Parent and Child 2-gether

The James V. Brown Library is proud to be Pennsylvania's first Family Place Library

About Family Place

The Family Place project consists of a network of children's librarians nationwide who believe that literacy begins at birth, and that libraries can help build healthy communities by nourishing healthy families.

Hallmarks of the Family Place

• Outreach to families and caregivers;
• A Storymobile to visit daycare's and centers;
• A multimedia early-childhood collection that includes books, videos, toys and computers;
• A multimedia parenting collection for caregivers and early childhood professionals; and
• A Family Place coalition of local leaders and related professionals who steer families to the library, advise the library on programming, and advocate for the library in other arenas.
• How does Family Place impact families?
  By offering parents and caregivers of very young children a welcoming and supportive environment that promotes healthy child development, family literacy, and access to community services.
• How does it impact libraries?
  By working with schools, clinics, and other agencies, Family Place positions libraries as anchors of their communities and as centers for lifelong learning.

Parent/Child Programs

4 and More is a program for parents and their children who are 4 and 5 years old, not yet in kindergarten. The workshops will run for 5 weeks and focus on such readiness skills as math, letter knowledge, writing, phonological awareness, listening and following directions and fine motor skills. Each session will consist of activities, books, songs, movement, and a make-it take-it activity for parents and children to take home. Call 323-7705 to register See Children's Page for dates and times.

Parent/Child Workshops better known as "123 Play With Me" and "321 We're Not Done."

These five week series for parents of children ages 1-3 allow the parent and child to experience a one hour and fifteen minute "free play" session featuring books, toys and art supplies for kids, while resource professionals from a variety of local organizations and agencies circulate the room and answer questions. Also available are handouts and fliers pertaining to parenting issues and resources.

123 Play With Me

This is a five week series for children ages 1-3 and their parent or caregiver. Each week parents and children will play, read and do age appropriate art activities for one hour and fifteen minutes. In addition, parents have an opportunity to talk with community resource professionals about such topics as nutrition, speech and hearing, music and movement, parenting issues and literacy. Space is limited, so registration is required. Check the schedule for specific dates.

321 We're Not Done

This is the continuation of 123 Play With Me. Participants in this series are graduates of the 123 Play With Me sessions. The community resource professionals for this series are a pharmacist, a dental hygienist, an early childhood education specialist, a pediatric nurse practitioner and a parenting expert. Space is limited, so registration is required. Check the schedule for specific dates. These workshops are free to the public and require advanced registration. To register call 323-7705.

For graduates of the 1,2,3 Play with Me and 3,2,1 We're Not Done, we have a new playgroup program, that allows parents and children to continue meeting on and informal basis. Check the schedule for specific dates. You must register for this program.

But that isn't all we offer, we have other special support programs for families like.

• Adoption Support Group No registration required. Support group for families who have adopted or are considering adoption. Program held the third Tuesday at 6:30 - 7:30 pm in the Family Place. Childcare available.
   
• Autism Spectrum Disorder Support Group
  Support discussion for families of children with ASD. For program times check the schedule for specific dates.
   
• GAPAC—(Grams and Paps as Caregivers)
  A support group for grandparents who are parenting their grandchildren. For program times check the schedule for specific dates.
  
  For more information about any of these programs, please contact Beth Smith at 323-7705
  
  Did you know about our DISCOVERY PACKS for families?
  
  
  
  These activity packs just have to be seen to be appreciated. We have over one hundred packs for children in three age ranges (Preschool, Primary, Intermediate).

Fun themes, great activities and fun for the whole family. Adults may check out one Discovery Pack at a time. They may be renewed if available and you may reserve them.