Sensory storytime

Parents and carers of pre-school children with special needs are invited to take part in a new type of storytime at libraries in Bankstown and Chester Hill – Sensory Storytime.

A supported group for children living with disability or developmental delay, Sensory Storytime is designed to help children learn through movement, music, stories and sensory activities.

Siblings are also welcome, and will give local families the opportunity to share ideas and meet specialists including speech pathologists and occupational therapists.

Mayor Khal Asfour said there are many families in CBCity who have children with special needs who might otherwise feel daunted bringing their child to a mainstream library program.

"What is great about Sensory Storytime is it gets everyone together – kids, parents, carers and siblings are all welcome to meet one another and share their experiences," Mayor Asfour said.

"It is a one hour program with stories and songs but packaged in a way that is friendly for children with sensory needs and in smaller groups than your typical storytime session.

"We want to provide high quality services to the community therefore we have enlisted the help of experts and specialists whom you can approach with questions at the end of the storytime session.

"I think it’s fantastic that such an innovative program is being implemented in our city – inclusiveness and diversity is what the City of Canterbury Bankstown is all about."

Sensory Storytime will be held every Wednesday at Bankstown Library & Knowledge Centre and every Tuesday at Chester Hill Library & Knowledge Centre – bookings are essential.

More information about Sensory Storytime can be found here.