It is springtime in Chicagoland, and when the weather begins to get warmer, our members look forward to the summer season in our Giving Garden. The windows in the Early Learning Area of the Indian Trails Public Library look out to this space, and families love viewing the progress of the plants growing throughout the summer months. Youth staff coordinate several programs over the summer for children up through fifth grade to work in the garden and learn about the plants. The Indian Trails Library Giving Garden began in 2009 and is active thanks to a dedicated team of staff and volunteers from the Wheeling Garden Club. Our facilities staff begin the season by adding compost and turning the garden beds. Cool weather crops are planted in the spring from starter seeds of a local volunteer master gardener. Several retired volunteers and master gardeners also help maintain the garden during…
Tag: early learning
Pop In Play: The Inside Scoop on Ice Cream Fun
Play is powerful. Last month, I shared how Pop In Play encourages open-ended, anytime play-based learning. In May 2025, we hosted our first session with our popular ice cream theme. Here’s the inside scoop on how we planned and hosted this tasty program.
Petal Playtime: Nature-Inspired Sensory Adventures for Babies
Nature’s sights, smells, and textures inspire adults daily. Why not explore that same inspiration with children? We wanted to create a nature-based program that would delight babies and their caregivers alike. Sensory play is a great way to engage multiple senses in learning, and nature offers many opportunities. Read on to learn how we created Petal Playtime for those aged 0 to 18 months.
Host Puppets: Bringing Storytime Magic to Life
Do you ever use a host puppet in storytime? I added this practice to my repertoire when I joined my current library. Previously, storytimes were just me and the kids. Adding a host puppet felt uncomfortable and unnatural. Nearly ten years later, I can’t imagine storytimes without my trusty cat, Shadow. Still, host puppets intimidate many new storytime trainees. Here are some tips from my experience for adding one to your storytime.
Dance Party Joy: Life Lessons from Our Library
“There are shortcuts to happiness, and dancing is one of them.” – Vicki Baum One of the most high-energy, over-the-top, exhausting-but-so-rewarding programs my library offers is Dance Party. Recently expanded to include anyone ages zero to five and their caregiver, this program features 30 minutes devoted to music and dancing. We share various songs broken up with literacy tips and a few books focused on music and movement. Sometimes, when we have a bigger crowd, we’ll do two back-to-back sessions to make sure everyone has a chance to participate. I’ve done more than one dance party in my time, and each one is uniquely rewarding. There’s something about seeing little faces light up when they hear their favorite song or the complete abandonment of a child dancing just because they can. Not only does each teach me about engaging with families, but also how to celebrate the little things in…
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…
Toddler Games: Motor Skills + Fun for Ages 18-36 Months
Do you want to engage toddlers, practice motor skills, and capitalize on the enthusiasm of the summer Olympic Games? We did! With increasing toddler attendance at our early learning programs, we wanted to add programs specific to the target age of 18 to 36 months. Practicing gross motor skills and free play was a great start, and the beginning of Toddler Games. Read on for more details.
All Early Learning All the Time at ALA Annual 2023
As my colleague prepared to attend her first ALA Annual Conference in Chicago later this week, I found myself daydreaming of the sessions I’d attend. My colleague is an adult services librarian, so her professional interests vary wildly from my own in youth services and early learning. I decided to scour the official scheduler to find all the early learning options and share my findings below. Definitely check out the 2023 ALA Annual Conference Scheduler to view session descriptions in full; I’ve only included a very succinct summary (any quotes are taken from the session description). All events take place in McCormick Place unless otherwise noted. Thursday and Friday These days include preconference workshops and professional meetings, many of which need a pre-purchased ticket. The opening general session features Judy Blume (!!) and the exhibit floor opens with lots of giveaways. Saturday Bright and early from 9:00 – 10:00 a.m….