Elwood P. Dowd has Harvey, Calvin has Hobbes and Big Bird has Mr. Snuffleupagus. Imaginary Friends! They come in all shapes, sizes, genders and even species. Although not all children develop these special invisible relationships, imaginary friends are a normal part of the childhood experience. According to a 2004 study, by age seven, 65 percent of children have had an imaginary companion.
Yet, parents and guardians are often concerned when they find out their child talks to and/or interacts with an pretend friend. Questions arise, such as, “What is wrong with my child?” or “Why can’t they make real friends?”
However, these make-believe relationships are often beneficial. According to psychologist Tracy Gleason, professor of psychology at Wellesley College, having imaginary friends help children develop a “Theory of Mind” or ToM. Dictionary.com defines ToM as “the ability to interpret one’s own and others people’s mental and emotional states, understanding that each person has unique motives, perspectives, etc.” Equally important, interacting with an imaginary friend helps a child develop their imagination, practice their social skills and overcome shyness. Continue reading “Imaginary Friends”
It’s back to school time! When I was younger, I always looked forward to new school supplies, picking out an outfit to wear on the first day and seeing which friends were in my classes. But even with all the excitement, I was also nervous about what the school year might bring.
For kindergartners and preschoolers, school can be a big adjustment. Reading books on the subject and talking about fears or concerns beforehand can help make the first day go more smoothly.
Katie Davis’s “Kindergarten Rocks!” shows that there’s nothing to fear when it comes to school. In this book, Dexter is going into kindergarten. While he is not afraid of school, his stuffed dog Rufus is scared that Dexter will miss his family or will get lost. Will Dexter like kindergarten? Will Rufus get over his nerves?
Pete the Cat is one of my favorite characters, and he definitely doesn’t disappoint in “Pete the Cat: Rocking in My School Shoes.” This catchy book has simple little song that you can sing along with your kindergartner to help them if they get nervous.
You’ll find these books and more on our book list, “Your First Day of School!”
On Friday, August 4, we were delighted to host a crowd of all ages for our 3rd Annual Cosplay Costume Con. This year, the event was held after normal library hours, and the participants used the lobby as their runway to strut their stuff! Everyone came dressed in their finest gear from Eowyn to Spider-Man, with representatives from nearly every pop culture fandom. Prizes were provided by the library, Distant Planet Comics, Ragtag Cinema, and Central Missouri Renaissance Festival.
Below are some pictures of our awesome participants.
Continue reading “Cosplay Costume Con Recap”
What can you make with construction paper, crayons, Band-Aids, googly eyes and puffy paint? Adorable fireflies! I know it sounds a little odd, but stick with me here folks; these crafts are super-cute and are great for summertime while waiting for the sun to set and the fireflies to emerge.
This project is a little more material-heavy than the other crafts I usually share with you, but the end result is worth it. Plus, children will not only experience working with different medias but will also learn how to recycle common household materials to make original artwork.
Supplies
- Black, blue or purple construction paper
- Yellow and white crayons
- Plain Band-Aids (not clear)
- Colorful Band-Aids
- Tiny googly eyes
- Yellow puffy paint (or yellow paper circles or yellow pom poms)
- Glue
- Chalk (optional)
Instructions
Continue reading “Firefly Craft”
We’re excited to share a new reading list we have put together, titled “Becoming a Big Brother or Sister.” This is a staff-picked list of children’s picture books about new siblings. With over 30 books on the list, you are sure to find some great reading options to share with your soon-to-be big brother or sister.
Stop by your library for a printed copy, use this PDF or view the list within our catalog.
Happy Reading!
Warm days and cool nights make summer the perfect time to play outside, but not just for us! Take bugs, for instance. They love summer too. For this reason, you will see them everywhere this time of year.
But what is a “bug?” Merriam Webster defines a bug as “an insect or other creeping or crawling small invertebrate.” ASU (Arizona State University) School of Life Sciences expands this definition a bit further: bugs are insects, but not all insects are bugs. “The key difference between true bugs and other insects is their mouth parts. True bugs suck. That’s right, the true bugs have specialized mouth parts used to suck juices. Mostly they suck fluids from plants, but there are some true bugs, like bed bugs, that feed on animals.” Continue reading “Bugs Love Summer, Too!”
The Fourth of July is nearly upon us! In the U.S.A, July 4 is when we celebrate our Independence Day, but did you know that another big country celebrates its independence in July as well? On July 14, France celebrates La Fête Nationale, also known as Bastille Day. Be careful though, the French actually never call it Bastille Day!
The United States chose their independence day because it was the very day that the Declaration of Independence was adopted, essentially ending the American Revolution. France’s holiday, however, symbolizes the beginning of their revolution, rather than the end. July 14, 1789 was the day of the Storming of the Bastille, the battle that ignited the French Revolution that would ultimately end in their independence from the French Monarchy and feudalism. Continue reading “International Holidays: Bastille Day”
We had a blast yesterday working with kids to create doodle-bots in our Wiggle-Bots program. Everyone was so creative, and the kids who participated came up with bots that were both quirky and ingenious. Browse the images below to see what these talented kids came up with.
Want to watch these bots in action? Watch video 1 and video 2.
Continue reading “Doodle-Bots at the Library”
You can now check out tablets for children, called Launchpads, at our library branches and bookmobiles! These educational, pre-loaded tablets playfully cover topics such as reading, science, math and much more. Launchpads check out for one week, and they’re the perfect way to keep your kids entertained while traveling this summer.
Each tablet has 10 pre-loaded learning apps chosen around a theme and a range of ages. Choose from four different themes per age group. You may check out one Launchpad per library card.
Ages 3-5, Pre-K to K
Continue reading “Playaway Launchpads”
One of my favorite aspects of DBRL’s Summer Reading program is that kids are asked to do special activities as well as reading. These activities are tied to the Summer Reading theme. With this year’s theme, “Build a Better World,” one of the suggested activities is to read a book about a different culture. Not only does this open kids up to books they might not otherwise read, but it also opens up an opportunity for discussion.
If you don’t know where to start, check out my book list for picture books and for chapter books about different cultures.
If you haven’t signed up for Summer Reading, don’t worry! Sign-up continues until July 22. Just stop by one of our branches or bookmobiles.
