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Neighbors | Jessica Harker.Children and their families listened to MetroParks employee read "This is a Sunflower," on Aug. 17.
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Neighbors | Jessica Harker.Sunflowers were given out to the children who attended the monthly Tales for Tots event at the Mill Creek MetroParks Farms on Aug. 17.
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Neighbors | Jessica Harker.Brenda Markley read "This is a Sunflower" to the children and their families gathered at the Aug. 17 Tales for Tots event.
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Neighbors | Jessica Harker.Brenda Markley read "This is a Sunflower" to the children and their families gathered at the Aug. 17 Tales for Tots event.
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Neighbors | Jessica Harker.Elaina Vecchione used magic noodles to create a sunflower on Aug. 17 at the monthly Tales for Tots program.
By JESSICA HARKER
The Mill Creek Park hosted its monthly Tales for Tots event on Aug. 17 at the MetroParks Farm.
The event, which is offered for 2-3 year-olds, focuses on a different theme each month.
The August theme was sunflowers.
“It’s a chance for them to get out. Parents are always looking for things for them to do,” said Brenda Markley, the MetroParks employee who ran the program.
During the event, the children started by doing some crafts.
The MetroParks supplied coloring sheets of sunflowers as well as pictures using self-sticking noodles for children to complete.
After each child finished their crafts, they all gathered in a circle to read a book.
This month Markley read “This is a Sunflower,” to the children and their parents gathered.
At the end of the event, the children were given a sunflower of their own to take home.
Markley also encouraged parents to take their children to see the sunflower patch growing at MetroParks Farms.
“It’s the start of the socialization and it is also the start of getting more comfortable and aware of things to do in their area,” Markley said.
Along with socialization, Markley said that one of the biggest benefits of the program is it allows parents of younger children to meet each other.
“If they’re throwing a temper tantrum and not having a good day all of the parents understand,” Markley said. “It’s a great event for parents and children.”
Four children attended the August event, though the group has a maximum number of 10.
To attend, parents must preregister at www.millcreekmetroparks.org.