For the first time, the M. Allan Vogelson Regional Branch of the Voorhees Library, located at 203 Laurel Road, is hosting the Big Play Date event. The event is set to take place on March 29, from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
“It’s going to be amazing,” Emily Moore, head of Youth Services at the library, said.
Moore listed two key goals of the Big Play Date. The first is to show people that a lot of fun can happen at the library, even on a Saturday. The second objective is for caretakers and parents to leave with a plethora of inexpensive ideas and ways to encourage fun and development, for children ages 1 to 3.
“You don’t have to have all the latest educational toys to encourage development in your child. I can’t think of a better way to spend a morning, having meaningful fun with your child and connecting with your community at the library,” Moore said.
The library will have five stations set up with activities that appeal to the different senses, where children and caregivers can play. Activities planned include smelling stations, color sorting and tactile experiences, such as texture balloons and pools of shredded paper.
Moore mentioned being most excited to debut the “shredded paper station,” which will be like a swimming pool of paper for children to be, “crunching and throwing and having fun.”
Parents and other caregivers will not only get to see children engaged in different activities using simple, inexpensive materials such as cardboard boxes, cereal boxes, cracker boxes, and paper rolls commonly found at home; there will also be educational resources available for the adults in attendance.
The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia is sending injury prevention specialist Tracey Hewitt to the play date to discuss how to keep children active but safe during playtime.
Hewitt will be bringing a range of car seats, which will be used to demonstrate proper car safety.
“She’s prepared to be as helpful as possible,” Moore said.
ShopRite Market of Lawnside is sending registered dietician Jessica Molinaro to the play date. Molinaro will offer advice on healthy snacking and eating. ShopRite will provide free, healthy snacks for kids at the event.
Moore mentioned applesauce, “Sammie Jammies” and other fun snacks.
“It’s a play date, but there are some real lessons to learn,” Moore said.
Moore and other staff members will be handing out information cards to each adult guest. The information cards will act as detailed event guides.
Other staff members on hand will be from the Merchantville Library, the Rutgers-Camden Library and more.
“Librarians and other professionals will be available to show parents and other caregivers inexpensive and feasible ways to play with their children that enhance a child’s development,” Freeholder Ian Leonard, Camden County Freeholder Board liaison to the county library system, said.
“It’s a team effort,” Moore elaborated.
The two Voorhees staff members who helped Moore through the process of planning the event are Christen Orbanus and Wendy Ensor.
Moore first saw a similar “play date” discussed in a recent edition of the School Library Journal. First held in a library in Brooklyn, the description of the event and positive feedback convinced Moore that Voorhees could host a similar event, with just as much success.
“It sounded really cool, and like something we could definitely do here,” Moore said.
In addition to the previously mentioned play date activities, the fun-filled day will also include three brief story times hosted by librarians.
Stroller parking and a family break room will be available on the first floor.
Regarding strolling parking among other aspects of the Big Play Date, “we’re prepared for a lot of people,” Moore said.
The event is free and open to any parents and caregivers in the area, but registration is required.
If the event is considered a success, the Voorhees Library staff will be willing to help other Camden County branches have play dates, too, and Voorhees residents would be able to attend any such events.
Another library event will occur on Saturday, March 22. The library is offering something new with Doonya, a fun fitness program driven by the pounding beats and rhythms of Bollywood music. The Doonya workshop will take place at noon. Doonya offers an easy-to-follow cardio, strength-building fitness program, choreographed by instructor Ritu Pandya.
“Doonya dancing is not only fun, but it gives a total-body workout as well,” according to Shyamoli De, the adult services librarian who scheduled the program.
Another special library event planned for this spring is a self-defense for women workshop. Karate master Tom Fitzgerald will help women ages 16 and up learn the most basic yet effective self-defense techniques. The event will take place on May 3, at 1 p.m.
Registration for all of the mentioned library events is free, and available online at www.camdencountylibrary.org, or by calling the branch at 772–1636.
