Family place library a foundation for learning from toddlers on up.
CALIPATRIA — The library is still the go-to resource for learning and thanks to a generous grant, it has become the cradle for nurturing toddlers eager to discover vital basic concepts.
The First Five Imperial, under the auspices of the Imperial County and Families First Commission, was provided a $25,000 grant for the 2016-2017 fiscal year for a Family Place Library. A ribbon-cutting celebration served to honor the new facilities here Thursday. Already in place in Calexico, Heber and now here, it sets aside a corner of the library for children up to 5 years old, to support parents as their children’s mentor. Along with low shelf book racks, stacks specialize in resources on healthy eating, early literacy, toilet training and more relevant topics parents need for children before kindergarten.
Funding originated in 1998 when California voters passed Proposition 10 mandating a 50 cent tax on all tobacco products to help early childhood development. In addition to the family Space, this library also has a Family Workshop with 10 different toy stations with age appropriate toys to get children learning from just a few months old until they are ready for public school.
Beginning April 20 to May 20, there is a workshop series every Thursday from 5:45 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. where parents and children learn together with a resource specialists for nutrition, play and movement, early literacy, speech and language development, noted Crystal Duran, Imperial County librarian, who oversee the county of Imperial Free Library Program.
“Play is a foundation of learning and therefore literacy,” said Duran. “So starting with blocks when they’re toddlers, they build muscles that lead to ability to grasp crayons then pencils and pens. So during the workshop hour series we support quality interaction between children and parents with tips from resource specialists to progress childhood development.”
Calipatria resident Valeria Arguelles, already a volunteer at the library, attended the ribbon cutting with daughters Sophia, 2, and Nicole, 4. Valeria remarked the Family Space allows children to explore a wide variety of toys that helps them learn new skills that will be useful in school. Nicole admitted she had a lot of fun in the workshop.
“I liked playing with the cash register (toy) and I want to come again,” she said.
Crystal Carmelo, attended with son Ryen, 6, and daughter Reanna, 14 months. Ryen especially enjoyed playing with the large plastic fish tank. “Now there’s a special place for the baby, I’ll come more often,” she said.
Helping children and parents Thursday was Rebeca Mendoza, Imperial County librarian assistant. She praised the new workshop play stations because they help parents connect with one another who have the same-age children. “I love the workshop because we can show parents they do not need high tech tools to help children learn,” said Mendoza. “We just need basic toys to help them gain a lot of vital knowledge about the world around them.”
There are over 400 Family Place Libraries throughout the U.S. now. Noted librarian Duran, the value of the space is to promote parents as their child’s first teacher.
“So the library is here to furnish resources to support that effort. We want to essentially raise readers throughout the county,” she said.