Meg Walkley from Humboldt First Five was the special guest at the First 5 Playgroup at the Garberville Presbyterian Church on Monday.
Walkley, who has a Masters in Childhood Development, is also known as “Omni” and writes a column entitled “Ask Omni” in the Hum Kids Newsletter. She also goes on the road and visits playgroups throughout the county. On Monday she was in Garberville to answer questions from parents and discuss parent concerns.
One of the questions that came up at the Garberville playgroup concerned sibling rivalry.
”One of the things everyone needs to do,” Walkley says, “is to just realize how normal that is. If we think about us being in relationships as adults with any other person as intensively as our children are with each other, it’s not like it’s a smooth road. We as adults sometimes learn how to better control ourselves rather than slap somebody because we want their toy.
”And as I was saying to the parents, when you have a personality mismatch, like a really spirited child and a child with a more laid back personality, just the mismatch in temperaments is going to cause some conflicts. The more laid back child will have to be encouraged to stand up for him or herself, and the more fiery temperament will need some skill building around how not to grab everything right away.”
Walkley says that conflict is just part of the human experience.
She invites parents who are feeling isolated to take part in a playgroup.
”We have them in many pockets of the community,” she says, “particularly in Southern Humboldt. I grew up in Shelter Cove so I know what it’s like to have been an isolated child. So use playgroups to connect yourself to the community.”
There is a playgroup in Shelter Cove and also in Miranda, Salmon Creek, and Casterlin. To find out if there’s a playgroup near you, call Lisa Henninger at 707-923-1147. If you live in a neighborhood without a playgroup, talk to Henninger about forming one.
The First 5 Playgroups at the Garberville Presbyterian Church will feature Buddy the T. Rex from the new PBS show, Dinosaur Train, on Monday, Nov. 16.
REDWOOD TIMES PHOTO BY MARY ANDERSON
Twins Luc and Owen play together at the Garberville Presbyterian Church First Five Playgroup on Monday. The boys are 19 months old and have been coming to the group for two months now. The playgroup offers stimulating play for children and support for their parents. It’s open to all children in the area, no appointment necessary. Just show up at 9:45 a.m. on Mondays.
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