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Tot Time Returns in March!

02.11.2022 By: Megan James

If you had a baby or toddler in Addison County before 2020, you likely have fond memories of community playgroups: eating Ritz crackers with cream cheese in the Memorial Baptist Church basement; zooming around on tricycles at the Middlebury Rec Center; playing with homemade playdough at Weybridge Elementary School; dancing to Raffi songs in the community room at Helen Porter Rehab.

When the pandemic struck in March 2020, it abruptly put an end to playgroups, open gyms and drop-in storytimes, cutting off an essential social and emotional outlet for families with babies and toddlers.

In the nearly two years since then, families have found other ways to connect. In the early weeks of the pandemic, local children’s librarians stayed engaged with their adoring fans with lively virtual storytimes. Many shifted to outdoor in-person gatherings in the summer, and some hardy librarians — lookin’ at you, Bixby Library and Lincoln Library — have managed to stay outdoors throughout this winter.

Others, such as Ilsley, have shifted to limited-capacity indoor gatherings that require pre-registration. Lawrence Memorial Library gave themselves a little more breathing room by moving their in-person storytimes into Holley Hall. But those were put on hold with the arrival of the omicron variant earlier this winter.

Some determined families have taken to studying the Middlebury Parks & Rec gym use schedule to find open windows when they can enjoy the space.

The playgroups run by the Addison County Parent/Child Center at various area church basements are on hold indefinitely. And as long as local schools are still restricting entry to the general public, playgroups that used to be held at Mary Hogan and Weybridge Elementary aren’t an option.

But there’s some good news: As COVID case counts continue to drop, and a vaccine for children under 5 is expected later this month, some local organizations are making plans to restart drop-in programs.

Here’s what we know so far:

Middlebury Parks & Rec is planning to start up its much-loved Tot Time open gym session on Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. starting March 9. “If all goes well in March we will return to two days a week in April,” wrote Superintendent Dustin Hunt in an email. Masks will be required for unvaccinated children under age 5.

At Ilsley, Children’s Librarian Tricia Allen is starting up another limited capacity storytime session in March (register here). “After April break, I am tentatively planning to have 3 or 4 drop-in storytimes until we take a break from programming in mid-May to prep for summer,” she said, noting that summer programming — Preschool Art in the Garden, Book Bike Storytime and Bounce and Play Storytime — will all be drop-in style.

In Bristol, Lawrence Memorial Library Director Coco Moseley and Children’s Librarian Marita Schine are hoping to bring back two weekly in-person storytimes the week of March 14, “as long as things keep trending in the right direction re: COVID infections,” wrote Moseley in an email. Those storytimes will take place in the library children’s room on Mondays and Thursdays at 10:30 a.m.

Additionally, LML recently received funding from the Children’s Trust Fund to offer programming for parents and caregivers of children under 1. ”We are still working on the details of those programs, especially how to safely bring infants and babies together,” wrote Moseley. “I hope to launch the programming this summer, but I’m hesitant to move too quickly given the ever-changing landscape. Stay tuned!”

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Megan James

Upcoming Events

May
19
Thu
10:30 am Bixby Storytime @ Bixby Memorial Library
Bixby Storytime @ Bixby Memorial Library
May 19 @ 10:30 am
Join the Children’s Librarian in the Bixby Library’s Community Room for stories, songs, and rhymes. This program is designed for preschool-aged children and their caregivers. Kids of all ages are welcome!
10:30 am Bristol Storytime @ Lawrence Memorial Library
Bristol Storytime @ Lawrence Memorial Library
May 19 @ 10:30 am
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10:30 am Tot Time Open Gym @ Middlebury Rec Center
Tot Time Open Gym @ Middlebury Rec Center
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Burn through some energy with tricycles, hula hoops and other ride-on toys in the town gym!
12:00 pm New Moms Connection Group @ Zoom
New Moms Connection Group @ Zoom
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Chat with other local moms who are in their first year postpartum. This weekly Zoom group is hosted by Alison Underwood, counselor and social worker at Porter Women’s Health. Call or email her for consent [...]
3:00 pm Midd Summer Market
Midd Summer Market
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6:30 pm Sunset Picnic, Live Music & Games @ Otter Creek Gorge
Sunset Picnic, Live Music & Games @ Otter Creek Gorge
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May
20
Fri
8:30 am Mary Hogan Playgroup @ Mary Hogan Pre-K Classroom
Mary Hogan Playgroup @ Mary Hogan Pre-K Classroom
May 20 @ 8:30 am – 10:00 am
Playgroup is open for all children ages birth-5 years of age and their families on Fridays (following the ACSD school calendar). A light snack will be provided. Please call or email Deb for more information.   
10:30 am Lincoln Storytime @ Lincoln Library
Lincoln Storytime @ Lincoln Library
May 20 @ 10:30 am
Little ones and their caregivers get together for stories and songs.
1:00 pm Homeschoolers Open Gym @ Middlebury Rec Center
Homeschoolers Open Gym @ Middlebury Rec Center
May 20 @ 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Come play at the town gym with other homeschool families.
3:30 pm Create Your Own Book Trailer @ Ilsley Library
Create Your Own Book Trailer @ Ilsley Library
May 20 @ 3:30 pm
What are book trailers? Book trailers are similar to movie trailers, but they promote books instead of films. Teens are invited to come film their own book trailer with Kurt Broderson from MCTV and Kathryn! [...]
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