Play, Chat, Mingle. Repeat Four More Times – Family Place Library

When you think of coming to the library, you think about it being relatively quiet with a cranky librarian shushing you if you dare to talk any above a whisper.  If you come to Liberal Memorial Library on the evening of Thursday, February 27^th (and the following four Thursdays), you are probably going to notice that your ideas of the library have changed. 

Driving into the library, you will notice that it is busier than you remembered it ever being.  So busy that you may have to park on Kansas Avenue or on Sixth Street.  Once you get in the building you will see all the kids.  There are going to be a lot more children under the age of five at the library than normal.  The kids are at the library with their parents for the five-week Parent/Child Workshop for Family Place Library.  Now, when most people hear the word “workshop” they think of lectures, PowerPoint slides and boredom.  It’s kind of a shame that the word “workshop” is even part of the title, because it is anything but boring. 

The format is simple – the library brings out bunches and bunches of toys (so many toys that we have to move all of the furniture out of the children’s area).  Then, children and their parents play for an hour.  It’s a little different than just a play group because each week a different person comes in and mingles with the parents and answers any questions that parents have about their expertise.  They’ll answer common parenting questions, work to get extra help for families that need it and serve as a resource.  You can ask as many questions as you want, or you can just play.  It’s totally up to you.  We have five great professionals coming in for the workshop. 

• February 27^th, Tammy Murillo, the child and family supervisor from Head Start is going to be our guest. 
•  On March 6^th, bring all your nutrition questions, because Jane Eisenhauer from K-State Extension will be answering all your burning questions about kids and what they should be eating. 
•  March 13^th, Holly McCarter is returning again.  Holly is a speech and language pathologist from USD480.  She is also part of the Autism Team. 
•  Jan Nondorf is our guest on March 20^th.  She is the director of PACT, which serves children from birth to three years.  
•  Our final guest is Dora Ponce from United Methodist Mexican American Ministries.  She will be at the Family Place Workshop on March 27^th.

For children, the best part of the program is that it is a place where children can play and interact with other children their own ages.  At first, many of the children are shy, but after the second week, they get to know each other and start interacting with each other.  The best part of the workshop for the adults is that they can talk with other parents. Most discuss problems with parenting, what they love about parents and even share tips and tricks.  Just like their children, the parents also need time to get used to each other.  At first, you probably won’t be super comfortable sharing your parenting problems or tips with others, but you will see the same families and the same children and start to talk with others.  If you don’t believe me, you will have to come and see. 

Family Place Library Parent/Child Workshop begins this Thursday at 6:30.  You can still register for the workshop.  To register, send an email to childrens@lmlibrary.org, call us up at 626-0180 or stop by the library.  Like all programming at the library, the workshop is free for all families.  If you are on social media, like our Family Place Library Facebook page:  www.facebook.com/lmlibraryfamilyplace.