Tag: take and make

March Take + Make: Free Kids’ Mindfulness Journals

Posted on March 11, 2021 by lbandy

It’s finally starting to feel like spring! As we continue to focus on the emotional and mental well-being of families this month, we hope you’ll stop by the library to pick up one of our FREE Kids Mindfulness Journals!

These journals feature a variety of activities from Head and Heart Mindfulness, including coloring pages, a daily feelings “check-in,” breathing and gratitude activities, and drawing prompts. Grab one in the lobby today, and you’re good to go!

Kids in elementary school will be able to complete the journal independently, but there are lots of great conversation-starting prompts and activities to share with the whole family. Preschoolers can complete this journal with their caregivers’ help.

Enjoy being more mindful by talking about your feelings together!

New February Collage Fun Take-And-Make Kits Are Here!

Posted on February 4, 2021 by lbandy

The snow may have slowed us down a little, but new Take-And-Make kits are finally ready to go!

This month, we’re offering collage supplies and idea sheets to boost creativity, literacy, and math skills for kids of all ages. Several other libraries in the county have sent us discarded magazines, so we’ve got a great selection – everything from Highlights to Glamour to Sports Illustrated.

Stop by the lobby today to pick up a magazine or two and an idea packet for your child’s age group, which includes several sheets of paper and some starter items. Packets are available in four categories (see below). If you are in need of child-safe scissors or a glue stick, come on upstairs and one of our desk staff will be happy to provide you with them. Here’s a preview of what you can do….

Preschoolers can go on a letter hunt, make silly faces, boost critical thinking skills by sorting images, and practice counting by using the included numeral sheets.

Early Elementary kids can hunt for sight words, create rebus sentences, sort more complex categories of images, and practice spelling words.

Big Kids (Upper elementary/independent readers) can create unique collages with images and adjectives that represent the things they enjoy, create freestyle poems (no rhyming necessary!), or piece together a surrealist piece of artwork.

Tweens and Teens can use print and images together to represent their personalities, write freestyle poetry, or create visual art that makes a statement about an issue that’s important to them. Teen and tween packets come with poetry starter baggies.

Check out our bulletin board in the hallway outside the library for inspiration! If you would like your collage to appear on our bulletin board, please drop it off at the front desk.

Or, if you’d like a photo of your work to appear on our social media, just email us!

More Take and Make Kits for Kids of All Ages!

Posted on January 8, 2021 by lbandy

We’ve had an overwhelmingly positive response to our first round of Take and Make Kits, so we’re rolling out some more! Kits are divided into three categories: Preschool/Kindergarten, Big Kid, and Tween/Teen. We hope you’ll check in often to see what’s new, as we’ll be switching things up regularly.

-Each kit helps kids build literacy and fine motor skills while providing kids with a fun, screen-free activity.

-You’ll find our new display in the lobby (beside the bagged holds ready for pickup.) Just buzz in and one of our friendly staff will open the door for you. Don’t forget your mask!

-Easy access: There’s nothing to check out, and nothing to return. Just grab and go!

-New For Preschoolers and Kindergarteners: Silly Scissor Skills

Our little ones are doing so much on their tablets these days, even at school. While technology has opened up a whole new world of learning for kids, experts are finding that many children aren’t getting the practice they need to master fine motor skills. These packets include several sheets of silly cut-outs that will help your child give a paper friend a “haircut,” as well as more information for caregivers on how to practice cutting skills together.

*Please not that if you are in need of child-safe right or left hand scissors, one of our friendly desk staff will be happy to provide you with a pair.

-New For Big Kids: Paper Snowflake Templates

Paper snowflakes can be delicate, beautiful, and also very frustrating! These templates offer clear folding instructions and pre-printed, shaded gray areas to show your child exactly where to cut. They’ll practice following instructions (with easy to understand diagrams) while cutting slowly and carefully. You’ll all be amazed at the lovely designs they unfold!

-For Tweens and Teens

Our very popular self-care BINGO kits are still available!

Stop by to pick up your kit, which includes everything you need to make a squishy, relaxing water bead stress ball, a BINGO board that fosters relaxation, mindfulness, and kindness, and a mini-journal. Don’t forget to return your BINGO board for a prize….a free book of your choice!

We want to hear from you! Are you enjoying the Take and Make kits? If so, we’d love to see pictures of your finished projects. Also, is there something you’d really like to see in the future? Drop us a line so we can serve you better.

Did You Know? Youth Take-And-Make Kits Are Now Available!

Posted on December 22, 2020 by lbandy

For the month of December, we’re offering FREE Gnome take-and-make craft kits for kids!

Many of you have already stopped by to pick up your kit (which comes with cocoa and cookies, thanks to Weis Markets!) and shared some photos of your adorable completed gnomes. These will still be available through the end of December (while supplies last). Just stop by the lobby of the Borough building to pick one up today. Plus, you can come upstairs to the library to check out The Little Winter Book of Gnomes by Kirsten Sevig!

Next up, we’ll be offering FREE Teen/Tween Self-Care Kits!

This year has been stressful, and we’d like to see our teens and tweens start 2021 off right. That’s why we’ll be offering Self-Care Kits starting Tuesday, December 22, which will include a mini-journal, a self-care Bingo board, and everything you need to make a water bead stress ball. Perfect for holiday break! Teens and tweens can turn in their completed Bingo board to the library to receive a free book of their choice. We have lots of awesome YA and middle grade titles ready for prizes, and we can’t wait to reward you with a great read for being good to yourself. Plus, we’ve got LOTS of brand-new kids books on the shelves, so stop by to check them out!

Pick up your supplies in the lobby, then click here for a YouTube tutorial on How To Make A Water Bead Stress Ball.

**The library will be closed on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day (December 24 and 25, January 1.) We’ll be closing at 1 p.m. on December 31 for New Year’s Eve.**