Toddlers and their caregivers come to the Haddonfield Library year-round to enjoy books, music, dancing and making new friends. Toddler Time has been running for about a year-and-a-half, along with Rockabye Readers, a reading program for babies aged 9 months to 2 years.

Dorothy Peppard of Cinnaminson, who developed and directs the programs, joined the library staff 17 years ago.

"The whole baby learning thing didn't come about until about five or six years ago," she said. "At first I thought it would have been much better to read to your baby at home, but then there was a demand for it. I got a couple books and did online research.

"I used the information that was out there and my own instincts and put something together. I found out through trail and error what works," says Peppard, who has a master's degree in library science from Drexel University.

The two programs cater to children's specific developmental stages.

"Toddler time is more structured," says Peppard. "It's 2- to 3-year-olds and the chairs are placed in front of the screen. The activities are more structured. We get up, we do a song, we do a finger play and then we have a little literature-based movie." 

While Toddler Time is open to unlimited particpants, Rockabye Readers is a registration-only program with a limit of 12 babies.

"What we do with Rockabye Readers is a little different, we have a welcome song, and we use very simple board books that are very short," Peppard says. "We have bubbles and then we end with a goodbye song. We do alot of very beginnings of socialization with the kids."

The aspect of socializing isn't limited to the children, however. Brenda Robbins of Haddonfield enjoys the comradery she has found among the other parents and caretakers.

"We all text each other about coming to the library, and, in warmer weather, we take the kids to the park afterwards."

Her son, Tyler Robbins, 2, when asked his favorite thing about coming to Toddler Time, grinned enthusiastically and said, "Emma!" a friend he has made at the group.

Each session is based on a theme, chosen by Peppard, such as the most recent, "Things That Go." Peppard reads a book about the theme, followed by a game and then a song. Big smiles abounded at Thursday's session, as "She'll Be Coming Round The Mountain" was played and several children danced and clapped with gleeful abandon.

Wendy Welson sees another benefit to the sessions as well.

"Since we've been coming here, we definitely use the whole facility more now," she said. "We rent movies and take out books more often."

Kelly Haslans, caretaker for Audrey Walker, 3, and her brother Andrew, 1, enjoys seeing her charges learn new skills and concepts, such as interacting in a group setting and listening. Haslans has met two other nannies through the group and received a weekend babysitting job as well.

"I like that everyone doesn't neccesarily live here in Haddonfield," she said. "There's kids from other towns so Audrey gets to meet a wider range of children. The flow is very, very good. I also like that they get introduced to technology and the computers are set up for their age group."

"She loves the playtime with the other kids," says Haddonfield resident Miriam Broderick, 70, of granddaughter Kaleigh, 2. The Barrington toddler also enjoys doing crafts. "I have put some of her crafts on the Christmas tree," Broderick said with a smile, as Kaleigh concentrated on her puzzle.

The library also offers a preschool storytime for children ages 3-5, and Peppard has a gut instinct about when a child is ready to progress to the next age group's program.

"I can tell when a child is ready for Toddler Time because they get a little restless and don't seem as engaged in the activities of Rockabye Readers," she says.  "I'll suggest they move up to Toddler Time and somehow, they adapt almost magically."

The best part of running the programs, Peppard says, is the surprises they bring. "They entertain me more than I entertain them," she says. "It stays very fresh because it's kids. They're just...new and they're funny in the way they see things. It's always a surprise and it's always wonderful."

For more information contact the Haddonfield Library at (856) 429-1304.