I’m a messy librarian, and as you might suspect, I love to make a mess in my programs. Today’s second session, “Oh, Baby! Unconventional Programming for Your Youngest Patrons,” validated my love of mess and provided lots of easy, accessible, MESSY program ideas. Below are a few of my favorites that will undoubtedly be making their way to my library very soon.
- Shredded paper party: Do you have shredded library applications or any other paper lying around? Let kids play with it! Clean up is terrible but worth it. Putting a tarp or parachute down can help speed up clean up too.
- Painting: Who doesn’t love paint?! Brooke and Kendra suggested using different objects to paint instead of traditional brushes. They suggested vegetables, partially filled balloons, marbles, toy cars and hands! Try changing up your paint medium as well. Shaving cream is just as fun.
- Water play: Babies love water! Actually – who doesn’t? This activity is really simple. You can simply place trays full of water, perhaps with a few easily dried toys, on the floor and let them play and splash. Brooke and Kendra mention that caregivers are often more okay with wet than messy, so this is a good option for some of your hesitant adults. Pro tip: being towels, more than you think you’ll need!
- Fizzy reactions: What could be more exciting than a chemical reaction? Capitalize on baking soda and vinegar by making fizzy trays (liquid water colors covered with a thin layer of baking soda) or dinosaur eggs (water and baking soda formed into eggs around toy dinosaurs). Using an eye dropper and vinegar will generate exciting reactions from the materials AND your patrons.
I’m excited to incorporate these activities into my programs and hope you are too!