Auckland dads are invited to a fathers PlayDad StoryTime.

The event is 10 am on Sat 21st Feb at Epsom Community Library, 195 Manukau Rd, but please be early if you’d like a park!

This very special half hour for toddlers will include ‘active movement’ and is the first of what is hoped to be a regular event – at least once a month if attendance demands.

Presented by David Tucker these sessions are based on the successful positive movement groups, part of a SPARC initiative well received at many Auckland libraries recently.

Father and Child Trust helps host similar dad-friendly toddler ‘Jingle and Jive’ sessions on Mondays in Onehunga.

Designed for 0-2 year olds, but suitable for all toddlers, they encourage bonding and movement learning as well as memory and 3D development, through music and fun.

Service Leader Anna enthuses, “The children who come back to the library rush up to David and tell him about something they remembered.

A few of them are obviously not used to seeing a guy or hearing him read stories. They stare a lot, at first, and may take a while to get used to his voice. He had to do a lion’s roar yesterday and all the little boys loved it, they kept roaring around the library afterwards.

Several other Auckland libraries are intending to be there on the day, taking notes and hopefully scheduling similar events citywide.