Toddler Time is Fun for All

The Knox County Public Library in downtown Barbourville hosts two fun events each Tuesday morning, and April 1 was no exception. Tummy Time is geared toward infants between one montha and one year of age, and meets at 10 a.m. While Tummy Time had no attendees this week due to Spring Break and travel-favorable weather, Toddler Time was a hit. The program, which begins at 10:30 a.m., usually involves quite a decent sized gathering of regular attendants. Today, again because of the weather, and it being Spring Break, there were much fewer attendants, though the families that did attend spoke highly of the events, which the KCPL hosts every Tuesday.

Mother Mikayla Burnett walked in at opening time, with young Norie Burnett on her hip, and articulate little Lilith Burnett holding her hand at her side. They said it’s been a while since they’ve been able to attend, but they’re glad they were back. Another family arrived, with mother Dara Carmack and toddler Isla Jane Carmack excited to get the events started. Isla, a confident and self-assured 3-year-old, made instant friends with Lilith Burnett, who is 3-and-a-half and who had much to share with the group.

Library clerk and event planner Karen Gibson kicked off Toddler Time by reading a book, When Spring Comes by Kevin Henkes, and showing the group the colorful photos on each page.  When one page mentioned eggs turning into chicks, little Lilith was excited to share that she “has lots of baby chicks,” and she calls one Pinky. Lilith’s baby sister, Norie, a sweet and inquisitive 1-year-old, had nothing but smiles and curiousity on her face.

Following reading was time for art. The ladies at the library had prepared some large pieces of paper, taped to the floor, on which the toddlers laid while their parents dutifully traced their entire outlines, after which the little ones had the opportunity to paint.

Dara Carmack, a regular attendee of the library’s Toddler Time Tuesday events, had a message she vehemently wanted to make known to all: “It’s Spring Break, so we’re missing a few very consistent faces that enjoy being here but are not here because of Spring Break. This is a valued asset in our community. There’s not much you can do with Littles this age where they are truly engaged and taught, and these ladies are lovely…So to have something geared toward this age, that’s educational and gets them out and amongst their tiny little peers, that’s wonderful.”

If Tummy Time and Toddler Time are events that interest you, the library staff would love you see you on Tuesdays at 10 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. respectively.