Play Dough-Palooza Recap

Posted on Monday, May 21, 2018 by Megan

Last week, the Columbia Public Library hosted a lively group of kiddos and parents for our Play Dough-Palooza program. But don’t worry if you missed out on the fun! Using the printable dinner plate template, you and your little one can make a delicious play dough dinner, snack, or brunch. (It’s never too early to learn about the finer things in life.) For extra sensory sensations, you can even make your own scented play dough. See the recipe below. While it may be appealing to the eyes and nostrils, I wouldn’t recommend eating your creations, since you might surpass your sodium intake for the year.

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Summer Reading Rocks!

Posted on Thursday, May 17, 2018 by Molly

Summer Reading 2018

What’s the best part about summer? More time to read! For school-age children in particular, these lazy, hazy days are ideal for diving into books that they may not get a chance to read during the school year. Summer is also a great time to explore award-winning books. Be sure to check out DBRL’s many children’s book lists for inspiration. Equally important, summer reading helps keep reading skills sharp!

Of course, for parents and guardians, the beautiful weather and plethora of outdoor activities can make reading a hard sell this time of year. But don’t dismay! We’re here to help.

First and foremost, beginning May 30, visit one of our DBRL branches or stop by a bookmobile, and sign up for our free “Libraries Rock!” Summer Reading program!  Kids and teens who complete their reading challenge receive a free book and will also be entered into our drawing for some awesome prizes.

Live in a rural area? Children and teens in grades K-12 who attend school in Auxvase, Hallsville, Harrisburg, Hatton, Holts Summit, Kingdom City, Mokane New Bloomfield, Sturgeon or Williamsburg can participate in Summer Reading through our “Books by Snail” program.

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Glitter Slime

Posted on Monday, March 26, 2018 by Kristy

Spring is here, which means lots of rainy days ahead. If your family is stuck inside during a downpour (and you’re not afraid of a bit of a mess) then try out this glitter slime recipe. This slime is super shiny, stretchy, squishy and sparkly! And it’s pretty easy to make, so include your kids in on the messy fun of creating this recipe.

glitter slime ingredients  What you need:

  • 1/2 cup white glue (Clear works too!)
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 tablespoon saline solution
  • Food coloring and glitter
  • Bowl
  • Spoon

What you do:

  1. Add glue to your bowl.
  2. Add water to glue, and stir until they are combined.
  3. glitter slimeStir in the baking soda.
  4. Add food coloring and glitter. (We used fine glitter. It doesn’t show up well in photos, but it looks really pretty up close!)
  5. Add saline solution and stir vigorously to form the slime. This takes a few minutes. You’ll know it’s ready when it starts bubbling and pulling up from the sides of the bowl.
  6. Play! Explore the fun, sticky texture of the slime. It’s a bit messy, so wear clothes you don’t mind getting a little grubby. Store your slime in a baggie or reusable container.

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Why We Bring Our Children to Story Time

Posted on Thursday, March 22, 2018 by Mitch

It’s one thing to know that Daniel Boone Regional Library offers fantastic events and services. It’s another thing to know what makes them so special. Let me share a story with you.

5 month old Rebekah, Nathana and Mitch Clay
5-month-old Rebekah, Nathana and Mitch Clay

My wife and I had just moved to Columbia, MO with our 5-month-old daughter. We had loved the libraries where we moved from and knew that we needed to check out DBRL whenever we had the chance. Our daughter had an attachment to books as soon as she made acquaintance with the world.

A random evening opened up for us, so we brought the whole family to a baby story time. That night, Paula (that evening’s story time leader) focused a theme around “noisy sounds.” We had a blast listening to the books and singing library classics such as “Zoom, Zoom, Zoom” and “Webster Waddles.” But then Paula got out some toys and everything changed. Continue reading “Why We Bring Our Children to Story Time”

Clink, Clank, Clunk…The Playful World of Onomatopoeia

Posted on Thursday, March 15, 2018 by Molly

puppy

It’s soooo much fun to say! But what is an onomatopoeia? Well, here’s a poem with a couple of great examples:

A Dog Saw a Cat on a Lonely Roof

A dog saw a cat on a lonely roof.
He greeted her with a friendly ‘woof.’
The cat looked at him with a hopeful ‘meow.
“I’d like to come down but I don’t know how.”

~From funnyrhymes.blogspot.com

Merriam-Webster defines onomatopoeia  as “the naming of a thing or action by a vocal imitation of the sound associated with it (such as buzz, hiss).” In the poem above, “woof” and “meow” are onomatopoeias.

Books that feature onomatopoeias are not only fun to listen to but are also fun to read. Consider the classic “Mr Brown Can Moo! Can You?” by Dr. Seuss. Whether reader or listener, it’s hard not to laugh when Mr. Brown sounds off with everything from “moo moo” and “boom boom” to “sizzle sizzle” and “blurp blurp!”

At DBRL, we have a wide variety of books that feature onomatopoeias. Here are a few (from a very long list!) you can enjoy with your children.

Really Feely Board Books

Posted on Monday, March 12, 2018 by Erin

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.

Page of Really Feely Baby Animals
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!

Rainbow Foam Bubbles

Posted on Thursday, March 8, 2018 by Katie

bath toysBubbles 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 Game Night!

Posted on Monday, March 5, 2018 by Josh

board gameBoard 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:

  1. Creativity – Games often let players to come up with creative ways to work towards victory.
  2. Imagination – Embracing the fictional world of a game can be a lot of fun.
  3. Critical-thinking – Games allow you to analyze the best ways to reach a goal or solve a problem.
  4. Cooperation – Many games demand communication and teamwork for success.
  5. 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!

Kids & Parents Newsletter

Posted on Monday, February 26, 2018 by Kristy

Kids & Parents logo

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!

Interested? Click here to sign up.

Bring Story Time Home With Storyline Online

Posted on Thursday, February 22, 2018 by Mitch

Storyline Online logoAs 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.

That’s why I’m so glad that I’ve found Storyline Online!

"Harry the Dirty Dog" read by Betty White
“Harry the Dirty Dog” read by Betty White

Storyline Online an award-winning program presented and produced by the SAG-AFTRA Foundation. Through their website and YouTube channel, Storyline Online offers high quality videos of well-known actors reading cherished children’s books. Continue reading “Bring Story Time Home With Storyline Online”