Giving - A Helping Hand

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Giving - a helping hand!

This Outdoor Play Oasis photo captures the essence of giving -

just one finger hold was enough

to give this 2 year old confidence to take the next step!

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support our play-learning spaces & programs!

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healthy growth and well-being!

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RECENT PROGRAMS HIGHLIGHTS

Making Learning through Play Visible

Young learners, especially boys, need to move! Movement is welcomed at the Toy Library during all programs! Enjoy the video action and song "Dirt made my dinner..."

These boys used the line (the marker of the space between the performers and the audience to walk the line - back and forth, again and again to the beat of the music.

Play-Literacy-Movement & More

@ Toy Library

Reflections of "Family Play Day" (11/19) featuring Puppets, Paul & Mary with focus on food and giving thanks!

The Toy Library resources and indoor play spaces are intentionally created to foster learning - to spark imaginative, creative play, encourage active physical movement, stimulate language development, social interactions and more.

During Puppets, Paul & Mary's puppet and song performance children were able to continue to play - to manipulate play materials in creative ways. The boys that walked the blue line taped on the floor back and forth and back and forth repeatedly - were not just moving for the sake of moving, they were following a line, their steps and their turning back the other way were in sync with the music. A boy playing with puppets in the puppet theater were dancing and speaking to the beat of the music. A baby in his mother's arms were moving to the rhythm of the song. Another child was working on puzzles and another was building with magna tiles while listening and singing along.

At the Toy Library, children have the freedom to move, to learn, from their hands-on exploring, creating and experimenting with hundreds of play materials available to use and try out independently or with others.

-Deb Willsea

Following the children's curiosity, movement, and sensory learning!

Play-Literacy-STEM Learning

@ Outdoor Play Oasis

Reflections of 'Sensational Stories' (11/8) by Program Facilitator, Mary Wilson

"Cape Cod Toy Library's Outdoor Play Oasis is an environment purposefully built as an invitation to play and imagine. Math, science, physics, language, color concepts, problem solving, imagination and fine motor skill building were all involved in the play experience.

Negotiation, cooperation, language, turn taking and making new friends were all part of the experience. The children were narrating what they were making and were offering to add different ingredients to each other's creations. They were negotiating and trading cooking tools while using the seeds, leaves and sticks.

While reading the story ("Jane Brocket's Clever Concepts Spiky, Slimy, Smooth"), textures were discussed and explored all around us. The word "crunchy" was exemplified by the dried leaves next to the stage. When the children were invited to notice the exterior of the natural log tunnel, they all ran over to touch it and describe it. They called it "lumpy." When asked if the inside of the log was different, they all climbed in and agreed that it was different, calling it "smooth." When they were all inside the log....their senses and imagination were engaged and learning was supported by the environment.

In this play environment, there are no rules, there are no barriers to imagination or materials use. The environment of the Outdoor Play Oasis is the classroom.

It is a play space and a community gathering space where learning can happen spontaneously and be celebrated.

Learning can take place anywhere, but it is here, in the Outdoor Play Oasis, that supports learning in a beautiful natural environment that will leave families coming back for more."

-Mary Wilson

Pitter Patter Programs

UPCOMING PROGRAMS

January 7th

Saturday, January 7th 10-1

@ Toy Library

"Celebrating

Chinese New Year"

FREE PROGRAM

Come Celebrate Chinese New Year

with our Chinese friends! Come play and experience some Chinese culture - music, dance, creative art, games, stories and more!

Facilitated by

Chinese mom, Lei Lancaster &

Chinese-Canadian mom and owner Belonging Books, Erica Two Haidas

REGISTRATION APPRECIATED - DROP IN FAMILIES WELCOME - JUST COME!

Watch for

Pop Up Programs

@ Outdoor Play Oasis

(in backyard of Hyannis Public Library)

We look forward to hosting programs through the winter

when weather permits!

Remember - the Outdoor Play Oasis is open every day of the year - dawn to dusk - for families with children up to the age of 12 for exploratory, imaginative, active play and community connections!

Have an idea for an outdoor winter program? Contact us -

info@capecodtoylibrary.org

508-648-3227