03/20/2026

Toddlers participate in garden-themed activities for Medina County Board of Developmental Disabilities playgroup

Sara Crawford

LODI — Toddlers decorated spring-themed coloring sheets with dot markers, played in sensory bins and with Play-Doh during the Medina County Board of Developmental Disabilities’ garden-themed toddler playgroup on Friday.

The playgroup is one of many that the board has planned this year for families with children 3 and younger, with or without disabilities. Through the playgroup, the board’s goal is to give young families a chance to meet, form connections, and share the experiences of raising toddlers.

Early intervention specialists attend each playgroup, bringing activities for the kids to interact with based on the set theme, like Friday’s theme of a garden party. 

The playgroup was held for the first time at Lodi Library, 635 Wooster St., on Friday.

“This year, we’re trying to have them at different places throughout the county,” board speech language pathologist Diana Wachsberger said.

In addition to expanding the toddler playgroup’s locations, the board also increased the number of playgroups held. 

Board speech-language pathologist Megan Palasik said they’ve consistently received positive feedback from attendees and are often asked when the next one will be.

Rather than planning them one at a time, Palasik said the board planned last fall to determine where each playgroup would be held and when. This year’s playgroups include: 

May 18, 10-11:30 a.m. at Wadsworth Blue Tip playground, 300 Blue Tip Way in Wadsworth.

July 15, 10:30 a.m. to noon at Fred Greenwood Park, 350 W. Sturbridge Drive in Medina.

Sept. 14, 10-11:30 a.m. at Carolyn Ludwig Mugrage Park, 4985 Windfall Road in Medina.

Nov. 5, 10-11:30 a.m. at Medina Recreation Center, 855 Weymouth Road in Medina.

“It's important to our organization, the Medina County Board of Developmental Disabilities, to create or help facilitate spaces that are welcoming to everybody, regardless of ability,” Wachsberger said. 

To learn more about the board’s activities, visit www.mcbdd.org.