The 4/14/26 playgroup is full. Thank you for reserving your spot in advance.
Playgroup Update at Whiting Library, Reserve Your Spot Here, The number of participants will be limited in order to provide a higher quality of experience.
Play, Connect, and Learn: A Family Place Immersion Experience
With Cara Tyrrell | Week of the Young Child Special Program
Join us for a 90-minute interactive, play-based learning experience designed especially for families with infants and toddlers.
This special session will be facilitated by Cara Tyrrell, a Chester-based early childhood teacher trainer, author, and parent educator. Instead of a traditional author talk, this experience takes place right in our Family Place play environment—where learning happens through play, connection, and real-life moments.
Drawing from her new book, Talk to Them Early and Often: A Caregiver’s Guide to Intentional Language Development for Infants and Toddlers, Cara will guide caregivers through simple, powerful ways to support their child’s development through everyday language.
What to expect:
- Live modeling of intentional language during play
- Opportunities to practice with your child in real time
- Gentle coaching and reflection throughout the session
- A free copy of the book to take home
You’ll learn:
- Why language plays a key role in brain development and emotional regulation
- What intentional language sounds like in everyday moments
- How to adapt your words to your child’s temperament
- How to stay connected—even during challenging moments
Bonus Follow-Up Session:
Join us again on Saturday, May 9 at 10AM for a relaxed author chat with Cara, where you can ask questions and get support as you begin using these strategies at home.
This two-part experience is designed to be practical, supportive, and immediately useful for families.
Our Tuesday Morning Playgroup has grown into something truly special, and I’m so grateful to see so many families connecting, playing, and learning together. It’s been wonderful to watch this community grow!
With that growth, we’ve reached a point where a few changes will help keep playgroup a calm, safe, and engaging experience for everyone—especially our youngest participants.
When playgroup resumes in April, here’s what to expect:
- Attendance will be limited to 6 adults (with their children) per session
- Advance sign-up will be required to help families plan ahead. RSVP here!
- Drop-ins may be welcomed only if space allows.
- Playgroup is designed with children ages 0–3 in mind
- We’ll prioritize reservations for families with children ages 3 and under.
- If space allows, families with older children are always welcome to join.
These adjustments will help create a more relaxed environment where little ones can explore, play, and build early literacy skills at their own pace.
Thank you for your understanding and for being such an important part of this growing playgroup community. Contact me, your Youth Librarian, for more information via youthlibrarian@whitinglibrary.org or call 802-875-2277.
Warmly,
Carrie
Youth Services Librarian
Whiting Library