Children
For the sixth year, the Delaware County District Library is partnering with Preservation Parks of Delaware County during our Summer Reading Club. Beginning June 8, you can sign up to win prizes for the Summer Reading Club and you can get your guide for the Preservation Parks Summer Letterbox Adventure. Letterboxing is fun and gives families a unique way to explore some of the great outdoor areas Delaware County has to offer. Guides give clues for what paths to take, where to look, and lead to a hidden letterbox where you can make a craft and stamp the location off your guide.
This year, the Library is also encouraging kids to color their own roaming gnome and take photographs the places you and your "Gnomie" explore. Email them to us at the library at create@delawarelibrary.org or tweet them to our twitter handle @DelawareLibrary and use the tag #DCDLRoamingGnome. Use the video below to help stir up some creativity and see how much fun you can have letterboxing!
We had a magical time at the Fairy Ball at the Orange Branch last night. Over 200 fairies, big and small came out to dance, make crafts, share stories, and cause mischief!
Maybe this is how fairies see the world. Isn't it beautiful?
Tuesday, May 7 @ 6:30 PM at the Ostrander Branch
Wear your best hat and join Miss Aysha at the Ostrander Branch for Mother’s Day stories and teatime! Create a yummy teacup (that you can EAT!) while we celebrate Mother’s Day together! Call the Ostrander Branch to pre-register at 740-666-1410!
Photo courtesy of Disney Family.com
Ever wonder where we get some of our cute ideas for storytimes and library programs? Well today is your lucky day because I am going to tell you one of our favorite places to look for ideas! This site has books, songs and crafts! It is a great resource for anyone who works or plays with kids! Enjoy!
Visit www.squidoo.com/storytime-at-the-library to see some of the storytime secrets!
Research shows that preschoolers spend an average of 32 hours a week with screens. There have been studies that show too much time with screens could be harmful. There are also studies that say kids can learn a lot from TV shows, movies, and video games, as well. No matter what you think about children and screen time, I think we could all agree that a break might do everyone some good. It will help the environment too!
I challenge you, and myself, to make a personalized Screen-Free Week. The official Screen-Free Week takes place April 29 – May 5. Maybe a week is too long and you can only do a few days. That’s OK, too! Sit together as a family and decide your guidelines. Here are mine.
Miss Kelly’s Screen-Free Challenge Guidelines:
No iPad for a week!
Only use the computer/Internet at the Library [and only for work activities – no Facebook (eeek!)].
No TV or movies for a whole week! (Make sure to DVR anything beforehand!)
Only board games – no electronic games for a week.
To kick off your Screen-Free Challenge, read Doug Unplugged by Dan Yaccarino and take a look at some these fun things to do instead of zoning out in front of the TV.
Things to do instead of watching TV or playing games:
Read books and magazines from the Library. (Come on, you knew it would be number 1.)
Build a fairy house. Or a toad house. (By the way, Orange Branch Library is having a Fairy Ball on May 7!)
Go on a picnic. Don’t forget to pack the Frisbee!
Try to do push-ups and sit-ups every day.
Build a LEGO City.
Write a poem. Or two!
Feed the ducks.
Clean out your closets and donate items to Delaware Free Store, Goodwill, Salvation Army, etc.
Put on music and DANCE!
Write your own picture book.
Bake cookies (and bring them into the Library - just kidding!).
Visit all four Delaware County District Library locations. Can you get directions without the Internet?
Complete a puzzle!
Build a fort in the living room with couch cushions and blankets. Have a sleepover in it!
Plant flowers.
Try a new dinner recipe.
Write letters to grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends, etc.
Go on long walks.
Play a board game or cards.
Visit all the local parks in your area.
Blow bubbles.
Rearrange furniture.
Stretch!
Spring clean! [Probably not going to happen at my house ;-).]
For other great Screen-free information and fun activities, check out www.screenfree.org.
When you have met your challenge, let us know your guidelines and how it went!
Join us at the Orange Branch Library on Fridays at 10:00 a.m. for Preschool Storytime! We read good books, dance to fun music and make cool crafts. This storytime is designed for children ages 4-6, but siblings and friends are welcome to come along, too. Every week we read books and do activities based on a different theme. Storytime attendance can help build language, literacy and listening skills all while developing a love of reading and appreciation for the public library.
Do you have what it takes to survive in the world of Ninjago and be a Master of Spinjitzu?
Come to the Orange Library on April 9 @ 6:30 as we work on our Ninja skills and style.
Click here to watch a Ninjago Video and get yourself ready for next week!
Did you know that birding is the number one sport in America? According to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, there are currently 51.3 million birders in the United States alone, and this number continues to grow!
Birdwatching is a fantastic activity for you and your family to do together. Whether you take a walk in the woods, visit a local park, or sit on your porch and watch the birds in your neighborhood, you are sure to be amazed by all the different species you discover!
Click the images below to see a list of birds you can try to find and ways you can attract birds. To make the image larger, click it, then click Actions, then View All Sizes. Share your comments below with what you find!
Bully by Patricia Polacco is a frank, realistic picture book for older kids about the consequences of bullying and the importance of standing up for what is right. The story is set in a modern school where “everyone” has their own cell phone and kids encourage each other to “get a Facebook page.”
Lyla is a new student who thinks she makes a good friend on her first day. Caught up in the whirlwind of making the cheerleading squad, she soon moves on to hang out with the “popular” girls, leaving her new friend behind. When Lyla’s new friends engage in some serious online bullying; she knows this isn’t the group for her. In deciding to distance herself from the clique, Lyla soon becomes the target of their bullying. Tough decisions are made; and characters have to dig deep to confront the ugly things that are happening at their school. Not all choices to do right are easy; and these believable characters struggle with real emotions of embarrassment and betrayal.
The book ends with the question “What would you do?” in large bold letters, provoking further discussion and analysis. This book is a thought-provoking look at things that are happening far too often in schools today.
Watch the author, Patricia Polacco, talk about using this book in classrooms to address anti-bullying:
Saying goodbye is so hard to do. Help us celebrate Miss Suzanne's last story times next Wednesday, March 20 and Thursday, March 21 before she moves on from DCDL and the Powell Branch Library. We will miss her!
