Birds in Libraries
In addition to all the places we have memberships and the nearby nature centers, Birdie spends a lot of time in libraries. Libraries are, of course, a northeast Ohio staple and there are many to choose from near us. When M first started taking Birdie to the libraries, they tried out a wide variety of different library story times both in Lakewood and at various county library branches. The range of various children's library sections in the area is just as diverse as the range of nature centers, but after some initial wandering we've pretty much settled on two events at the Madison branch of the Lakewood library. On Thursdays, we go to story time with Miss Kate, and on Friday we go to craft time with Miss Kelly.
I haven't made it to a Thursday story time yet, but I did take Birdie to the Wednesday story time at the Lakewood main branch. We decided that librarian was a little "low energy" (seriously, how can you not be super excited to read books to toddlers?) so we opted for Thursdays. As a bonus, Miss Kate actually lives on our street, which blew Birdie's mind when she made that connection. Birdie has also started copying Miss Kate's verbal pattern of saying "fantastic" which is a lot fun.
I have taken Birdie to craft time a couple of times. Craft time is basically just like story time but with a small arts and crafts projects after the stories and songs. We now have a substantial collection of Birdie's artwork hanging in the living room. Miss Kelly looks like the platonic ideal of a punk rock librarian (tattoos, dyed hair, super fun glasses) and is super fun. And if it's nice out, there is a playground right behind the library.
M likes it when we both take Birdie to the library because I can watch Birdie while M looks for children's books. Since Birdie's taste in children's books is pretty consistently terrible (or at least, the books she picks usually aren't books we like to read out loud to her), running interference directly improves the quality of the books we read at bedtime. Birdie is more likely to pick whatever franchise book is on display in the children's section.
I haven't made it to a Thursday story time yet, but I did take Birdie to the Wednesday story time at the Lakewood main branch. We decided that librarian was a little "low energy" (seriously, how can you not be super excited to read books to toddlers?) so we opted for Thursdays. As a bonus, Miss Kate actually lives on our street, which blew Birdie's mind when she made that connection. Birdie has also started copying Miss Kate's verbal pattern of saying "fantastic" which is a lot fun.
I have taken Birdie to craft time a couple of times. Craft time is basically just like story time but with a small arts and crafts projects after the stories and songs. We now have a substantial collection of Birdie's artwork hanging in the living room. Miss Kelly looks like the platonic ideal of a punk rock librarian (tattoos, dyed hair, super fun glasses) and is super fun. And if it's nice out, there is a playground right behind the library.
M likes it when we both take Birdie to the library because I can watch Birdie while M looks for children's books. Since Birdie's taste in children's books is pretty consistently terrible (or at least, the books she picks usually aren't books we like to read out loud to her), running interference directly improves the quality of the books we read at bedtime. Birdie is more likely to pick whatever franchise book is on display in the children's section.