduled for a full hour, the baby-centered activity really runs for half an hour (to accommodate the child’s short attention span), with an extra half hour for play time and for parents to chat with one another. In that first half hour, we sing different songs with interactive elements (bounce, tickle, jingle bells, etc.), “read” a book, etc. The songs vary from week to week, so I’ll post today’s schedule below:
Opening Song: “Say Hello”
Bounce: “Humpy Dumpty”
Song: “I’m Passing Out the Bells” (with Rhythm Instruments)
Song: Down By the Station
Jingle and Stop (to get your child familiar with the concept of “stop”)
Time to Put Away (to return the rhythm instruments)
Tickle: Round and round the garden
Finger Play: Roly Roly
Book: I See by Helen Oxenbury
Fingerplay: Five Little Ducks
Bounce: Pop! Goes the Weasel
Closing Song: Goodbye Song
It’s a great way to get your child familiar with a more structured environment – we don’t have structured play time at home (which is probably obvious to all the other parents in the Baby Time group who see my son crawling around everywhere). Which brings me to the next point – everyone is very understanding if your child has a short attention span and refuses to sit down and just wants to crawl around. It’s been helpful to learn more songs and activities and to socialize with other parents/babies. And best of all, it’s free!
They run this program once every few weeks, I believe. So keep an eye out at the Alameda County Library website.
Tiny Tots Class – Fremont Parks & Rec // Apr 28, 2010 at 1:23 pm
[...] seem to get much out of the craft time, which is what distinguishes the Tiny Tot Program from the Baby Time Program at the Union City Library, which is free. And I really can’t justify the $85 registration fee for giving me the [...]