‘The social aspect is just so important’
STRONG SOCIAL ASPECT
Library’s Babies and Books program equally good for mom and baby.
Sharon, Lois and Bram music plays in the background while the moms and babies come into the Glace Bay Library children’s room.
The babies immediately make their way to the toys, babbling away as the moms chat and catch up since the last time they met for Babies and Books two weeks earlier.
Library clerk April Jessome, who oversees the free program, said this is how each session starts. Over the three years the library has offered the program, Jessome said she can see Babies and Books is as good for baby as it is for mom.
“Every time when they are leaving, they say, ‘We are so appreciative of this program,’” said Jessome who celebrated her 20th work anniversary at the library in October.
“It’s definitely a positive.” Babies and Books is a free program held at many Cape Breton Regional Libraries for children ages newborn to 17 months. A chance for babies to be introduced to reading and language skills while getting to socialize with other infants, the group also has social benefits for the mothers as well.
Darlene Glover is one of the mothers in the recent Babies and Books group. Her daughter, Kyra Glover-Jewells, is 15 months old and they have been in the group for a year.
She said she and the other moms in the group have started doing things outside of Babies and Books meet ups and jokingly they call themselves the “Mom Squad.”
“There’s a big group of us that get together, like we all went to Hanks Farm and that was so nice,” said Glover, who also has an 18-year-old son.
“I just wish there were programs like this when my son was young. Or, if there were, that I knew about them.”
Glover said the moms decided to start doing activities together outside of Babies and Books because they felt seeing each other every two weeks when the group meets wasn’t enough.
And, beside the social aspect the moms get, being able to talk with parents going through the same challenges and milestones as they are, they all recognize how good it is for their babies to be making friendships as well.
“Kyra is going to go to school with these kids, she might have a job with these kids. She could even marry one of these kids,” the continuing care assistant said.
“The social aspect is just so important.”
The benefits of the program are so important to Glover that she asked her bosses for the night shift at Victoria Haven nursing home so she and Kyra could attend.
Jessome said when she was asked to oversee Babies and Books she knew it was good for the babies but never thought it would be so beneficial for the mothers as well.
“I never thought the moms would take the club outside of Babies and Books,” she said.
“I think they even help each other out with babysitting and things. All that from starting this program last year … That’s pretty cool.”
Registration is required for Babies and Books at the Glace Bay Library and people can do so by calling them at 902-8498657. Although the program in Glace Bay doesn’t usually fill up like the one at the McConnell Library, Jessome does think it could.
“A lot of people don’t realize what we have here (at the library),” she said. “And it’s all free.”