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12-08-03 or 1283 |
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From: "PUBYAC: PUBlic librarians serving Young Adults and
Children" <pubyac@prairienet.org>
To: "PUBYAC: PUBlic librarians serving Young Adults and Children"
<pubyac@prairienet.org>
Sent: Monday, December 08, 2003 11:01 PM
Subject: PUBYAC digest 1283
Topics covered in this issue include: 1) Circulation list serve? by "Dorothy Williams" <dorothy@peabody.whitleynet.org> 2) Libraries in Sarasota Florida & Related Areas by "Anita Palladino" <apalladi@ansernet.rcls.org> 3) children's desk ideas by Cindy Christin <christin@mtlib.org> 4) RE: positive media image of librarians by "Cybele Cappelli" <ccappelli@poklib.org> 5) leapfrog by "Rasely, Cindy" <CRasely@co.broome.ny.us> 6) Help! 5th Grade caring/sharing books needed by "Chris Mallo" <chrism@GRRL02.GRRL.LIB.MN.US> 7) musical instrument craft kit by "Alyson Naimoli" <anaimoli@vapld.info> 8) Re: Teen Volunteers by Jones Taylor Edwards <ya_core@yahoo.com> 9) RE: toddler storytime control/rules question by "Jeannette Whitworth" <JWhitworth@sno-isle.org> 10) Re: toddler storytime control/rules question by Terrill <trumpeter2@shaw.ca> 11) Re: toddler storytime control/rules question by N Korsavidis <nkorsavidis@yahoo.com> 12) RE: toddler storytime control/rules question by "Vanessa Cowie" <cowiev@mail.forsyth.public.lib.ga.us> 13) RE: toddler storytime control/rules question by "BC_Library_East" <BC_Library_East@co.brown.wi.us> 14) regarding teen volunteers by Terrill <trumpeter2@shaw.ca> 15) the 'other' librarian - a positive image? by Terrill <trumpeter2@shaw.ca> 16) Scarves Ideas Compilation by "Kapila Sankaran" <ksankaran@springfieldpubliclibrary.com> 17) Pregnant teens/Teen Parents PROGRAMMING - Compilation!! by Erin Helmrich <HelmrichE@aadl.org> ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "Dorothy Williams" <dorothy@peabody.whitleynet.org> To: <pubyac@prairienet.org> Subject: Circulation list serve? Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Disposition: inline Date: Mon, 8 Dec 2003 22:43:54 CST Our librarian that is in charge of the circulation department wants to know if anyone knows of a list serve for circulation. E-mail responses to laura@peabody.whitleynet.org. Thanks. dorothy@peabody.whitleynet.org ------------------------------ From: "Anita Palladino" <apalladi@ansernet.rcls.org> To: <pubyac@prairienet.org> Subject: Libraries in Sarasota Florida & Related Areas Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Date: Mon, 8 Dec 2003 22:44:16 CST To any & all YACCER's - I will be relocating from NY to Sarasota area of Florida in the next couple of months & was wondering if anyone out there had any library-related info they could share with me. I am aware that librarian jobs are handled by each county, but can any Floridians give any hints, i.e., on the job market for part-time work, areas of special need, etc. Thanks for any ideas; please respond to me off-list. Anita ------------------------------ From: Cindy Christin <christin@mtlib.org> To: pubyac@prairienet.org Subject: children's desk ideas Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed Date: Mon, 8 Dec 2003 22:44:33 CST Does anyone have a children's desk that they absolutely love?? We are in the final design stages for a new Library and are looking at desk ideas. . . we'd appreciate hearing from anyone that has suggestions from the real world. Many thanks, Cindy Christin Children's Librarian Bozeman Public Library 220 E. Lamme Bozeman, Montana 59715 406-582-2404 FAX 406-582-2424 christin@mtlib.org "Choose a job you love and you will never have to work a day in your life." Confucius ------------------------------ From: "Cybele Cappelli" <ccappelli@poklib.org> To: "PUBYAC" <pubyac@prairienet.org> Subject: RE: positive media image of librarians MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Date: Mon, 8 Dec 2003 22:44:50 CST While I can understand that we librarians find fault with media images of a nasty/frumpy librarian, why equate a positive image with "hot and sexy"? Its fine if you are, or if the media portrays a librarian as such, but I personally don't feel comfortable having to be a sexy librarian because now the media has set that standard and now the public expects it as well. I want to be appreciated for my skills, not my sexuality. If one can have both, terrific. Cybele Cappelli Young Adult Librarian Poughkeepsie Public Library District Poughkeepsie, NY. ------------------------------ From: "Rasely, Cindy" <CRasely@co.broome.ny.us> To: "'PUBYAC@prairienet.org'" <PUBYAC@prairienet.org> Subject: leapfrog MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; Date: Mon, 8 Dec 2003 22:45:09 CST We purchased 6 Leappads and earphones and about 35 of the Leapfrog books through a grant last year. They have been tremendously popular; the units themselves are rarely in. We display the books in hanging bags like books with cassettes and have signs telling patrons to ask at the Youth Services desk for the Leappads. We circulate them in their knapsacks with their power packs--no batteries. I'm not sure about their durability. So far we've had 2 replaced by the company at no charge. We will be buying more with some leftover grant money this year. We will be sticking with the one basic type; I've had a few queries about the ones for toddlers but they use different books and I can't face the thought of trying to keep everything separate, as it is he Circulation Desk groans everytime Youth Services comes up with yet another media format All in all, they're kind of a pain, but the public loves them. Cindy Rasely Youth Services Coordinator Broome County Public Library Binghamton, NY 13901 ------------------------------ From: "Chris Mallo" <chrism@GRRL02.GRRL.LIB.MN.US> To: "pubyac" <pubyac@prairienet.org> Subject: Help! 5th Grade caring/sharing books needed Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Date: Mon, 8 Dec 2003 22:45:25 CST One of our branch librarians just received the assignment below and could sure use your help! "The new project for our area 5th graders is very vague! They need to read a "chapter" book (close to 100 pages or so) on caring, loving and/or sharing. Could you please make some suggestions as to what we could pull here at Monticello for these kids to select from? We really appreciate it! The teacher did not specify fiction or non-fiction." Thanks so much! Chris -- Chris Mallo Children's Specialist Great River Regional Library 405 St. Germain St. Cloud, MN 56401 Phone (320) 650-2500, Fax (320) 650-2501 chrism@grrl.lib.mn.us -- ------------------------------ From: "Alyson Naimoli" <anaimoli@vapld.info> To: <PUBYAC@prairienet.org> Subject: musical instrument craft kit MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Date: Mon, 8 Dec 2003 22:45:44 CST Hello, I'm looking for a musical instrument craft kit for grades K-1 that will only take about 10 minutes to complete. I'd prefer to order one from a craft company rather than buy the materials myself, but other suggestions are welcomed. I've looked at Oriental Trading but they only have a tambourine that has too many pieces. Feel free to e-mail me off list. Thanks in advance! Alyson Naimoli Youth Services Librarian Vernon Area Public Library District (847) 634-3650 x186 http://www.vapld.info/ ------------------------------ From: Jones Taylor Edwards <ya_core@yahoo.com> To: METSY9@aol.com, PUBYAC@prairienet.org Subject: Re: Teen Volunteers MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Date: Mon, 8 Dec 2003 22:46:00 CST In the 3rd edition of Connecting Young Adult and Libraries, we will have a huge section on teen volunteers. Until that is published next fall, I would invite you (and others) to email me for a list of 100 things for teen volunteers to do other than stamp date due cards - pj --- METSY9@aol.com wrote: > I'm doing a paper on "Teen Volunteers in the > library" for a class. I would > like to know if you feel they are helpful to your > libraries. > Thank You > Leah Goldschmitt > ===== Patrick Jones / connectingya.com NEW: A Core Collection for Young Adults Patrick Jones, Patricia Taylor, and Kirsten Edwards http://www.neal-schuman.com/db/8/298.html Want a 10% discount: email me __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Protect your identity with Yahoo! Mail AddressGuard http://antispam.yahoo.com/whatsnewfree ------------------------------ From: "Jeannette Whitworth" <JWhitworth@sno-isle.org> To: <jlachman@ci.berkeley.ca.us>, Subject: RE: toddler storytime control/rules question content-class: urn:content-classes:message MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Date: Mon, 8 Dec 2003 22:46:16 CST To a certain extent toddler storytimes are controlled chaos. There are a = couple of techniques that can help, however. Keep the storytime moving = at a good clip; don't spend very long explaining stories, themes, etc. = Have a set routine or ritual, especially a beginning ritual: this might = be a fingerplay, a puppet friend, certain music, etc. But it should be a = quiet routine to help the children get focused on what is going to = happen. At our library parents and caregivers stay with the children, = infact, they sit on the floor with their children. Keep the story part = of the storytime considerably under thirty minutes. For the rest of the = half hour, games, a small craft, or just time for the children and = adults to interact is good. We have puzzles and things for the children = and parents to work with. Use as many different types of ways to present = your stories as possible. This age child really enjoys flannel board = presentations; these do not have to be elaborate. Rhymes are good done = as fingerplays or songs. And lots of movement; use large muscle = movements. Exaggerate fingerplays you might do as only small muscle = movements; for instance, rather that just using your fingers to do the = Itsy Bitsy Spider, stand and use your whole body, etc. But the most = important thing is to relax and have fun with this age child. They are = so eager and bursting to learn and with new things learned that it's = hard not to have fun when doing toddler storytimes. Jeannette Whitworth Children's Librarian Snohomish Public Library, Sno-Isle Regional Library System jwhitworth@sno-isle.org=20 ------------------------------ From: Terrill <trumpeter2@shaw.ca> To: jlachman@ci.berkeley.ca.us Subject: Re: toddler storytime control/rules question MIME-version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT Date: Mon, 8 Dec 2003 22:46:35 CST Hi Josh ... I have one word that answers this ........ parent participation! We found things in our little story time moving towards difficulties in the way you mention. We ended up printing out a one page storytime sheet that is given to parents. Its brief and the approach positive, not punitive at all. The main point is how to participate in storytime so the child gets the most out of it. Parents that sit with their kids, sing and do the actions help their children learn the routine of storytime and increase the learning and fun aspect of it for all. The side effects are obvious, kids at the reach and control of their parents and a little more managability for the storyteller who is NOT there to babysit or regulate the group, but to tell the storys and guide the fun. We also did a little sign up with name tags for all, though there is no fee or pre-registration, just to make it a little less casual for attendees. Never once expelled a tot from storytime, though parents sometimes leave of their own accord with a loud screamer/weeper/difficult situation. And are you making sure you shake the sillies out with some actions songs? Another thing, that one of my instructors once taught me, was to make sure somewhere in the middle there is a song, story, action play that involves whispering or very quiet talk as part of it. Its interesting how being quiet from the storytellers direction brings a hush to the crowd, too. Hope this quicky helps! Terrill Scott Fraser Valley Regional Library British Columbia Canada ----- Original Message ----- From: "Josh lachman" <jlachman@ci.berkeley.ca.us> To: <PUBYAC@prairienet.org> Sent: Friday, December 05, 2003 9:55 PM Subject: toddler storytime control/rules question Hi, I'm interested in finding out how librarians regulate potential chaos at toddler storytimes. Do you expel noisy toddlers who don't sit or do you just put up with the chaos? We have a program here that fills up with 30 or more toddlers and sometimes the noise level escalates towards the end of the program. I know that this has been discussed in the past. Perhaps someone has a compilation of the previous discussion. Thanks, Josh Lachman Children's Librarian Josh Lachman Children's Library Berkeley Public Library 2090 Kittredge Street Berkeley CA 94704 Mailing Address for Deliveries: 2031 Bancroft Way Berkeley CA 94704 Jlachman@ci.berkeley.ca.us (510) 981-6229 ------------------------------ From: N Korsavidis <nkorsavidis@yahoo.com> To: PUBYAC@prairienet.org Subject: Re: toddler storytime control/rules question MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Date: Mon, 8 Dec 2003 22:46:54 CST We hold six week long session storytimes. At week one, I hand out a a welcome to the storytime handbook of sorts. It consists of a page ofwords to some of the fingerplays being used, a page of simple crafts, a page of book suggestions, and a page of rules. The rules are very zimple. We request the parents put all food away (unless the child has to have it), that the paretns participate as much as the child, etc. We also mention two important things. We say if the child begins to cry or be other wise dispruptive, that we suggest that they take the child out of the room for a moment and then come back in. We also ask that they themselves refrain from any conversations during the storytime. This is a great example for the little ones. I also have found that simply stopping and waiting for the quiet to resume works. I have yet to have much success in keeping them seated and tend not to make them stay seated. Hope that helps Natalie ===== Natalie Korsavidis Youth Services Librarian Farmingdale Public Library __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? New Yahoo! Photos - easier uploading and sharing. http://photos.yahoo.com/ ------------------------------ From: "Vanessa Cowie" <cowiev@mail.forsyth.public.lib.ga.us> To: <jlachman@ci.berkeley.ca.us>, <PUBYAC@prairienet.org> Subject: RE: toddler storytime control/rules question MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Date: Mon, 8 Dec 2003 22:47:12 CST I think this is one of those perennial questions, and I'm always looking for new approaches. First of all, we call our toddler program "lapsit" and promote it for ages 2 and 3. That's not to say we don't have younger (and sometimes older)kids in the program. Anyway, so we're on the same page... We announce at the beginning that parents and other special grown-ups are a young child's BEST teachers, so "please model good listening skills and participate in the activities." (Did I mention that our "chaos" is as often due to parent conversations as to toddler noise?) We also announce "If your child becomes unhappy or restless during the program, feel free to take him or her out until s/he's ready to return." At the start of a 6-week session, our lapsits are no more than 15-20 minutes long. By the end of six weeks, we can generally go to 25 minutes. But we build in flexibility by having one or more books or activities that can go "in or out" depending on the audience's engagement level. And, of course, the books are short and there's lots of music/movement in the mix. We do tolerate a good bit of noise (the presenter wears a microphone). I look forward to reading other suggestions. Vanessa Cowie Programming Coordinator Forsyth County Public Library 585 Dahlonega Road Cumming, GA 30040 770-781-9840 Ext. 364 cowiev@mail.forsyth.public.lib.ga.us -----Original Message----- From: owner-pubyac@prairienet.org [mailto:owner-pubyac@prairienet.org] On Behalf Of Josh lachman Sent: Saturday, December 06, 2003 12:56 AM To: PUBYAC@prairienet.org Subject: toddler storytime control/rules question Hi, I'm interested in finding out how librarians regulate potential chaos at toddler storytimes. Do you expel noisy toddlers who don't sit or do you just put up with the chaos? We have a program here that fills up with 30 or more toddlers and sometimes the noise level escalates towards the end of the program. I know that this has been discussed in the past. Perhaps someone has a compilation of the previous discussion. Thanks, Josh Lachman Children's Librarian Josh Lachman Children's Library Berkeley Public Library 2090 Kittredge Street Berkeley CA 94704 Mailing Address for Deliveries: 2031 Bancroft Way Berkeley CA 94704 Jlachman@ci.berkeley.ca.us (510) 981-6229 ------------------------------ From: "BC_Library_East" <BC_Library_East@co.brown.wi.us> To: <jlachman@ci.berkeley.ca.us>, Subject: RE: toddler storytime control/rules question content-class: urn:content-classes:message MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Date: Mon, 8 Dec 2003 22:47:27 CST Hi, I find that the best way to avoid really chaotic storytimes is = prevention. First of all, I regularly review my behavior expectations = at the beginning of storytime. This is primarily for the benefit of the = adults. I tell parents to please "feel free" take their child out if = he/she is having difficulty listening and to bring them back later in = the storytime, and I explain that we want everyone to have a good = storytime experience. And at the beginning of every storytime, I remind "Moms and dads and = grandmas and grandpas and helpers" to "Please put on your listening ears = and set a good example for your boys and girls." Then I ask the = children to put on their listening ears. Lots of times, the noise level = is bad because PARENTS are talking during the storytime. =20 I also am lucky in having a separate area for storytime, which really = helps limit distractions such as play areas, book browsing patrons, etc. = =20 Next, I try to have a fast-paced storytime with age appropriate = materials, lots of interaction, and a variety of activities to keep = their interest. I get them moving after every story. I use a variety = of props and flannelboard items, and I play the guitar and sing with = them. If the storytime is too slow, I have found, I lose them. When = that happens, I close the book, say "the end" and move on to something = else. =20 After doing all I can to prevent behavior problems, I will nicely ask = the children to "please, sit down", "tell me AFTER storytime," and = "please have mommy hold that toy/book/whatever until after storytime," = as needed. =20 If after all that, I still have a child who cannot settle down or is = crying and the parent will not remove the child, I will politely ask = them to remove the child until he/she is calm and/or able to listen = again. I think it is not fair to the other children, parents or myself = to allow disruptive behaviors during storytime. =20 When I am clear about my expectations and consistant in enforcing them, = I have fewer problems. Although, it is also best to remember that a = little chaos is normal when working with toddlers, babies and = preschoolers. Good luck! =20 Karla Frost Children's Librarian East Branch Library 2255 Main Street Green Bay, WI 54302 (920) 391-4600 BC_Library_East@co.brown.wi.us =20 ------------------------------ From: Terrill <trumpeter2@shaw.ca> To: PUBYAC@prairienet.org Subject: regarding teen volunteers Date: Mon, 8 Dec 2003 22:47:44 CST Sent to Leah, but would like to share my thoughts ........ _________________________________________________________ Theres this thing about teens, Leah, and forgive me if I sound a little harsh, but I've raised two, half their friends and had lots to do with them as community members, library patrons etc. Anything we do for teens, such as give them working or volunteering jobs, for example in libraries or anywhere for that matter, is that we are partially doing them and our communities and their parents a public service. The saying "it takes a village" applies more to teens than children, in my humble opinion, as these are the young ones that need incredible understanding, patience, stamina, and creativity to get through the teen years. And they need it from everyone, not just parents. Teens are out in the community more, and therefore all citizens must make an effort to 'bring' them into the fold, make them feel part of the community and most of all tolerate and guide them (isn't that a gentle way of putting what we all know they need sometimes!!) into becoming adults. Having said that, teen volunteering is a good thing, but maybe not for the reasons we expect. I think it gives us a chance to teach them how to work in the real world. Many kids for a variety of reasons don't have the same work ethic that we grew up with, so it behooves us all to show them the ropes and not assume, then feel irritated with them for not knowing how to be a working/volunteering person. Working in libraries introduces a teen to a new experience at times, the 'guts' of a place that is either familiar or unfamiliar to them, and then there is the mob effect .... when you get one teen in a place, word spreads and others tend to come in to 'check it out'. Closing those gaps between generations is always a help, so in this way, teens in the library volunteering/working is good for staff and patrons too. As volunteers, teens are a good bridge between young patrons and adult librarians. They talk the same talk, have similar expieriences to young people in the library, so a teen listening to a young patron could be invaluable. And yes, there are even times when they are helpful in the actual duties performed, I don't mean to neglect that aspect. Thats my twobits for the week .... maybe not what was expected, but its my reality aspect of teens and libraries. Terrill Scott Fraser Valley Regional Library British Columbia Canada "Let us read and let us dance, two amusements that will never do any harm to the world." - Voltaire ------------------------------ From: Terrill <trumpeter2@shaw.ca> To: pubyac@prairienet.org Subject: the 'other' librarian - a positive image? Date: Mon, 8 Dec 2003 22:48:03 CST O my ..... I had another two bits in my pocket, so am throwing it in for = this topic .... briefly too. On the topic of the image of = librarians/library workers .... its been very 'Marion' for a long time, = but let us never forget the pendulum. I am thinking that the = foxy-librarian on That 70's Show (a show that makes me laugh and I do = enjoy). Could we agree to disagree and call it "another image of a = librarian" rather than a positive one? Not really passing judgement, but = in the name of open minds and all things considered, I'm not sure if the = teacher/student mix pregnancey thing could be called good. More like an = issue of conversational interest. And the Playboy mag circulating = question ...... wellllllllllll ......... I see so much theft that it = would be pointless to have a subscription to them in any library! = Idyllic may not quite be the right word to describe Point Place WI is = all. Don't get me wrong, I'm not up in arms about whether this should be = on the show or not, but in deciding for ourselves regarding its merits, = I am not sure I want to be associated any more with the 70's show image = any more than I want to Marian, the maiden librarian! Pondering with interest the new image we have, and all in all glad hear = it. Terrill Scott Fraser Valley Regional Library British Columbia Canada "Let us read and let us dance, two amusements that will never do any = harm to the world." - Voltaire= ------------------------------ From: "Kapila Sankaran" <ksankaran@springfieldpubliclibrary.com> To: <pubyac@prairienet.org> Subject: Scarves Ideas Compilation MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Date: Mon, 8 Dec 2003 22:48:20 CST Dear List, Here are the responses I received regarding how (exactly!) to use scarves with little ones. Have fun! -kapila ===== I've got a dozen scarves and shawls, stored in a cute old suitcase, as part of our Children's Room toy cornucopia, out for play at all times. Amazing what the kids, of all ages, do with them. I wash 'em once a month or so, toss 'em when worn, and watch the creative fun. ===== I recently incorporated scarves into our baby and toddler storytimes, and what I do with them so far is: Have the kids shake them near certain body parts ("OK, shake it by your ear...now shake it by your belly button, behind you, by your toes, etc.); we go up and down the body so they are getting some stretching and moving with it. We have just the blue ones wave, then the red ones, then the yellow ones, working on the different colors. We pretend they are different pieces of clothing (pretend it is a hat and put it on your head...now pretend it is a scarf to keep your neck warm...a shirt - we slip it up our arms, pants - slip it up the legs, socks or shoes - drape it over each foot). We move the scarves up and down and then side to side, alternating with really fast and really slow, then switch from one hand to the other hand (working on opposites). We pretend the scarves are something else like bubbles or leaves or snow and toss them in the air and let them fall to the ground. We play peek-a-boo through the colors. ===== I have used the scarves with 2 year olds after telling The Very Hungry Caterpillar. I read the story, then we "ate" food (plastic play food) crawled through our cocoon (a kid's play tunnel) then used the scarves as wings and danced like butterflies to a Hap Palmer song (I think it was just called "the butterfly"). The kids loved it. ===== I basically just hand the scarves out and then put on some music and have the kids do what I do. We make big circles, wave them in the air, march around the room, etc. It seems so basic, but they just love to move and listen to the music and wave the pretty scarves in the air. I did it just yesterday with my 2 year old group and they were squealing with delight. I think it could also be fun to have the children hold the outsides of the larger scarves and put the smaller ones on top and bounce them up and down like some people use parachutes ===== Hi, we use scarves during our Babytime program and they just love them. We play music, of course, and they tickle with them, juggle (throw them up in the air), play peek-a-boo and wave them around. And they do invent some interesting moves of their own! I don't think it has to be any fancier than that to make it fun. ===== This has nothing to do with scarves, but when I worked at a children's museum, scarves were used in juggling programs. Scarves, apparently, are easier than balls (or even kooshes) for beginners to learn on. Maybe you could organize a workshop... ===== ===================================== Kapila Sankaran, Youth Services Librarian Springfield Free Public Library 66 Mountain Ave. Springfield NJ 07081 tel: 973.376.4930 x.232 fax: 973.376.1334 email: ksankaran@springfieldpubliclibrary.com ===================================== ------------------------------ From: Erin Helmrich <HelmrichE@aadl.org> To: "'pubyac@prairienet.org'" <pubyac@prairienet.org> Subject: Pregnant teens/Teen Parents PROGRAMMING - Compilation!! MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; Date: Mon, 8 Dec 2003 22:48:37 CST To all, Thanks SO much to Joanna Andrew, Kelly Czarnecki, Mike Wessells, Jennifer Salt, Georgi Sandgren, Debra Bogart, Theresa Maturevich, Julie Rines and SCARLETT312@aol.com (sorry no name listed) for this list of great programming ideas for this demographic. We will definitely be using these ideas for future programs. Sorry that I didn't get it out sooner. Happy holidays! Compilation of ideas below: 1. I was talking about your message of last week with my wife, since we have two grandchildren who are patrons of yours (and of the Ypsilanti library) and our daughter-in-law teaches at the alternative school/academy there in Ann Arbor. My wife is a maternal-child health nurse with our local health department (we happen to live in the teen-pregnancy capital of our state), and she was very interested in what community organizations you are working with. Our library has partnered with the TAPP and First Steps programs to do Reading To Your Child tutorials; we have also participated in the wonderful Mother Goose program sponsored by the Vermont Center for the Book and aiming at family literacy. Our local Friends donate a children's book to every new mother to take home with her new baby. My wife has taught Lamaze/childbirth/early child care classes at the Library, etc. but we are hugely open to new partnership opportunities--I would love to know how yours is working out. 2. Some of the librarians in Akron have partnered with Head Start and presented aspects of the mother goose programs (mother goose asks why? you can count on mother goose) available through Vermont Center for the Book. These mother goose programs use basic picture books to teach basic math & science concepts. you could also look into modeling storytimes for these teen parents by inviting yourself to their school/classroom 3. How about a baby storytime? This population often needs constructive ideas about how to enjoy their babies as well as all the more practical advice. The parents who are still in the pregnancy stage could look on, learn some basic rhymes and games, and see a little joy in their situation. 4. What about an infant massage program? It's another way of establishing rapport with one's child, and is appealing to those who have experimented with and favor wellness techniques like yoga and meditation. 5. I teach a monthly class to the Teen Parent program at one of our local high schools, a half hour session. This is by far the hardest part of my outreach work! I am trying to encourage reading to children from birth (or before!) on, so we discuss brain development, pre-literacy skills, language development, choosing appropriate books, modeling reading to children, etc. Some of the most popular activities I've shared were these: Explaining how reading to infants encourages bonding between parent and child, and stimulates brain development, and builds trust, and contributes to language acquisition--then I've borrowed an idea from a program somewhere else, that states that a mother's face is the baby's first "book"-the baby "reads" her expression, her tone of voice, her body language. The baby bonds with the mother and can be comforted by seeing a picture of the mother's face when she's not there. I pre-make small board books using cardboard covered with laminate, take each teen's picture with a Polaroid instant film camera, have them laminate their photo inside on one page, and on the other page, choose the feature they think their baby looks at first (nose, hair, eyes, etc), draw it , and label the page (either "mom" "mama" "eyes" etc.) The photo has to be well laminated so the baby can't get access to it due to the chemicals inside it. (I use library laminate paper, it works fine) The mothers really enjoy this. One mother told me last month that her son still has his book from 2 years ago. In another session, we just talk about nursery rhymes. Mem Fox quotes a study that says children who know 8 nursery rhymes by the time they start school end up in the top _ for reading levels. Then, I ask how many of them remember any nursery rhymes. No one ever does, of course. Then, I offer a (full size) candy bar to anyone who can quote a nursery rhyme. Like magic, suddenly everyone remembers one, or most of one. And they all get candy bars. I talk about the language of nursery rhymes, the love of repetition, sometimes I read Iona Opie's intro to her My First Mother Goose collection. I talk about how Ross uses a rap song to comfort and entertain his infant on the show "Friends"-and gets the baby's very first laugh, due to the sounds and rhythm of the song, not what it means. That episode was last year, they had all seen it and remembered it. I also show a 12 minute video called Born to Succeed, "young parents share their own experiences of reading with their babies and how it has influenced their family. From relationship building to literacy development, from the parent's academic frustration to the child's future success, these personal stories clearly express the necessity of reading to children every step of the way-even before they are born!" I'm not sure if this video is widely available, it was produced by the Oregon State Library, but you could always ILL it. hope some of these ideas help! 6. I don't know how much this will help but I recently read the book "Growing Up Fast" by Joanna Lipper and in it she describes some of the practices used at the Teen Parent Program in Pittsfield, MA. They had teen mothers act out scenes from Edith Wharton's "Summer" which is about an unmarried pregnant girl in Victorian times and it was used as a way to show the girls that they were not alone in their situation. The leaders of the program also had the girls write 2 letters to the fathers of their babies: one they would be comfortable in sending and another that they would never send. I believe both letters were read aloud to the class. Good Luck, 7. I'm not sure how different or unique it may be but a couple of things I know have been done around here with a teen mothers group have included; storytimes with the library including giving them a paperback or board book collection of nursery rhymes with the suggestion that they tuck it into their diaper bags to use as a distraction when necessary along with the usual importance of reading and talking to their babies, a baby proofing and car seat installation program which by the way stressed the necessity of keeping little ones seat belted into a carriage, baby seat or car seat being used as a seat as well and I thought I had heard or read about this one that some group was doing a clothing swap it might have been just for the babies but it might also have been for the moms as well. Sorry that last didn't involve me so I only vaguely remember hearing about it. 8. One of our libraries have run a baby massage session that was very popular. 9. Hi! I've been wanting to do something similar Please pass on comments from the list if you can. I have thought of offering a lapsit program for pregnant teens/young parents-where they can learn how to read to their children and then have a dinner prepared for them after the program. Another idea-I think any kind of skills class-time management, scholarship information, social service organization information, budgeting or eating healthy and saving money. Or ask the schools or agencies that work with the teens what would be helpful for them. Erin V. Helmrich, M.L.S. Teen Services Librarian Ann Arbor District Library 343 S. Fifth Avenue Ann Arbor MI 48104 helmriche@aadl.org 734-327-4227 (voice) 734-327-4283 (fax) ------------------------------ End of PUBYAC Digest 1283 *************************
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