Tag Archives: Katherine R.

Exploring Kits

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You might have noticed a new addition to our website – Kids Kits. We’ve had requests for a list or even a menu of kits, and it seemed like the perfect time, especially now that our kits can be put on hold.

We have three main sections of kits – Early Learning, Beginning Reading, and STEAM. Here’s a few of my favorite kits from each section. If you need a kit recommendation or want to learn more, our librarians are happy to help.

 

Early Learning: Princess

Newly updated with fun bedtime books and even a Princess cookbook! The cape fits all ages – yes, even I can put it on.

 

 

 

Early Learning: Black and White

Our babies aren’t born with fully developed eyes. They slowly gain the ability to see color and focus on objects farther from their face. Providing high contrast black and white books is a great way to engage our littlest ones, especially during activities like tummy time!

 

 

Beginning Reading: Hot Dots

Hot dots are a fun way to learn words and sounds. With the smart pen enabled, kids can press the dots on each page, and the pen will tell them whether their guess is right.

 

 

Beginning Reading: Word Family Tiles

These fun tiles can be used to make different words. Best of all, they’re magnetic –– you can put a few on the fridge, dishwasher, or even a cookie sheet and let your kids sound out words to their hearts’ content.

 

 

STEAM: Capacity and Volume

Okay, serious question here: What kid doesn’t like playing with water? This fun, approachable kit lets your kiddos learn more about capacity and volume with hands-on measuring tools.

 

 

STEAM: Dinosaur Fossils

This is by far one of our favorite, best-circulating kits. Take a look at fossil replica teeth and claws, make rubbings of fossil arrangements, and learn more about dinosaurs. It’s the perfect kit for your budding paleontologist.

 

 

Modern Cross-Stitch at the Library

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I will be the first to admit that I did not read during the stay-at-home order. Weird, right? I’m a librarian, an avid reader, and I even had a large stack of books to work through as well as a well-stocked home library. But there’s something about existential dread that, at least for me, put me off from reading. I didn’t craft, either. I usually have at least one cross-stitch project that I am invested in, along with tatting and the occasional sewing project. I did no cooking experiments (beyond learning how to make baguettes), no archery, no wildflower identification, no wine-making – none of my usual spring activities. To be honest, aside from working from home, I spent my days playing Animal Crossing on the Switch.

I’m finally getting to a point where my hobbies have become fun again, and the first thing I’m really interested in is Cross-Stitch. I’m working on a project I found on Etsy – I love anything nature-related, and my current favorite artists are 2x2StitchArt and CozyEveningStitch. If you’re looking for a free option, DMC has tons of free patterns available on their website. I am on the prowl for a modern cross-stitch book that has these kinds of patterns in it, but for now the best patterns I can find have to be purchased individually online.

There are still plenty of options for me at the library, though. We have a few fun modern cross-stitch pattern collections available through the library – The World of Cross-Stitching, a monthly magazine, is available on Overdrive. They provide a ton of patterns each issue, and have a great mixture of different styles of cross-stitch. If you enjoy stitching a few “bad” words and sassy phrases, Subversive Cross-Stitch is jam-packed with the kinds of patterns my grandmother would never have touched. Featuring phrases like “Don’t be such a baby,” “You can’t make me,” and “You lie like a cheap rug,” you’ll need a darker sense of humor to appreciate this book and its many profanities. Whimsical Cross-Stitch, available on Hoopla, features a ton of cute animals, block patterns, nature –– the list goes on, with most of the projects being simple, quick, and beginner-friendly. And last but not least, Feminist Cross-Stitch, which is packed full of feminist affirmations like “Don’t tell me to smile,” “Beauty is not a number,” and “Believe women.” It also has a section of subversive, sassy designs – similar to Subversive Cross-Stitch.

So, there we have it, a list of great library resources on modern cross-stitch! One more thing – if you see a book with astronomy, biology, or nature cross-stitch patterns: send them my way!

 

Reviewing Media for Our Children

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One of the most common questions I get from parents of voracious, high-level readers is “How can I make sure what they’re reading is appropriate?” It’s a tricky question. We all have different levels of comfort with what our children read, different definitions of what is “appropriate.” And while some of us would like to be able to screen everything first, that often isn’t possible.

Stetson University’s Christopher J. Ferguson ran a small study showing that reading banned books “is associated with both increased civic behavior and little risk of antisocial behavior.” Click here for the full study. In other words, there don’t seem to be consequences for children reading questionable material. Children often “self-censor” what they read, and will ask questions to understand better. That being said, you know your child best, and you know what they will understand and enjoy! So, how can you stay one step ahead of your prodigious reader?

One of my favorite websites is Common Sense Media. Their goal is to review media – books, movies, games, apps, and even YouTube channels – and track content so that parents, caregivers, and educators can make informed decisions. They give an age recommendation for media and also specifically note what kind of content it contains. Let’s run through a quick example: the oft-banned Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. They recommend the book for children 8 and older. They note positive messages for the book, “Full of positive messages about the power of love, friendship, and self-sacrifice. Also about not letting your background dictate who you become.” There is also a note about violence and scariness, “Kids are in peril often, but it’s mostly at the hands of fantasy creatures…” The description goes on to outline each of these scenarios, so that you know how intense the book will be. If you have an issue with language, you may be happy to know that there is one instance of “Damn.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common Sense Media also provides parent and child reviews, as well as a rundown of each book. There are lists of recommended books, so if you’re looking for something new it can be a great place to start.

Of course, not everything has been reviewed. You may not be able to find every book your child is interested in. If you have any further questions or need more resources, our librarians at GPL are more than happy to help!

 

Social Emotional Learning & your Child’s Emotional Development

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If you’ve been to our library’s Exploration Stations, you’ve most likely seen the “Conversation Station” on the coloring table, with questions that use Social Emotional Learning (SEL) competencies as a framework. That’s not to say that these conversations are only for young children – we know that everyone benefits from developing their social and emotional skills, even adults!

You might be wondering, what is Social Emotional Learning? It’s the tools we have to regulate our emotions and reactions. It’s how we understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions. But why is this something we encourage at the library, and what are the long-term benefits? 

We as librarians want to promote evidence-based practices, and there is a wealth of research demonstrating the lasting benefits of social emotional development. In short, studies have shown that early education can improve childhood non-cognitive skills in a lasting way. We know that students who have a solid SEL foundation have better grades, test scores, and attendance than their peers. They are also more emotionally stable and have an easier time forming positive relationships. 

Especially in the current climate, it’s important to develop these skills in our children, to help them process the changes they’ve experienced over the last couple months. Developing these skills isn’t as challenging as it may seem – modeling the behavior you want to see is a great first step. And then, of course, the conversations we encourage in our programs. Atlanta Public schools have a wonderful infographic (see right) explaining the SEL competencies, and you can build your questions from there.

Here’s a sample of some of the questions we included in our Conversation Station booklets:

 

Self-Awareness

  • What makes you special?
  • How are you feeling right now?
  • What sorts of things do you need help with? 
  • Why are you important in your family?

Self-Management

  • How do you handle stressful situations?
  • How do you act when you are excited? Nervous? Scared?
  • What do you want to do today?
  • How do you get what you want?

Social Awareness

  • How can you tell when someone is sad?
  • What makes your friends special?
  • What are your friends good at?
  • How can you tell when someone needs help?

Relationship Skills

  • What does it mean to be a good friend?
  • How do you ask your friends for help?
  • What do you do when someone is mean to you?
  • How do you show your friends that you care about them?

Responsible Decision Making

  • What are you not able to do on your own?
  • Do you think about what will happen after you do something?
  • Who do you trust? Why do you trust them?
  • If someone has something you want, what do you do?

It may seem like some of these questions have obvious answers–– but we know that children are not born with this knowledge. They are either taught how to interact and manage themselves, or they learn from the people around them. Additionally, you may already use these questions in your home! How often do you ask your children what they want to do? It’s part of many of our days, once our children are able to voice their preferences. But this simple action develops several skills: it shows children that their opinion matters and increases their sense of self-worth and self-awareness. It models to them how they can interact with other people, by caring about what others want. For you as the “grown-up,” practicing these conversations also helps build a foundation for future emotional development with your child.

If you have any questions about SEL, feel free to contact us. For more information, here’s a few great SEL-related resources:

Social Emotional Learning Overview, Roger P. Weissberg & Jason Cascarino

The Impact of Enhancing Students’ Social and Emotional Learning: A Meta-Analysis of School-Based Universal Interventions, Joseph Durlak, Roger P. Weissberg, Allison Dymnicki, Rebecca Taylor, & Kriston Schellinger

The Positive Impact of Social and Emotional Learning for Kindergarten to Eighth-Grade Students, John Payton, Roger P. Weissberg, Joseph A. Durlak, Allison B. Dymnicki, Rebecca D. Taylor, Kriston B. Schellinger, Molly Pachan

 

Review: The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs

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The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs
by Steve Brusatte
5 stars

Before my review, I have a quick disclaimer: I am mildly obsessed with dinosaurs. Jurassic Park was my favorite movie when I was a child. When I heard that my college had a basic geology course covering Dinosaurs and their evolution, I waited eagerly each semester for it to be offered. When it finally was, I sat front and center every day and consumed every required and suggested reading. After I met a paleontologist I joked to my friends that we were going to get married, if only for him to spin me tales of geology every day.

Reading Stephen Brusatte’s book was nothing short of wonderful, though again, I am a biased source. Brusatte does a wonderful job of introducing you to the world of the dinosaurs, as well as the evolution that produced them. I loved hearing about his work with specific scientists, especially his time in China. He also worked the menial art of spreadsheets, identifying differences and similarities between fossils. It may sound boring to anyone else but me, but tracking those differences and similarities is key to tracking relationships between species.

Brusatte also has turns where he talks about his own journey into paleontology, and at points the book is as much about him and his studies as it is the dinosaurs he covers. I felt his excitement as he recounted moments where he met and worked with distinguished paleontologists. He also mentioned a museum in Rockford, Illinois that he loves to go to (a museum that I will have to make a trip to after reading this book). While these turns towards autobiography were fun, they also added to the story and developed it into something more than just an informational book. Brusatte’s passion for the subject shines throughout the book. If you give it a chance, I hope you love it as much as I did.

 

Read-alikes

Rise of the Necrofauna: A Provocative Look at the Science, Ethics, and Risks of De-Extinction by Brit Wray

T. Rex and the Crater of Doom by Walter Álvarez

Articulating Dinosaurs: A Political Anthropology by Brian Noble