Elizabeth recommends the Rockton series by Kelley Armstrong. A great, atmospheric, mystery series about a small town filled with secrets. Elizabeth said all the characters are interesting and the book is filled with suspenseful situations.
The book is available for check-out at the library and is available on Libby as an ebook and audiobook.
Thanks to the Mulvane High School Esprit de Corps for singing our song! Make sure to stop by our drive-up window to pick up your holds, return a backpack, or send a fax/make copies. But we are open inside too! We want to see you in any way you feel comfortable!
The snow is gone and the sunshine has come back! Yay!
DON’T FORGET TO PICK UP YOUR TAKE HOME CRAFTS FOR THE WEEK! This week you and your child will be making your own Mindfulness Jars!
This week we learned about mindfulness. Mindfulness is just a fancy word for being aware of what is happening right now. Helping young children practice mindfulness is extremely beneficial to them. It helps with emotional regulation (calm down when upset), focus, relaxation, better sleep, kindness to oneself and others, and many other benefits as well. It is never to early to start being mindful, and odds are it will help you too!
For our books this week we read “Calm Monsters, Kind Monsters, A Sesame Street Guide to Mindfulness”, by Sesame Street. We also read “Hurry Up! A Book About Slowing Down” by Kate Dopirak.
This link will take you to a very easy to do activity that any young superhero will love, activating their “spidey-senses”!
Here are some songs you can share with your children to help practice mindfulness through music:
https://bitsofpositivity.com/free-mindfulness-songs-for-kids/
Check out this link to find simple, engaging mindfulness activities you can do with your Preschool aged kiddos: https://blissfulkids.com/category/exercises/
Other simple ways to practice mindfulness:
Go for a walk, stopping every few minutes to be still and quiet, then talk about what you and your child heard, smelled, & saw
Color quietly or with relaxing music quietly playing
Blowing bubbles slowly, paying attention to the breath in through the nose and slow breath out through the mouth to make the bubble
Watching clouds
Squeeze different parts of the body for 5 seconds then slowly let go with big breaths
Have your child give you a “weather report” to tell you how they are feeling. Do they feel sunny? Cloudy? About to rain?
We talked about the Letter Z this week. We have reached the end of the alphabet! We have also reached the end of the month. This is the last week to take advantage of $3 Winter Wednesdays at the Sedgwick County Zoo!
Some other Letter Z ideas:
If you can’t make it to the zoo, make the zoo come to you! A fun activity to do with your children is to pretend you are different animals you would see at the zoo. Talk about each animal and then draw them.
Learning how to use a zipper is not only an important skill but it can be a letter Z activity too.
Next time you are in the car go on a Zero hunt. How many zeros will you find on signs and license plates?
Make Zero monsters! Draw a large Zero for your child and let them turn it into a monster. If you have googly eyes, even better!
The Library will be opening late tomorrow, Tuesday, February 16th at 12pm (noon). This will give both the City and library staff the opportunity to clear the parking lot and walk ways. Please stay safe and warm in this frigid winter storm! Thank you for your patience!
Note: Additional delays may occur if “rolling power outages” continue tomorrow.
DON’T FORGET TO PICK UP YOUR TAKE HOME CRAFTS FOR THE WEEK! This week we are making President Abraham Lincoln’s cabin!
Happy President’s Day! Monday, February 15th was President’s Day. A really easy way to explain to your child why we have this holiday, is by telling them it is the day that America celebrates and honors all of the Presidents the United States has had.
For Storytime we read “Duck for President” by Doreen Cronin, and “We’re Different, We’re the Same” by Bobbi Jane Kates & Sesame Street.
Here are some ideas to help you and your littles celebrate President’s Day:
Make an Abe Lincoln Mask! This idea is so cute and goes great with our take home Lincoln Cabin craft. Find out how to make your Abe Lincoln mask here: https://www.allkidsnetwork.com/crafts/presidents-day/lincoln-mask-craft.asp
Head on over the Kix cereal’s website for some fun and easy President’s Day craft ideas made with materials found around the home: https://www.kixcereal.com/4-presidents-day-crafts-for-kids/
Here’s a craft that even your littlest ones can do! Check it out here: https://www.thingstoshareandremember.com/presidents-day-abe-lincoln-handprint/
The Letter of the Week is “Y”. There are a lot of simple, educational you can do with the letter Y.
Go to the dollar store and buy a Yo-Yo!
Write a big Y on blank paper and have your child place cheez-its on it to make their own Y. Or you can use cereal pieces, buttons, whatever is handy!
Get out the play-do and make 3 snakes, then turn the snakes into a Y.
Use pieces of Yellow Yarn to make a Y. Sound out yellow, yarn.
Buy some plain yogurt and place a small amount of yellow food coloring in it. Then get out a baking sheet and pour some yogurt onto the sheet. Let your child use their fingers to make Ys in the Yellow Yogurt.
