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Great FREE library groups and classes for toddlers!

2010-02-08T16:35:00Z

As a Early Intervention provider I have always stressed the importance of peer socialization and group activities for toddlers. Social groups and play dates help infants and toddlers develop speech, language, gross motor, fine motor and social skills. For the last few years I have been repeatedly disappointed by the fact that most families don't know what great programs are available out there.

When my little peanut was 6-months-old I started taking her to the Book Babies in the Winfield area of Crown Point. Yes, I was an eager new mom anxious to get her baby every advantage.... OK... so, she may not have gotten much out of her library program at that age. But she now loves it and I really want to encourage all families to check out these free programs.

There is no greater single thing you can do as a parent to encourage speech and language skills with your infants and toddler than to read to them. A nightly book routine is a great way to teach literacy as well as set up a great bed-time routine. The free library programs are a great way to further encourage literacy as well as address communication and social skills with your little ones!

I know the this is Valpolife....but I have to tip my hat to the Crown Point program. All infants and toddlers are welcome to this program and the library group leaders participate in continuing education and gear their programs to the short attention span that you get with tiny tots. They incorporate movement, music and visual aides to help maintain the little one's attention.

Now, the Valpo program may be great...but as my little peanut isn't two-years-old yet...there are no programs available to her in Valpo.... So to Winfield we go! For those of you who don't know, the Winfield library is located in the same building as the fire department just one block north of 109th ave.

As for the rest of you.... I hope you take advantage of these great programs in either or both areas!

Library Groups:

Valparaiso:

Tiny Tots group for ages 2 to 2 1/2

Toddler Time group for ages 2 1/2 to 3 1/2

call your local library branch for days and times

Crown Point :

Book Babies group for ages 6 months to 2 years

Tot Time for ages 2 to 3

Little Listeners group for over 3

Bellaboo's!

2010-01-21T18:56:00Z

This weekend we had the pleasure of exploring Bellaboo's in Lake Station, IN. (www.mybellaboos.com) This place is fairly new to the area and brand new to myself and my little peanut. My little girl is 18-months-old and just a little too young for so many things yet..... so many things are designed for kids age 2 or 3 or even bigger, but Bellaboo's is JUST RIGHT!

First of all they have a decent security system with wrist bands all the kids and adults wear. Your band is scanned when you leave. There is also a uniformed police officer who sits in a squad car out front. I've been there twice now and there has been a cop both times. I suppose that could be comforting or intimidating depending on who you are!

Inside you will find a very CLEAN facility and I saw many staff members circulating cleaning toys, tables, etc. They have a little cafe and although they don't have a huge menu, they have the toddler favorites and the prices are very reasonable. There are about 10 little rooms each with a theme and with a variety of things for little ones to explore. My little peanut loved the water room. There is a water play table with several levels and lots of water toys. The floor has a skid-proof bottom and your little ones have little coats to put on to keep dry.

We also loved the pretend play areas. There is a pizza restaurant for all the pretend chefs and customers. They have a grocery store and a little house equiped with a kitchen and a dress up area. Although my little girl was a little too big for the pretend part, she loved the pizza toys! Other areas we didn't get a chance to explore include a train room, arts and crafts room, "kid's kitchen," infant play room, and the "Stuffee" toy.

My personal favorite room was the soft play area. This is not unlike what you might find in a McDonald's playland...lots of areas to climb bounce and slide, and also a large ball pit. The big difference is it was very clean. The ball pit is designed with a built in "ball washer" where the kids can put the balls in the chute on one end and watch the clean balls return on the other.

Finally, I encourage parents of children with special needs to check this place out! The staff is friendly and helpful and I even saw them help a family get a little boy to transition out of the train room without a melt down. There are tons of sensory play, motor play, and pretend play activities to engage babies and tots age 6 months on up! I not only plan on taking my little peanut back, but a few clients as well!

Cost is around $5 per kid, and adults get in free on Tuesdays!

Again, I would love it if people emailed me with clubs, groups or other activities to explore!

Jen
jen@speechpath.org

Infant and Toddler Fun at the Valpo YMCA

2010-01-17T02:18:00Z

If you are a Valparaiso resident you surely know there is a new YMCA in town. When my little peanut was 6 months old I eagerly joined the Y to enroll her in swimming class -- babies in bikinis -- what could be cuter?!? Although we enjoyed our time at the "old Y" the improvement in this new facility are awesome for parents of little ones.

For the benefit of anyone who hasn't taken a tour, you must know they now have family changing area with private bathrooms, each equiped with a private shower, sink and baby changing table. Moms--this means no more trying to desperately pull on a bathing suit while a naked toddler visits others in the locker room.. and no more worrying about taking your six-year-old boy in the locker room with you or sending him in the mens room alone... just haul 'em all in one private room together!

Another great addition for little ones is the toddler wading pool. Equiped with fountains and a beach-type entry, this provides little ones with a safe area to splash and play away from the big kids.

As a speech-language pathologist with the Indiana First Steps system I've worked with children with sensory difficulties and kids who have difficulties with new experiences. The new set up with the infant/toddler pool at the Valpo YMCA is a great way to introduce little ones to water!

Welcome!

2010-01-14T20:37:11Z

Welcome to the Look Who's Talking Blog! I am a speech-langauge pathologst and I have worked with children for over 11 years. I have worked specifically with infants and toddlers for 5 years. Now that I have a toddler of my own, I want to reach out to other mothers, fathers and grandparents in the area to serve as a resource for intant and child develpment and as a source of fun and educational activities in the area. Living in Valparaiso, Indiana, I have found that there are great activities, destinations and resources available. Unfortunately, I have also found that most people are unaware of all the great things out there for their kids. I hope that with this blog and with our website, I can change that!

Please email me with any new activites you have found or clubs you have formed!

Check back often!

Jen.