By Breanna Lea/WMBD-TV
BLOOMINGTON – Twin City parents no longer have to worry about local libraries being too much for their children to handle.
The Bloomington and Normal public libraries are now hosting sensory story time for children who have autism or don’t like a big crowd. Autism McLean donated sensory bags with noise-cancelling headphones, sunglasses, fidget toys and more.
“I asked how often they go to the library,” Danny Rice, Bloomington children’s librarian, related about an encounter with a mother. “She said they really didn’t because she was worried that it would be too much of a stimulating experience, or that Frank, my nephew, might have some sort of a tantrum, and that she would feel that she was being rude to the other patrons in the library.”
“It’s a little bit calmer, but the big difference is that there is a visual schedule so the kids know what’s coming up next so that all of a sudden we’re singing their favorite song and then we’re doing something else,” Rice said. “We have a cooldown area that’s actually a kids play tent where there’s extra things.”
The program is free and the Bloomington Public Library has its sensory story time schedule posted on its website.
