Over the last several years, I have been part of a local group called The High Plains Early Childhood Collaborative (HPECC) that aims to create a caring community where children are seen as valuable members. HPECC consists of childcare providers, program directors, and other early childhood professionals. This group came together with the help of Lincoln County Rooted in Relationships with a long-term goal of creating sustaining opportunities for social -emotional development in children ages birth to 8 years old. One of the primary activities of Rooted in Relationships is Pyramid Model implementation for center and home-based childcare providers. I began learning about the Pyramid Model when I started doing outreach with the local public school Pre-K classrooms. All classroom teachers and support staff were trained in the Pyramid Model Framework and utilized the methods in their classrooms. There are three tiers to the Pyramid Model as outlined by The…
Tag: Early Childhood Programs and Services
Early Childhood Resource: The State of Babies Yearbook 2023
Back in 2020, Stephanie Smallwood blogged about the State of Babies Yearbook. This post serves as an update and refresh of this valuable resource for all of us in the public library where babies are welcomed everyday!
Library Play Date: an early literacy partner to storytime
For many children and families, storytime is not their jam. I know, storytime is our thing and we want to welcome everyone. But, for a variety of reasons it doesn’t work for every person or family who enters our spaces. Maybe it’s the content. Maybe it’s the volume. Maybe it’s the group size. There are endless reasons families might not be joining our storytimes (other than the time it’s scheduled). Therefore, we’ve begun offering “Library Play Date” on a weekly basis in addition to our weekly storytime schedule. Library Play Date focuses on early literacy practices, fine motor skills, and large motor skills. Board books are always available within the space beside a few quilts on the ground that have toys for babies. We have a variety of games and activities created to strengthen both fine and large motor skills that are rotated through on a monthly basis. When it…
Coding in Early Learning
As more schools add coding requirements in higher grades, offering coding opportunities for younger children can help give them a foundation for future learning. The need goes beyond success in middle or high school – it is also becoming important for career success. According to the National Association for the Education of Young Children, early coding experiences help children build skills that are “valuable for [their] future success in our digital world.” Fortunately for children’s librarians who are uncomfortable with coding in general, the options available for pre-readers are accessible and easily adapted to library programming. Coding Stories Coding stories are one way to introduce early coding in library programs. The NAEYC article linked below offers step-by-step instructions to retell familiar stories with coding. First, make a grid. Then work together with children to map out a character’s movements through the story. This helps children learn computational thinking concepts like…
Pace Yourself!
Life for most of us is finally reopening after 2+ years of the pandemic. Children’s Librarians are ready to jump back into action but be aware there’s a “new normal” for us to return to. Programs may be in-person, on-line or a hybrid version. We have not only maintained our usual job assignments but some may have various versions of them. In addition, there are new ones we’ve taken over due to staff shortages or reassignments. We try to do them all to the best of our ability however, we should remember to pace ourselves. Burnout can happen to anyone, especially those with good intentions. Here’s a few tips to keep in mind when your schedule fills up. Keep it simple Use simple activities as mini-programs added onto a scheduled storytime in house, or offer as take-home activities a few times throughout your series. For example, have two glasses of…
What’s on the Menu: Early Childhood Programs & Services at ALA Annual
Can you believe it’s finally happening? The ALA Annual Conference is back! Soon, thousands of people who work in and support libraries will gather in Washington, D.C. to learn, network, and celebrate what we do. There are so many topics and events to be excited about. For today’s post I’ll be sharing some of the wonderful programming in store for people who work to serve young children and their families in library spaces. If you are interested too, read on!
Serving Expectant Parents & Families with Newborns From Where We Are Today
It is important that expectant parents and those with newborns know they are welcome at the library, even as pandemic precautions persist. Luckily, there is someone there to help them – YOU! Acknowledging them with a simple “hello” can be a high point of their day, especially if they are feeling overwhelmed. A sympathetic “some days are like that!” may lower the pressure when they are dealing with a fussy child. Life in the library is beginning to look more familiar as things begin to “open up more.”. There are still precautions to take to make sure everyone stays safe and healthy until this pandemic is over. Keeping this is mind may have an impact on your library’s ability to do in-person programming and outreach for families with infants since they are at a higher risk. Programs may be offered as a series, once a month or quarterly. Keep your…
Addressing Covid-19 Worries in the Back-to-School Season
I wrote this in quarantine. My toddler had a close contact exposure to Covid-19 in her daycare class and we kept the whole family home out of an abundance of caution. (Everyone is healthy.) It’s a situation many of our patrons and staff may face now that kids have returned to school or pre-school. The Delta variant put a different spin on the usual back-to-school and fall programming, with many libraries still only allowing outdoor or virtual programming. How can we support our patrons during this fraught back-to-school season? First, remember to take care of yourselves. Burnout, compassion fatigue, Covid fatigue—whatever you call it, it’s real. Try to take some time for yourself whether it’s a staycation, regular exercise, or enjoying a hobby. Next, understand the behaviors associated with stress and worry in your patrons. If folks share with you, validate their feelings. Fellow Early Childhood Programs and Services Committee…