As I’m sure many of us have experienced, managing behavior can often be a challenge in the library. It can sometimes feel like an uphill battle to encourage positive behavior in our spaces and programs. I recently attended a workshop on Executive Function skills focused on reframing behavior management and strategies to support today’s children. While I myself am not an expert in this topic, I found it to be very useful and a worthwhile share. Let’s dive in! In the workshop, we discussed how society has changed in a number of ways. These changes have deeply impacted children today, leading them to be different from previous generations. Broadly speaking, just some of these societal changes include: -Increase in type, proximity, and usage of new technologies-Social media usage-Academic pressure from a young age-Shifts in parenting styles -Changing family structures While these changes have certainly affected the growth and development of children’s…
Tag: behavior management
Meltdowns: Expecting the Unexpected in Storytime
Meltdowns. While we hope they won’t happen at the library, we know they probably will. Ask any storytime veteran: at some point, screaming, crying, or some other manner of meltdown will visit your storytime. What can you do? Today, I’m sharing five tips from my own storytime experience.
How to Manage Behaviors in the Library
The toughest thing about working with kids can often be setting expectations and managing behaviors. Most articles available to librarians about “classroom management” include advice such as follow the rules of the institution you work for or build rapport with patrons/students. While this is good advice, it does not leave room for questions, especially from those who may not have an educational background. As someone with this background, what kind of librarian would I be to not help others build their background knowledge?