Children's & Parents' Services Department eNews
Week of June 19, 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.
Your Community Library wants to congratulate all the elementary school students from the William Floyd School District for completing this challenging school year and graduating/moving on up! Join us for a live virtual show with our favorite band,  Strummin' and Drummin'   (Wednesday, June 24 at 12:00 p.m.)!  This fun and interactive concert with amazing children's music will get you up and dancing in celebration of all our graduates! Click HERE

It's the Community Library's Summer With Us Kick Off show! Join our Facebook Live (on Friday, June 26 at 4:00 p.m.) 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! Click HERE
Upcoming Programs
Kahoot: Summer Fun for Kids Challenge
Friday, June 19 until Sunday, June 21, 9:00pm
Test your knowledge of summer facts this week and see how you rank.

Try it out HERE
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  
Crafts & Activities
SOMETHING YUMMY
Try making this easy snack from the New Junior Cook Book , edited by Jan. E. Miller ! 

You can download the book HERE or on the Libby app.


Soon we will get to order and pick up physical books from the library again! I did some searching and found one that you can take home! This book is full of great recipes and in honor of the summer season I thought we would try some ROCKET POPS!! These are ice pops you can make yourself!! This is the perfect treat for a warm summer day. -Miss Casey 
ROCKET POPS (Makes 4 pops)

Total Time: 20 minutes plus freeze time

Ingredients
  • 1 envelope of unflavored gelatin
  • 1/4 cup of sugar
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 2 cups of chopped strawberries or peaches
  • 1/2 cup of fat free milk
  • 1/2 cup pomegranate juice
Let's Get Started!
  1. Stir together gelatin and sugar in a small saucepan. Stir to mix on medium heat.
  2. Mix together completely and then remove from heat, let cool completely.
  3. Put strawberries, yogurt, milk, and juice in the blender, add gelatin mixture and blend!!
  4. Pour into ice pop mold.
  5. Put in freezer and allow time to freeze!
  6. Run under warm water and take out!
  7. Cool, 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
School’s Out: A Parents’ Guide for Meeting the Challenge During the COVID-19 Pandemic

This article offers suggestions for parents to help make the most of their child’s time off from school, while keeping in mind child development and children’s reactions to stressful and changing situations. Access the article  HERE
QUARENTUNES
It's the Ice Cream Song! Bounce along with this original kid's song from  Bounce Patrol.  We all scream for ice cream!   

Watch HERE
BABY CORNER
Try out this great free app created by the Early Learning Lab that offers parents and caregivers a one-stop source of quality resources across these key areas in English and Spanish (under Recursos en Español): 
 
  • Support for children’s learning and development, including simple activities to help children learn through play at home  
  • Self-care strategies for parents and caregivers  
  • Information on how to get help meeting essential needs, including, food, shelter, diapers, and more 
  • Trusted health and safety resources, including how to talk to children about the ongoing health pandemic and racial inequality crisis 

The free  Stay Play Grow  app is available in the  Apple App Store  and  Google Play Store  now. Check it out  HERE . 
Baby Fourth of July Footprint

I saw this in my travels this week and wanted to share with you, just in time for the Fourth of July and with enough time to get the supplies.

Supplies :
  • Card stock / canvas
  • Black sharpie
  • Acrylic paint: red, blue, yellow, and orange

If you are looking to frame this, then you’ll want to cut the card stock beforehand. An 8x 10 frame would work nicely. You may want to bring your highchair outside on a nice day to do this. Bring with you a bunch of snacks and /or toys to keep them distracted while you are trying to paint their toes. If your baby is small enough, you could even do this while they are sleeping and they are nice and relaxed! If you are wanting to do a handprint with a little one, it works best to put lots of paint on their hand. This way when they squish their hands together, there is enough paint to get a good handprint.

After their hand is painted, I hold their wrist close to the card stock or canvas and when they open their hand wide, I press it down as fast as I can. Use a paintbrush to paint their hand or foot instead of dipping it in the paint. If you use acrylic paint make sure you have your space covered and clothes that can get ruined. Acrylic paint doesn't come out of clothes so be prepared! It also dries very fast so make sure you have enough paint on their hand and foot. When I think I have enough I add a little bit more. When you press their hand and foot down, roll it from side to side. Make sure you have pressed down on all fingers and toes. Have a wet paper towel or sink nearby to clean off the paint.   Happy Fourth of July! -Miss Tara R.
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
How about a good old-fashioned game of charades to help your preschoolers practice visual discrimination and exercise their imaginations?!

Keep it simple...according to age/ability. Silently pantomime familiar actions such as brushing your hair, throwing a ball, climbing the stairs, or driving the car. Perhaps if your child is a little older, or as he/she gains more experience with charades, you can act out something with more steps, such as preparing a bowl of cereal, or feeding the dog. By all means encourage your child to try out his/her own dramatic skills and do some charades for you! - Miss Debbie D.
CATCH THE READING BUG
Happy Father's Day!
Dad and the Dinosaur – a dad teaches his son that it’s okay not to be brave.

I Love Dad – tell dad you love him with help from the Very Hungry Caterpillar.

My Dad, My Hero - a tale that speaks volumes about the bond between a dad and his son.

How to Surprise a Dad - two siblings provide instructions for how to surprise one's dad, including surprises you can make, do, or find.

Nelly Gnu and Daddy Too – Llama Llama’s best friend and her dad build a playhouse together.

Hop on Pop – HOP POP . We like to Hop. We like to hop on top of Pop.

How to Babysit a Grandpa – a child’s tips for ‘babysitting’ a grandpa celebrates a loving relationship.

My Papi has a Motorcycle - When Papi gets home from work, Daisy grabs their helmets, eager to zoom through the neighborhood before the sun goes down.

Just in Case You want to Fly –a funny and sweet story of heading off on new adventures--and of knowing your loved ones will be there when you return home.

Just Like Dad - A heartwarming picture book of the special relationship between fathers and their children finds Little Critter helping with chores.

You can download these books HERE  or on the Libby app. 
NATURE CORNER
Backyard Safari

Fun Fact: Did you know that an American Crow is so smart it can count to three and use tools to get food?

It’s Crow Week in the Nature Corner. Check out our third in-depth Backyard Safari Spotter’s Guide on the MMS Community Library Facebook page to learn all about our cawing , crafty neighbors. 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

Is your vegetable patch under an invasion of bugs and bunnies and birds? Why not get your very own garden guardian? Garden Gnome-like statues watching over gardens have been around since the time of Ancient Rome, so there’s no time like the present to plant your own. Don’t want to buy one? Then craft a gnome out of your spare pottery pots! This post on the Ruffles & Rain Boots blog will give you step by step instructions, or you can check out their DIY video on YouTube .
At Home Learning

Do science…at home! Check out these fun science experiments you can do with your family, using household materials. Make your own sand dune, create instant ice, or craft your own Lava Lamp! Learn about physics, biology, and more without leaving the house. These experiments are provided by Learning Undefeated , a non-profit organization that works to provide STEM education to under-served communities.
SOMETHING FUN
YEEOOW!: The Science of Bites & Stings

The Emmy Award-winning host of YouTube’s  Brave Wilderness  and Animal Planet’s  Brave the Wild , Coyote Peterson, is an animal expert and advocate who turned his passion for nature into a thrilling career. Known for his close encounters with the world’s fiercest stingers and biters, Coyote shares his fascination with the animal kingdom with learners of all ages. For his class Yeeoow!: The Science of Bites & Stings , and other great summer animal camps, click HERE
407 William Floyd Parkway, Shirley, NY 11967 |  (631) 399-1511