by Ben Shrag

On the last day of 2020, Ames Public Library rang in the new year with our annual family-friendly Noon Year’s Eve celebration. With a countdown ending at noon instead of midnight, families can get all the fun of a New Year’s Eve countdown and still get a good night’s sleep.

Unlike previous Noon Year’s Eve celebrations, however, this year we met online. We fired up the cameras in our Storytime Room (which has been temporarily converted into a make-shift sound stage and filming studio) and greeted each other through screens.

We weren’t sure how an event like this would translate to an online gathering. Would the technology work for us? Would the kids tolerate more time on zoom? The giant grins on the kid’s faces told us it the adaptation was a success. We danced, we toasted, we shared a little conversation. Even though safety required us to be remote, for that 20 minutes we were grateful to celebrate, see each other, and be together.

That’s the spirit we’d like to keep as we enter into 2021. And so, we at the Ames Public Library, want to invite our younger patrons and their grown-ups to a new program called “Play Together: Music and Movement.” Because we miss you. We miss seeing your faces. We miss the chatter that comes with a group of kids. We miss talking and playing. We miss our library community.

In “Play Together: Music and Movement,” we want to provide children and adults with together time by the use of low-stress, fun interactions that enhance early literacy skills, build the library community, and offer children a place to be seen and heard.

What can you expect from this program? In terms of schedule, the program will last around 20 minutes and will meet once a week for four weeks.  In this strange and unpredictable year, stability is soothing. Seeing the same faces returning over the weeks will help build a richer, warmer experience for all involved.

Content will be gentle and fun, focusing on songs, fingerplays, and silly actions. We want this storytime to be active and enjoyable. Our hope is that everyone smiles the whole way through!

To enhance our play even more, all participants will receive their own bag of program supplies, which are your child’s to keep. (You’ll receive instructions for picking up your supply bag after you register for the event.) When the presenter pulls out a bean bag or a colorful scarf, your child can pull theirs out too! Having a common set of supplies will help us enjoy rich sensory play and give a greater sense of “togetherness”.

Expect to interact! In this program, your child will be seen and your child will be heard. There are few things as affirming as simply being listened to. Your child will have the chance to contribute their thoughts and be heard by the library staff.  And having everyone join in together will make moving, singing, and playing even more fun!

Plan to participate. You are a vital to this experience and we want you to be a part of it too.  Your presences help us create the sense of safety and togetherness by joining in along with your child.  Your participation will enrich the experience for all and help your child feel safe and loved.

These are unprecedented times, but early literacy skills will always have value. At the Ames Public Library, we want to provide time and space for you and your child to play together.

Please join us in this interactive experiment. You can sign up by visiting our library calendar of events and searching for “Play Together: Music & Movement”.  Registration is required.

And, if you haven’t already, you can find our online storytimes on our YouTube channel or catch them live on Facebook. You can also dial our Story Line for stories, jokes, songs, and more at (515) 239-5636. We hope to see you again soon!