STORYLAND: A SENSORY STORYTIME FOR LITTLE ONES

Feather flowers scented with essential oils, knobby rubber balls, colorful musical shakers, and oversized books-these are a few of the sensory treats featured Frederick County Public Libraries' "Storyland" story times for children with developmental delays.

As parents have discovered, story times at the library are a great way to meet other parents and teach babies and preschoolers important literacy and numeracy skills. These popular programs regularly require registration and have wait lists.

But some families may stay away because their children are "different". They might be loud or very active. They might have a hard time focusing or participating in group settings. Or they might look different from other children because of a handicap. Storyland is a great bridge for these families.

Storyland was developed especially for children from birth to age three who are identified by the Frederick County Infants and Toddlers Program (FCITP) as having developmental delays. These could be sensory and motor skill issues, speech delays, or autism spectrum disorders among other things.

In addition to reading books to the children, the librarians also sing songs with movements, use felt boards, rhythm instruments, and tactile tools like textured blocks and balls. They work not only to stimulate and teach the children, but also to give the parents confidence and skills to become literacy coaches for their own kids.

A generous grant from the Women's Giving Circle of Frederick County has allowed Storyland to be available at three FCPL locations. Storyland is open to all families with children ages birth-three years old, not just those involved with FCITP. To register or find more information, call the C. Burr Artz Public Library, the Urbana Regional Library, or the Thurmont Regional Library or visit fcpl.org.