Updated: A local volunteer is bringing song, rhyme, and fun to young children at Cobbett Road Library, helping to boost early language development and social skills.
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Ginny Balchin, who leads the Rhyme Time sessions, has been volunteering at the library.
A former teacher, she’s always had a passion for language development and a love of books and libraries.
Ginny and her husband, who helps out on the library desk, were pleased to get involved when they learned the library would reopen in January 2024, under new operators Awaaz FM.
“We’ve always loved books and libraries, and we’ve walked past this lots of times and just hoped it would open,” said Ginny.
“They said can anybody do Rhyme Time, and I did it years ago when my children were smaller, and I said well I’ll give it a try. And that was it!”
She uses puppets and toys to bring the afternoon to life, and says the focus is on introducing songs and rhymes to children, particularly those under three years old.
“We do songs like ‘Wheels on the Bus’ and ‘Old MacDonald Had a Farm,’ and we go through all the animals…”
Through actions the children learn verbs, and the objects and words to a rhyme help them build vocabulary.
Rhyme Time can also become an opportunity to socialise for parents and children. It’s not uncommon for sessions to extend beyond their allotted half hour into a general chatting session for parents, while kids get stuck in with some colouring activities.
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Rhyme Time is held on many Friday afternoons from 2 – 2.30 pm, which are generally listed on our What’s On pages.
General Cobbett Road Library opening times are:
Monday 3-7 pm
Wednesday 1-5 pm
Friday 1-4.30 pm
Update 13/1/25 Unfortunately it's been announced the last session will be on Friday, January 24 2025. It's hoped that if morning opening times for the library become a reality, which would be more appropriate than afternoons for the age group, then it's possible sessions will resume.