Many parents teach signs to their young children before they are able to speak. If you'd like to try signing with your baby, we have materials that can help you get started. Below are some suggested books and DVDs that can be found in the Parenting section in the Children's Department.

Baby sign language basics: early communication for hearing babies and toddlers by Monta Z. Briant

Baby signing: how to talk with your baby in American sign language by Andrea Fixell and Ted Stafford

Baby sign language for hearing babies by Karyn Warburton

Baby talk: a guide to using basic sign language to communicate with your baby by Monica Beyer; with a foreword by Alan Greene

Parents, are you looking for materials to make sure your kids don't lose important skills over the summer? Check out our books of Summer Bridge Activities for preschool through sixth grade. You can also check out the Spectrum Series for test prep that covers math, language, social studies, and science. And don't forget about the Summer Smarts series that will help your kids review what they've already learned, and get them ready for what's to come in the fall. You can find all these books in the Parenting section in the Children's Department.

Hey Parents,
Summer is here and the kids are home. Are you already dreading those two words, "I'm bored"? Well check out the parenting collection in the Children's department. We have a variety of topics in this collection with parenting advice, as well as books to give you tips on summer activities to do with your children. The green hour will help you get your kids outside and Summer smarts for cool kids will help you encourage thinking skills while entertaining at the same time. Family Travel & Resorts is also great if you're going on a vacation.

Don't want to be cooped up in the house this summer? Play some cool outdoor games and keep boredom at bay. Need ideas to get you started? Check out the list of books below. You'll find new ideas for games along with some old familiar favorites.

Run, jump, hide, slide, splash: the 200 best outdoor games ever by Joe Rhatigan & Rain Newcomb

Get out!: outdoor activities kids can enjoy anywhere (except indoors) by Hallie Warshaw with Jake Miller; photography by Julie Brown

Let's go outside!: outdoor activities and projects to get you and your kids closer to nature by Jennifer Ward; illustrations by Susie Ghahremani

Sidewalk games by Glen Vecchione; illustrated by Blanche Sims

Wednesday, March 30
7:00-8:30PM in the Community Room

Join in the discussion and learn from our panel as we talk about cyberparenting, bullying and protecting our kids online. Panelists include P-CEP teens, Erin MacGregor, Plymouth High School’s associate principal; Will Burgess, a GrowthWorks counselor; Sara Boritzki, Canton Township Police Department’s school resource officer; and Ellen Pare, Canton Library’s adult services librarian. The discussion will be moderated by Laurie Golden, CPL marketing and communications manager, and Frank Ruggirello Jr., Plymouth-Canton Community Schools spokesman.

I don't know about you, but with all the snow that fell today, it sure doesn't feel like spring to me.  Would you rather be thinking about warm weather and playing outside? If so, Sunny Days and Starry Nights will help. Flip through this book and find lots of ideas for fun stuff you can do outside. Plan some outdoor activites for yourself, and before you know it, it will actually be nice enough outside to do them!