When?

All of our sessions are held on Tuesdays, 12:30-2pm

Upcoming Sessions:

• 10 Feb : The Parent’s Hub : Sheridan
• 17 Feb : JumpStart Joeys : Siobhan
• 24 Feb : Occupational Therapist : Bec
• 3 Mar : Storytime with Your Library : Emma
• 10 Mar : The Speech Tree : Frances
• 17 Mar : Explore Therapy : Lauren
• 24 Mar : Music Session : Steph
• 31 Mar : Play Move Improve : Robin

What is it?

More about our upcoming guests:

Sheridan – The Parents Hub
Sheridan will talk about the importance of community and connection, and help carers recognise the extra mental load they carry. She is passionate about supporting families and creating spaces where people can have open conversations about mental health and access support for themselves as well as their children.

Siobhan – JumpStart Joeys
Join Siobhan to discover literacy through play. Learn the importance of Jumpstart Joeys use of synthetic phonics in their classes, utilising research-based, proven programs to set each child up for success with reading and writing.

Bec – Occupational Therapist
Come listen to local mum of two and occupational therapist Bec discuss the role of occupational therapy (OT) and the various toys we would recommend as OTs.  You will learn the basic skills to think critically in regards to selecting the toys most appropriate for your child and to determine how to make games harder or easier for engagement. You will learn the importance of play in building foundational skills to lead to academic success and life skills. You will also learn when to seek assistance from an OT and have your questions answered at the end of the session.

Emma – Storytime
Join Emma from ERL/Your Library for some fun, songs and stories.

Frances – The Speech Tree
At The Speech Tree, we believe in setting our young people up for bright futures. Together, we focus on their strengths, tackle obstacles, and empower them to become the authentic, happy individuals they aspire to be. Frances has been working with children and young people with additional learning needs for over a decade, as an integration aide, tutor and speech pathologist. Frances enjoys working with children and families with complex needs and is passionate about working with children and adolescents who are struggling to engage in learning. Frances is a regular speaker for Autistic advocacy organisations such as Yellow Ladybugs (you can hear her speak on the Yellow Ladybugs podcast on Spotify) and Reframing Autism.

Lauren – Explore Therapy
The Explore Therapy Team enjoy working with children to develop their skills, abilities and independence in communication and activities of daily living. Connecting with families and caregivers is key to Explore Therapy’s approach to supporting children and their families. Lauren enjoys working with children who have a range of strengths, challenges and diagnoses across various paediatric settings. Lauren has a special interest in working with emergent communicators and supporting them to learn reliable and consistent communication strategies to support their communication autonomy. Lauren strongly values the relationships and interactions she has with her clients and with their caregivers to help create a supportive communication environment

Steph – Music Session
Join Steph, a member of our Toy Library Outreach Team as she sings, dances and plays music in this fun session

Robyn – Play Move Improve
Robyn is the founder of Play Move Improve and is passionate about supporting children’s development through movement and play. With a strong focus on building foundational motor skills, coordination and confidence, Robyn works closely with families to help children develop the physical skills they need for everyday life and learning. She believes that movement is key to unlocking a child’s potential and creating positive, engaging experiences that build resilience and self-belief. Robyn brings practical strategies, warmth and a wealth of knowledge to her sessions, empowering parents with simple, effective ways to support their child’s development at home.

Where?

Mt Evelyn Toy Library at Mt Evelyn Public Hall, 44 Birmingham Road, Mount Evelyn

What’s the cost?

Our Play & Development Sessions are completely free for all families, thanks to funding from the Australian Government – Department of Social Services, made possible through Toy Libraries Australia.