"Today storytime Mom? Today storytime?" This is a question I wake up to almost every morning. Since we moved back last year one of my favorite fun activity finds has been St. Louis County Library's Lap Time at Daniel Boone. It is held at the Daniel Boone Branch, located on Clarkson between Manchester and Clayton, every Thursday morning from 10:00-11:00 a.m.. This is kind of a drive for me currently but worth every precious earned dollar on gas to get there.
We have tried other closer story times but let me share why this one is worth the distance. The instructor used to be a preschool teacher and you can tell. She is excellent. She does about 15 to 20 minutes of sharing stories with fun corresponding songs in between. There is lot's of wiggling and moving during the structured part (because anyone who know my daughter knows she does not stop moving or talking. So this is key for us!) She also throws in her weekly regular songs that my daughter lights up every time she hears because of the rote memorization and familiarity. Once the activity has stopped, perfectly timed to little attention spans, the real fun begins. A cart is rolled out with every kineshetic learner's dream, toys and free reign. It is 45 minutes of beautiful controlled chaos at its best! On average, 30 little two and unders running around playing and learning how to socialize and share. The kids are in an enclosed area and have free for all on all the toys that are spread out. It is a great time for both kids and moms who so desperately need some adult interaction.
After we have helped clean up, a few friends and I have started making it a tradition to pack up the kids and head down Manchester to Vlasis Park for a picnic lunch and water play time. We spread out a blanket under a huge oak tree located conveniently next to both the playground and water attraction and chow down. It is timed almost perfectly to where as soon as the kids are fed and getting restless, we can strip them down to diapers, lube them up with sunscreen and the water feature starts up. It comes on starting at noon and operates in 20 minute intervals during the summer months. Just the right amount of time for a two year old :) The beauty of it is that when it shuts off it's the perfect apparent reason to pack it up and head home. No tantrums, no screaming for more playtime because there is no more water. They have no idea it comes back on in 20 minutes and no need to inform them. They are so exhausted from all the overload of playtime they crash when they get home for some much need mommy rest time as well!
I have come to really look forward to my Thursday routine. Worn out kids and great mommy conversation!
No comments:
Post a Comment