Children's & Parents' Services Department eNews
Week of June 26, 2020
With the Children's and Parents' Services Department
Make sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube for lots of story times, links, resources, and activities to share with your families.

Keep an eye on our library web program calendar for upcoming virtual programs. Click HERE to view.
Upcoming Programs
Kahoot: Famous Locations & Landmarks for Kids
Friday, June 26 until Sunday, June 28, 9:00pm
Test your knowledge of famous places this week and see how you rank.

Try it out HERE
Circus Show: Virtually Summer With Us Kick-Off
Friday, June 26, 4:00-4:30 p.m.
For Families

Join our Facebook Live for the National Circus Project's High Energy Variety Show . This show includes high level juggling, plate spinning, Chinese yo-yos, magic, balancing, unicycling, clowning, and lots of fun surprises! Stay tuned for upcoming Summer With Us events and activities! 

More information HERE
Crafts-To-Go will be offered ongoing as part of the way that you can Summer With Us .

Patriotic themed Crafts-To-Go will be available Monday, June 29 - Friday, July 3.

Crafts-To-Go can be requested by phone at (631) 399-1511. Please be sure to let us know the age of the person using the kit so that the kits are age appropriate. Kits are available for children, teens and adults. WHILE SUPPLIES LAST!
Family Game Night
Friday, June 26, 6:00-7:00 p.m.
For Families

Join Ms. Hillary on Zoom in this virtual program. We will be playing Drawasaurus (like Pictionary.) No registration necessary. Join us using Zoom by clicking HERE or use the Meeting ID: 897 7740 4027  
PASTA/Grandparent Support Group
Tuesday, June 30, 8:00-9:00 p.m.
Registration is required. Click HERE

Get the information, support, and resources you need to navigate the challenges of raising your grandchildren and relatives, especially during these trying times.

Join us using Zoom.us on your computer or mobile device.  You will need to download the Zoom app. You must provide us your email to receive the Zoom ID# link to join the session.  We will email you the day of the program.
Crafts & Activities
SOMETHING YUMMY
The HEALTHY Lunchtime Cook Book : Award winning recipes from and for kids. From the Let’s Move Initiative by Michelle Obama. Available on the Libby app or Overdrive by clicking HERE

It’s LUNCHTIME! I love my classic lunchtime meals but sometimes it is fun to switch it up for something different! My favorites like peanut butter and jelly or macaroni and cheese are simple and quick. On days like today I like to switch things up and try something outside the box! I found this great recipe that is full of fun foods and when you put them all together inside of a shell it’s called a PANINI!! This is such a fun word try saying it 10x fast!! -Miss Casey
Teeny Zucchini Triangular Panini (Makes 6 Servings)
Total Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:
  • 2 Cups of grated zucchini                                                     
  • 2 Eggs lightly beaten
  • ½ Cup feta cheese
  • ½ Cup diced sweet peppers
  • ¼ Cup Diced Green Onions
  • ¼ Cup mashed chickpeas
  • 1 clove of garlic minced
  • Salt and Pepper
  • ½ Cup breadcrumbs
  • ¼ Cup of olive oil
  • 6 Pitas

Directions:
  1. Place your zucchini in a clean dish towel and tightly squeeze out all of the water into a sink.
  2. In a large bowl mix all of your ingredients together except for the pitas.
  3. After mixing roll six patties of your mixture about the size of the pita bread.
  4. In a pan heat up your olive oil.
  5. Cook each patty first about 4 minutes per side
  6. Then place inside of your pita, maybe add some lettuce or tomatoes!!
  7. Then grill your panini on the outside! I like to use a waffle maker!
  8. Cut into triangles and enjoy!!

Are you missing our cooking classes with Chef Rob? Check out our Facebook page for his newest cooking demonstrations and recipes and you can bring him right into your own kitchen.

No registration necessary!
SOMETHING FOR PARENTS
FROM PARENT TO TEACHER TO BECOMING THE CAMP COUNSELOR – HELP ME!
These ideas will help you make the most of your backyard, outdoor spaces and provide a summer of fun!

If you have kids stuck at home, you might be running out of creative activities to keep them occupied and happy! These 20 backyard activities for kids are some exciting things for them to play and it gets them outside for some much-needed fresh air. So, if you need some new play ideas or have some bored children, be sure to check out this compilation of backyard activities for kids.

Learn more HERE
QUARENTUNES
KIDZ BOP Dance Monkey- Here is an upbeat popular song that the whole family can sing along too! You can even try learning the dance moves together!

Watch HERE
BABY CORNER
H appy Summer from Miss Tara R.!

Since summer is finally here, we have been thinking of more ways to have fun outdoors. One thing that is simple and provides lots of enjoyment is making your own safe bubbles and bubble wands. You can also bring it indoors in the bathtub or even make a DIY birthday station!
Easy DIY Bubble Wands

All you need to make bubble wands are pipe cleaners! These are easy enough to find at your local craft or dollar store. To create a bubble wand all you do is take one end of the pipe cleaner and bend it into a circle the size of a quarter or really any size that you want. Make more than one and make each one a different size. Bend them into shapes like a heart, or triangle, or square and see the fun bubbles you can make!
Baby Safe Bubbles

Materials:
  • Dish soap/laundry detergent (chemical free preferred so it’s non-toxic and safest for your child/baby)
  • Liquid vegetable glycerin
  • White sugar
  • Warm water
  • Wide mouth jar with an airtight lid (old baby food jars work great)
  • Masking tape for a label
  • Scissors
 
Bubble Recipe:
  • 1 Cup warm water
  • 2 Tablespoons dish soap/laundry detergent
  • 1 Tablespoon glycerin
  • 1 Teaspoon white sugar

Start by combining 1 cup of warm water with 1 teaspoon of white sugar. Stir in the sugar until it is completely dissolved. Next stir in the teaspoon of glycerin. Gently stir in 2 tablespoons of the dish soap/laundry detergent.

Why Glycerin or Sugar?

The addition of the glycerin or sugar makes the bubbles last longer before popping. Glycerin can be purchased at most health food stores or on Amazon. It is a little pricey so if you don’t want to buy it, just double the amount of white sugar in your recipe.

Storing your Bubble Solution

Store your bubble solution in an airtight container and make sure it is clearly labeled. Grab some masking tape (or duct tape) and a black marker and create your own label. The bubble solution should store nicely for at least 1 month. Just make sure to stir, don’t shake, the solution before every use.
Miss Kathy fans, make sure to watch our Facebook page Friday mornings for her weekly baby and toddler programs. Babies and Toddlers class starts at 10:00 a.m. and class for 2-3-year olds starts at 10:30 a.m. No registration necessary!
PRESCHOOL PLACE
Hi Parents!

There are so many verbal games you can play with your preschool child, while you’re trying to get other things done...(meaning household tasks that require your body but not so much your mind!)

These games are fun and give your children opportunities with vocabulary as well as problem solving skills. Here are some examples:

  • “Name an animal that lives in...” (the ocean, the jungle, underground, a tree, etc.)
  • “What shape is...” (a ball, an orange, a plate? A window, a door, a book?)
  • “Name 3 things that are yellow... “ (go on to other colors)...OR reverse the questions...” what color are lemons, bananas, and corn?”
  • “Name 5: animals that have fur; vehicles; animals that fly; kinds of vegetables”, etc.
  • “What do you like better, cheese or broccoli?”...child might answer broccoli...then ask broccoli or ice cream? child might answer ice cream...ice cream or cake? And keep going as long as you can...

With all of these games, turn the tables, and have your child be the one asking the questions...a different kind of thinking involved!

Enjoy these years...they fly right by...Ms. Debbie D .
CATCH THE READING BUG - SUMMER FUN!
Picture Books
School’s out and the hot, lazy days of summer are here. Most of us will be staying close to home with fewer opportunities to get out and about. Whether you read to your child or they read on their own, books are a wonderful way to learn about and explore the world right from your home. Here are some good summer reading picks that are available online or from the library. Search for summer books from the library  HERE
Easy Readers
NATURE CORNER
Backyard Safari

Fun Fact: Did you know that Raccoons are great problem solvers? They can use their sensitive paws and big brains to open locks?

It’s Raccoon Week in the Nature Corner. Check out our fifth in-depth Backyard Safari Spotter’s Guide on the MMS Community Library Facebook page to learn all about our sneaky, scruffy pals. We’ll be giving you everything you want to know, including where to spot them, what to look for, and plenty more fun facts!
Garden Crafts

Paints are expensive and visiting the craft store to restock might not be a priority for you right now. If you need to satisfy that artistic urge, why not look to your backyard for some natural pigments? For this week’s craft, all you need is some flowers, leaves, scraps of white fabric/paper, a carving board, and a mallet to make your own Yard Art. Check out the Buggy and Buddy website for instructions on how to get started…and learn all about plant pigments at the same time!
At Home Learning

Maybe these last few months weren’t enough to help you keep up with your science lessons, or maybe you want to start the next school year better prepared? Mystery Science is a company devoted to providing kids with quick and easy access to information on science. They are offering dozens of full lessons and mini-lessons, broken up by grade level, for free on their website. Just because the school year is over doesn’t mean the learning needs to stop!
SOMETHING FUN
"Make eating fruits and vegetables fun by turning your plate into a canvas."

Instructions available by clicking HERE
407 William Floyd Parkway, Shirley, NY 11967 |  (631) 399-1511