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Maternity and Parental Leave
Making the Most of Time with Baby By Gwen Morrison
The local libraries in London, where Macdonald lives, sponsor a program called Books for Babies. This program is a huge hit amoung its participants, both young and old. Books for Babies is a fun-filled half-hour of stories, songs and rhymes for children from birth to 18 months of age.
"We have stories, finger play and lots of music," says Cheryl Horton, a library assistant at a branch in London. "When the programs are done, the moms hang out and chat. It is a good time for all."
Tracy Prosser, a library assistant at the same branch in London, says moms love it so much, they dread going back to work. The focus of the program is teaching literacy to your children as young as possible, and the bonus is all the fun!
"The new moms learn rhymes and songs to sing to their babies," says Prosser. "They just love getting out of the house and being with other moms. It is a great way for interaction between the children. The babies love playing games with all the other babies."
"After about the fourth or fifth month of having a new baby in the house, I got in the groove," says Mccaskill. "With having an entire year off, now I could do a lot more. We joined the Books for Babies, took some swimming at the local YMCA and also joined in on the Gymboree Play and Music classes."
Having a full year off to enjoy a new baby provides a wonderful opportunity for parents to get to know their child and enjoy the moments that slip away so fast as they grow. Whether you take the time to learn a new skill, brush up on an old hobby or just play with the wee one be sure to savour every minute.