I am the Youth and Teen Collections Librarian for the eight locations that comprise my library system, and I am responsible for purchasing all materials for ages 0-17. In the past few years, I have noticed an increase in materials addressing mindfulness, meditation, and calming activities for all age groups. Researchers and health professionals are sounding the alarm regarding the increased prevalence of depression and anxiety for children ages 3-17. While the pandemic had a huge impact on mental and emotional health, the current state of the world has continued to contribute to the concerning rise of stress in young children. The following booklist offers a variety of books for young readers to help navigate emotional challenges. I am hoping you will find some helpful titles to offer patrons, caregivers, and readers insight and guidance. Several books offer instructions for mindful breathing and calming movements. Many of the practices covered…
Tag: mindfulness
Winter Mindfulness for Kids
Winter is here! These cold winter days can mean lots of time cooped up inside with little opportunity for children to release energy. For many who already struggle with regulating, this season can feel especially hard. Librarians can step in to teach and model mindful strategies to help them feel more grounded. Mindfulness in the Library Practicing mindfulness is important to help children regulate, sustain their attention, and manage their emotions. As librarians, we can subtly infuse mindful practices into our programming to support kids. One strategy is to use cozy picture books to offer winter relief, as blogger Erika Hogan shared. Another strategy you could try is implementing “One Mindful Minute” of deep breathing or other stress-reducing activity into your programs. To take things a step further, you could try building an entire activity or program that is centered around mindfulness. As a Certified Yoga Teacher, I have a…
One Mindful Minute: Supporting Back to School Season
Back to School season can be a huge transition for school-aged children. Summer adventures without routine or structure can make the classroom return difficult. There is an overwhelming amount of “new” things to digest at the start of the school year: new teachers, classrooms, school supplies, classmates, friends, rules, school lunches, homework, after school activities, — and that’s just the beginning. Whether a child loves or hates the idea of returning to school, this change truly affects all across the board.
EDI In Action: Let’s Move!
When we talk about how to connect with underserved communities, one way is through programs for youth who may be looking for more than books. Instead, they may be looking for a place to belong, a space to develop confidence, or a time that works with their variety of learning styles. I’m a librarian who loves movement in storytimes but also as part of programming for all youth. As a kinesthetic learner, I try to incorporate many different access points in my programs to connect with a variety of learners. As a Chinese martial artist, I like to bring what I have learned as well as acknowledge community members who may want to share. Today, I’d like to focus on using movement as a way to enhance programs you already do or as inspiration to partner with others to authentically bring a new type of program to your community. Storytime….
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…
BREATHE
It’s been a long, long week/month/year/decade, and May is stressful for all; public library staff are gearing up for Summer Reading (a wild time to work in a public library environment), while school staff are just trying to make it to the end of the school year (a wild time to work in a school environment). And of course, we’re still living in a pandemic; things are scary and uncertain in so many ways. With all this happening, it is no surprise that I often have to remind myself to breathe. How often do you actually pay attention to your breathing? The persistently ragged, near-panicky gasping that has become my pandemic breathing style doesn’t exactly lead to inner peace. To really help yourself achieve some level of calm, one needs to be mindful of their breathing, and so, in that spirit, here are some links I hope you find helpful…
Consider Stillness as a Librarian
When you are a super passionate, energetic, big idea thinker, and dreamer, you can be a complete asset to your place of employment. You dream big and come up with exciting services, beloved programs, and best of all- you have the zest to see them through! However, you can also be a scary nuisance to your institution and given advice like “your passion is unsustainable” or “work would be easier for you if you just came in, worked your hours, and left” because sometimes people who want to do more are scary… it means change!
Mindfulness and Breathing During a Pandemic
As we continue to stay at home, continue to provide remote programming, and continue to miss large family gatherings, this month’s post from the Intellectual Freedom Committee provides some picture books to help us take a step back and breathe a little.