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Through the generosity of the Berryville Walmart Store No. 76 and the Friends of the Berryville Library, a 200-piece set of Imagination Playground blocks have been purchased for the Berryville Library. These blocks will be used with many of the children’s programs.
Walmart store manager Malachi McDonald and Friends historian Carol Ann Engskov were both on hand Tuesday, Feb. 28, to watch the blocks in action at a Pre-K Playtime.
Pre-K Playtime is held at 10 a.m. each Tuesday.
“Watching the kids play creatively with the Imagination Blocks makes me excited for the countless hours of play to come,” McDonald said. “It was fun watching them use their imagination to build bridges, gates, musical instruments, and imaginary tools. They were so creative, and your local Walmart is proud to partner with the Friends of the Berryville Library to bring this learning resource to the library full time. The opportunities of how the blocks can be used is endless.”
These unique sets of foam pieces have been designed and engineered to maximize the developmental benefits of block play. Research has shown that loose-part play encourages the type of self-directed, creative free play that is critical to a child’s intellectual, social, physical and emotional development.
Library staff also have access to online training and an extensive learning library that will help them use the blocks to bring the four Cs of STEM to life for young children: communication, collaboration, critical thinking and creativity.
“In addition to their unique sizes and shapes, the blocks are highly durable and made from closed-cell waterproof foam that’s resistant to mold, mildew, microorganisms and corrosion, offering the library many years of use,” library director Julie Hall said. “
The sky is the limit for the many creative and imaginative things we can do with them, and we are incredibly grateful to our local Walmart store and our Friends for their donations for these blocks.”
Initially, the library plans to use the block set during its Pre-K Playtime, a weekly activity-based preschool program aimed at helping parents nurture a growth mindset and increase their child’s readiness to learn and thrive in school. The blocks also will allow the library to supplement its existing programs with a play space for children and families to explore after Pre-K Storytime on Thursday mornings or any time they visit the library. During the summer, the blocks will be used in special programs for K-2 Berryville School students attending summer school.
“It is exciting to partner with the Berryville Library this summer to offer our summer school students the opportunity to explore and play with the imagination blocks,” said Christy Graham, principal of Berryville Elementary School a Berryville Library Board member. “Imaginative play is one of the best ways for students to learn, and these blocks offer so many growth opportunities in developing a child’s imagination. When children play together, they learn how to get along, express themselves and learn how the world works around them.”
For more information on any of the Pre-K programs, teen, tween or adult programs, call or stop by the Berryville Library at 104 Spring St., 870-423-2323, or you can view a current calendar of events at www.berryvillelibrary. org.
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