When Shana Palmer, First 10 Coordinator for the Sanford School Department, launched her Play and Learn sessions, she designed them with the youngest learners in mind: children from birth to age five and their families. But what she's found is that the program's warmth and energy have a way of drawing in the whole family, regardless of age. ​​First 10 is an early childhood initiative that supports children and families during the critical first ten years of life. Palmer's Play and Learn sessions are a cornerstone of that work. Sanford Pride Ed Tech Terri Gerrish has also been instrumental in assisting with the Play and Learn sessions, which are welcoming gatherings where young children and their caregivers can enjoy story time, music and movement, hands-on educational activities, and the chance to connect with school staff, community providers, and other parents. Fallon Cote, a 3rd grader at Pride Elementary, has become a fixture at the monthly Play and Learn sessions. She shows up on the first Monday of each month, helps Palmer run the activities, and engages with the younger children, which is entirely on her own initiative. Her mom Samantha Mercier brings the whole family, but it's Fallon who has taken on a helper's role and made it her own. When asked about her experience, she was straightforward: "I'd say my favorite part is the coloring. I also like learning as well. That's fun." Her mom has noticed the program's impact on the whole family. "It's always been nice," she shared. "Some of the games that Ms. Shana does on the Wednesday sessions, I had to go home and recreate them." For Palmer, that's exactly the point: building connections and sparking learning that families carry with them long after the session ends. Play and Learn sessions feature themed, hands-on activities blending storytelling, movement, and creative exploration. At a recent dinosaur-themed evening, families stretched a long string down the hallway to measure the length of a seismosaurus, made dinosaur shapes with blocks, and colored. The turnout was one of the biggest the Monday series has seen. The monthly sessions run from 3:30 – 5 p.m. the first Monday of the month in the Pride Elementary library and are open to all Sanford families. The weekly Wednesday morning sessions are held from 9:30–11 a.m. at Springvale First Baptist Church, which generously provides both the space and snacks. Those sessions are co-facilitated by MaineHealth Sanford Pediatrics and Kids Kove Childcare and Early Learning Center, with additional support from Marisa Stam through the John T. Gorman Foundation grant. Both series are completely free and open to all Sanford families. To learn more or sign up, email Shana Palmer at spalmer@sanford.org.

First 10's Play and Learn Program Connects Sanford Families Through Hands-On Learning

Sanford School Department

March 11, 2026

When Shana Palmer, First 10 Coordinator for the Sanford School Department, launched her Play and Learn sessions, she designed them with the youngest learners in mind: children from birth to age five and their families. But what she's found is that the program's warmth and energy have a way of drawing in the whole family, regardless of age.

​​First 10 is an early childhood initiative that supports children and families during the critical first ten years of life. Palmer's Play and Learn sessions are a cornerstone of that work. Sanford Pride Ed Tech Terri Gerrish has also been instrumental in assisting with the Play and Learn sessions, which are welcoming gatherings where young children and their caregivers can enjoy story time, music and movement, hands-on educational activities, and the chance to connect with school staff, community providers, and other parents. 

Fallon Cote, a 3rd grader at Pride Elementary, has become a fixture at the monthly Play and Learn sessions. She shows up on the first Monday of each month, helps Palmer run the activities, and engages with the younger children, which is entirely on her own initiative. Her mom Samantha Mercier brings the whole family, but it's Fallon who has taken on a helper's role and made it her own. When asked about her experience, she was straightforward: "I'd say my favorite part is the coloring. I also like learning as well. That's fun."

Her mom has noticed the program's impact on the whole family. "It's always been nice," she shared. "Some of the games that Ms. Shana does on the Wednesday sessions, I had to go home and recreate them." For Palmer, that's exactly the point: building connections and sparking learning that families carry with them long after the session ends.

Play and Learn sessions feature themed, hands-on activities blending storytelling, movement, and creative exploration. At a recent dinosaur-themed evening, families stretched a long string down the hallway to measure the length of a seismosaurus, made dinosaur shapes with blocks, and colored. The turnout was one of the biggest the Monday series has seen.

The monthly sessions run from 3:30 – 5 p.m. the first Monday of the month in the Pride Elementary library and are open to all Sanford families. The weekly Wednesday morning sessions are held from 9:30–11 a.m. at Springvale First Baptist Church, which generously provides both the space and snacks.

Those sessions are co-facilitated by MaineHealth Sanford Pediatrics and Kids Kove Childcare and Early Learning Center, with additional support from Marisa Stam through the John T. Gorman Foundation grant. Both series are completely free and open to all Sanford families. To learn more or sign up, email Shana Palmer at spalmer@sanford.org.