By Jennifer Quam

The Mother Goose program has flown into the McBride and District Public Library for the summer and is being instructed by certified Goose and Librarian Margaret Griffiths.

Margaret said the program is open to children ages zero to four and their parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and caregivers.

The program focuses on the pleasure and power of using rhymes, songs, and stories.

“The biggest benefit of this program is the socialization for the youngsters and the adults,” said Griffiths. “The parents also get to learn how to have a really good one-on-one relationship with their child as they learn stories and songs that they can do independently with their child.”

Griffiths said that through early learning, language and pre-literacy skills are greatly improved.

During a Mother Goose program children and parents meet with the instructor for one hour. The program encourages parents to use language with their children from infancy on. Each session concludes with a story and a healthy snack that has been sponsored by Marketplace IGA, Beanery 2, McBride Bigway, and the Library.

Mother Goose also promotes self-esteem and the development of social skills in children.

“Parents gain confidence as learners and parents,” said Griffiths. “And they can see that they can positively affect how their children behave and learn.”

Children aged zero to two can be involved with Mother Goose at the Library on Mondays and Wednesdays and children ages two to four are welcome on Tuesday and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 11a.m.