What would happen if you mixed a board book with a lots of bumps and glitter? It would become a really feely book! You may have read books such as “That’s Not My Teddy” by Fiona Watt and “Kitten” by DK where readers can feel one texture on each page. DK publishers took it to the next step with the new Really Feely series. Try out “Really Feely: Baby Animals” or “Really Feely: Farm” by Polly Appleton for multiple sensory experiences on every page.
Pages from “Really Feely: Baby Animals”
These books have a combination of bumps, textures, fluffy patches and glitter, and they can be great for children with sensory concerns. The reader is encouraged to explore the textures by the text. Check out more textured books at a library nearest you!
Bubbles are great fun for kids and adults alike! The following rainbow foam bubble recipe is magical, and mixing the colors can be a learning experience for your kiddos. This foam is a quick to make and easy to clean. You do use soap to make the bubbles, so little ones who tend to put stuff in their mouths should have close supervision.
What you need:
2 tablespoons of dish soap (Liquid bubble bath will also work.)
1/4 cup of water (If you have hard water you might want to use bottled water instead.)
Food coloring or liquid watercolors*
Large bowl
Hand mixer
What you do:
Combine the dish soap, water and color in a bowl and mix on the highest possible setting for a minute or two to make foam, which will form stiff peaks when ready. You can make several batches, adding a new color to each. Pour the foam out into a bathtub, sink or large container. Kiddos will love exploring the colors and texture of the foamy bubbles. For extra fun, add some waterproof toys to the foam.
* Food coloring can stain clothing and potentially hands, feet, hair, etc. You might want to explore liquid watercolors — they don’t stain, their colors are vibrant, they mix well and they are inexpensive.
Board games are an incredible tool that can be used to gather the family for some screen-free fun. Beyond just having a good time, board games feature tactile and analytical aspects that can help develop useful life skills.
Here’s just a small number of skills that board games help promote:
Creativity – Games often let players to come up with creative ways to work towards victory.
Imagination – Embracing the fictional world of a game can be a lot of fun.
Critical-thinking – Games allow you to analyze the best ways to reach a goal or solve a problem.
Cooperation – Many games demand communication and teamwork for success.
Sportsmanship – If taught properly, kids can learn to become good losers and mindful winners.
I highly encourage you to check out BoardGameGeek for an amazing list of games ranked specifically with families in mind. Or if you’re looking for a free alternative, your library has you covered! For young children who are learning basic concepts like colors and the alphabet, you can check out Learning Prop Game Kits. Each kit features a simple, unique game that comes in a convenient zip-up pouch. Follow this link to our catalog to put one on hold!
March is National Nutrition Month, and this year’s theme is “Go Further with Food.” The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics wants to inspire kids and adults to choose foods that are healthy for their bodies as well as for the environment. Teaching kids about food and how to prepare it is a great way to build healthy habits and learn lifelong skills.
The library has many cookbooks specifically geared towards kids. Check out some of these titles, and enjoy some tasty treats with your child!
“Our Food” is filled with fun pictures and short poems, answering important questions like, “What are fruits, and why are they so colorful?” or “Why do I have to eat my vegetables?” Your child will learn all about the different food groups and how they fuel our bodies.
This cookbook not only provides enjoyable recipes but also teaches kids how to grow their own produce! Growing your own food gives your family a deeper understanding of where your meals comes from. It is safer to eat, produces less waste and is a great way to spend time together. Continue reading “National Nutrition Month”
We do lots of cool things at our library branches for kids, parents and caregivers. DBRL hosts hundreds of programs for kids every year — from story times to magic shows. We also continuously get new books and other new library materials for our youngest patrons.
To get the word out about the fun things we do and have here at the library, we have created a bimonthly Kids & Parents email newsletter. If you sign up, you’ll be the first to know about our library programs, resources and maybe even a few library secrets!
As a parent to three little ones, I’m always searching for new resources to pull out at a moment’s notice. There are times that play dough and building blocks don’t excite enough, and I resort to media. When I do, I want to make sure that what I’m putting in front of my kids is safe and quality entertainment.
On February 1, the Southern Boone County Library hosted a stuffed animal sleepover for ten of our closest friends. Everyone got along really well, but some of our group got a little mischievous! A couple of our furry pals learned that the photocopier is not the most efficient way to take a selfie and had to go to time out. Some of the stuffed animals read books while others took turns on the iPads. They also played games and had snacks, though the beaver preferred chewing on pencils to popcorn. After everyone got a sip of water, it was off to bed and sweet dreams!
Valentine’s day can be a tricky day to explain to kids. My favorite way to find descriptions of love is through books!
“Love” by Emma Dodd is a beautiful picture book that explains that love is so much more than hugs and presents. In her book, Dodd says that “Sometimes love is quiet and it needs no words at all.” After reading the book, can you think about ways your family shows love to each other?
Another great discussion starter is “Pete the Cat’s Groovy Guide to Love” by Kimberly and James Dean. What makes this picture book unique? It’s filled with quotes, and Pete then applies all the quotes to himself. Can you create a quote about love that describes your family? Which one is your favorite and why?
Hoopla has always offered eBooks at the picture book level, but now they have added another awesome feature: read-along eBooks! With this new feature, kids can now follow along as a narrator enthusiastically reads each individually highlighted word. This is perfect for kids who are learning a new language or for kids who can’t quite finish a book on their own. Hoopla has a lot of up-to-date content, including favorites like Star Wars, Pete the Cat, Finding Nemo and Disney princesses. With over 100 books to choose from, there won’t be a shortage of awesome content to entertain your child while they learn how to read.
You can log into Hoopla using your library card. Simply type “read-along” into the search bar to access the read-along picture books. You get 10 checkouts a month completely free, so take advantage!
There is something magical about being read to, which is why I absolutely love listening to audiobooks. The library offers many ways to listen to your favorite audiobooks, including audio CDs, downloadables on the Hoopla or Libby app and Playaways. Playaways are easy to use, preloaded audiobooks, and they are great for kids! They are durable and come with a lanyard, so kids can listen to them on the go. Playaways can be used with standard headphones or they can be plugged into external speakers and car adapters. I enjoy using Playaways when walking to class or completing chores.
We have a wide variety for every reader. Check out one of our newer playaways, “Short” by Holly Goldberg Sloan, or listen to a classic like “The Velveteen Rabbit” by Margery Williams Bianco.
For a complete list of children’s Playaways available at our branches, click here.
Bubbles are great fun for kids and adults alike! The following rainbow foam bubble recipe is magical, and mixing the colors can be a learning experience for your kiddos. This foam is a quick to make and easy to clean. You do use soap to make the bubbles, so little ones who tend to put stuff in their mouths should have close supervision.
Board games are an incredible tool that can be used to gather the family for some screen-free fun. Beyond just having a good time, board games feature tactile and analytical aspects that can help develop useful life skills.
