It’s finally spring! As warmer weather approaches, we can expect plenty of rain. Many people associate rain with long days stuck indoors, but encouraging kids to play out in the rain is a great way to keep them active and expand their imagination.
Are you looking to incorporate more STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics) activities into your child’s life? Have them design and build boats out of aluminum foil, then race them down streams or see if they float in a puddle. Let your kids experiment with the shape of the boats to see which float the best. Then add twigs and little rocks to see how much weight each boat can carry. When you’re ready to warm up inside, you can read “Things That Float and Things That Don’t” by David Adler. This book is full of illustrations and simple definitions for complex subjects such as density and buoyancy.
For more nautical STEAM-inspired fun, be sure to sign up for the Wiggle-Bot Boats program at the Columbia Public Library on Monday, April 23. Kids age 8 and older will have the opportunity to design and build a motorized robot boat. And, even better, they get to keep their creations! Registration begins April 10.
Let’s face it, sometimes graphic novels can get a bad rap. It’s a common misconception that graphic novels have no educational merit or are simply a waste of time. However, graphic novels actually promote many literacy skills that other books simply cannot.
Here’s a short list of the benefits of reading graphic novels:
Graphic novels help kids differentiate emotions using facial expressions and body language.
Have a reluctant reader? Graphic novels can pique the interest of kids who can’t find the fun in traditional books.
For kids who skim pages and read too quickly, pictures can slow them down so they soak up more details.
For visual learners, graphic novels can have more of an impact. They can learn to connect story points and infer things just from visuals.
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.
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:
Add glue to your bowl.
Add water to glue, and stir until they are combined.
Stir in the baking soda.
Add food coloring and glitter. (We used fine glitter. It doesn’t show up well in photos, but it looks really pretty up close!)
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.
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.
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”
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!
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.
down streams or see if they float in a puddle. Let your kids experiment with the shape of the boats to see which float the best. Then add twigs and little rocks to see how much weight each boat can carry. When you’re ready to warm up inside, you can read “Things That Float and Things That Don’t” by David Adler. This book is full of illustrations and simple definitions for complex subjects such as density and buoyancy.
What you need:
Stir in the baking soda.
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.
