The Public Library once again has a great line-up of kids programming to keep both parents and children busy while school is out. Children’s Librarian Tina Dolcetti is excited about the return of some classic favorites and some new additions to the programs.
Storytime in Crescent Park is returning, as Dolcetti found last year that this particular event had a lot of interest. Taking place on Wednesday mornings in July and August, at 10:30 am, kids and parents are welcome to drop-in for a story and outdoor activities — weather permitting.
“We've got like these little target practice games that we're going to set up outside. We've got sidewalk chalk, we got Hula hoops, we've got plenty of fun little things to play with outside,” said Dolcetti. “And we have these huge books that we love reading to kids.”
Design Lab workshops will begin on Tuesday afternoons, from 2-4pm in July and August, where kids are taken through an afternoon of learning about a new topic each week.
July 26 to Aug. 2 will be Lego week!“You come in and you don't have to stay; if you're in a rush, you can pick up the crafts and take them to go for a weekend at the lake,” said Dolcetti. “Or if you wanted to stay, you can spend three hours working on crafts as much as you want, so [DIY Kids] allows for a lot of flexibility.”
And it's not just crafting that these theme weeks are providing; books of related topics will be on display for kids who want to learn more about the subjects at home. The goal, said Dolcetti, is to keep kids engaging with reading while school is out, to maintain those literacy skills. She recommends aiming for 15 minutes a day, at least.
“We find that kids who are into learning about their environment are definitely wanting to read up on the things that they're learning about in their everyday environment,” said Dolcetti. “And the more learning that your kids can take part in throughout the summer, the better their chances are of integrating back into the school environment with success afterward.”
Another program that’s got Dolcetti excited is the Behind the Scenes tours; for any kid who’s ever wondered “how does that work?” when wandering through places like the Western Development Museum, or City Hall, these tours are a chance to answer those questions.
So far, there are tours through the WDM, Rainbow Retro, Mae Wilson Theatre, and City Hall scheduled, and spots are going to be limited so Dolcetti recommends that parents sign up sooner rather than later.
The main point Dolcetti hopes parents know is that all children’s programs from the Public Library are entirely public; having a library card isn’t required, each drop-in program is completely free to take part in, and parents are more than welcome to stay and join in.
Registration for all programs that require it will be done through the Library website, and more information is available either on the website or by calling the Children’s Department at (306) 692-2787. Parents are asked to be present for drop-off and pick-up from programs and to provide contact information.
