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1-2-3 Brain Break: Gratitude

Posted on November 23, 2020 by Library Staff in Book Recommendations, Library Blog, Library Programs

Brain Breaks are short activities, often only 1-3 minutes long, that help kids get ready to learn or refocus on the task at hand. They often involve physical activity and movement though relaxing activities can also boost mental brain power.  

So, in addition to encouraging your kids to participate in these fun breaks, join the kiddos and have some refreshing, stress-free fun yourself, too! 

In today’s Brain Break, you can move your body and use your breath to change how you feel!

Supplies needed

Just yourself

Here’s how you do it

  1. Stand comfortably, and place your hands on your tummy to check in with how you feel.
  2. Gentle twisting and stretching can help you feel energized and relaxed.
  3. Stand or sit with your hands in front of you forming a cup. Take a deep breath in, and as you breathe out, think about someone or something you’re grateful for and imagine it filling up your cup. Repeat these slow, thoughtful breaths 4 – 5 times, or until you feel your cup overflowing with gratitude.
Miss Deidre takes you through an easy and relaxing gratitude activity.

Challenge Extensions

For the little ones –

Sculpt, use finger-paints or create a drawing with crayons and other materials of a person you’re grateful for.

For the older kids –

Write a “thank you” letter to someone you’re grateful for and mail it to them.

The “why” behind the challenge

Research in positive psychology shows that there is a strong association between gratitude and personal happiness.

Children under the age of 5 can practice gratitude.

Check out these books for more fun!

The Thankful Book by Todd Parr

Thank You Bees by Toni Yuly

Thanks A Million: Poems by Nikki Grimes


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Join our First-Ever Winter Reading Program: A Winter Tale!

Posted on November 19, 2020 by Audrey Glasebrook in Book Recommendations, Library Blog, Library Programs, News

Imagine this: it’s a cold winter evening, and you are curled up in a cozy blanket with a warm beverage and a good book. We think it doesn’t get much better than that. Unless…you could earn prizes for reading books!

Get ready for the first ever Poudre Libraries Winter Reading Challenge: A Winter Tale! Starting November 16, simply read and record five books, report back to the library, and earn a prize or two!

To participate, readers of all ages can pick up a reading log at any library location or print a copy from the Winter Reading Challenge webpage, www.poudrelibraries.org/winter. All materials are available in English and Spanish. Then cozy up and read at least five books! Record the name of each book read (or listened to) between November 16 and February 7. Pick up your completion prize at any library location, beginning December 1. Completion prizes will be available for pickup until March 13, while supplies last.

In addition to a completion prize, all readers who complete the challenge can enter into the Grand Prize Drawing – a basket full of winter goodies from local merchants! Participants must fill out the entry form that is on their reading log and return it to the library. Six lucky readers will be selected at random, and can pick up their prize basket at the library location of their choice.

Do you need some suggestions of great new authors or titles for print or downloadable books? Our library staff has compiled lists of suggested titles. See the link on the Winter Reading webpage.

We hope you will join the library for a wonderful Winter Tale this snowy season!

books, reading challenge, reading prizes, Winter Fun, winter reading Read More

Introducing the New Bundle o’ Books Service

Posted on November 16, 2020 by Katie Auman in Book Recommendations, Library Blog, Library Services

After a successful pilot during the summer, the former Bag o’ Books service has been expanded, enhanced, and relaunched as Bundle o’ Books. This popular service offers quick checkout of a “bundle” of picture books, board books, or beginning reader books with just a few clicks of the button.

The Bundle o’ Books online service makes it easy and convenient for parents and caregivers to provide a fresh selection of diverse books to their young readers.

A new online reservation system

We’ve automated the requests for books! When you reserve a Bundle o’ Books using our new online reservation system (powered by KitKeeper), you can explore availability by library or by date and choose the type of bundle you’d like to reserve.

Our Bundle o’ Books webpage includes a link to the reservation system. From there you can browse availability, reserve your bundles, and review the “Help” guide.

You will need your Poudre Libraries card to reserve books and to check them out using Curbside Pickup (or in-person once buildings re-open to the public).

Curated selection of quality children’s books

Each Bundle is hand picked by a librarian to present a variety of content, themes, and styles, including cultural and geographic diversity. Book selections are sure to engage and delight young readers.

English and Spanish-language book bundles are available

You can choose whether you’d like your Bundle to be filled with English or Spanish-language picture books, board books, or beginning readers. Picture books and beginning reader books are available in bundles of 10; board books are available in bundles of five.

What You Need to Know

  • A Poudre River Public Library District library card and an email address are required.
  • Two (2) Bundles may be reserved within a 21-day period.
  • Bundles must be picked up on the chosen reservation date.
  • Pick up your Bundle at the library indicated in the Bundle description. Bundles will not be transferred between library buildings.
  • An email notification will be sent when the Bundle is ready to be picked up.
  • Books in the bundle are checked out separately and may be renewed or returned separately.

Visit our Bundle o’ Books webpage to get started. If you have any questions about the Bundle o’ Books service or need help reserving your bundle, please call the Answer Center at 970-221-6740.


Paquete de Libros

El programa Paquete de Libros (Bundle o’ Books en inglés) facilita que padres y cuidadores proporcionen una nueva selección de libros de cartón, libros ilustrados y libros para primeros lectores a sus niños.

Cuando reserve un Paquete de Libros, el personal de la biblioteca seleccionará 5 títulos variados, los empacará y los tendrá disponibles para que los recoja en la ubicación de la biblioteca que usted elija.

Cada Paquete contiene una combinación de libros de cartón, libros ilustrados y libros para primeros lectores. Además, presenta una variedad de contenidos, temas y estilos, incluyendo la diversidad étnica, cultural y geográfica. Estamos seguros que esta selección de libros deleitará a sus pequeños lectores.

Utilice nuestro sistema de reserva en línea para checar la disponibilidad en cada biblioteca y reservar su Paquete de Libros.

Lo que necesita saber

Se requiere una tarjeta del Distrito Bibliotecario Público Poudre River y una dirección de correo electrónico.

  • Se pueden reservar dos Paquetes dentro de un período de 21 días.
  • Los Paquetes deben recogerse en la fecha de reserva elegida.
  • Se enviará una notificación por correo electrónico cuando el Paquete esté listo.
  • Cada libro del Paquete se añadirá a su cuenta de manera individual y podrá renovarse o devolverse por separado.

beginning reader books, board books, Bundle o Books, children's books, kids and family, picture books Read More

1-2-3 Brain Break: Charades

Posted on November 16, 2020 by Jennifer Zachman in Library Blog

Brain Breaks are short activities, often only 1-3 minutes long, that help kids get ready to learn or refocus on the task at hand. They often involve physical activity and movement though relaxing activities can also boost mental brain power.  

So, in addition to encouraging your kids to participate in these fun breaks, join the kiddos and have some refreshing, stress-free fun yourself, too! 

Supplies Needed: 

  • Paper and pencil 
  • Hat or other container 

Here’s what you do: 

  1. Write a few objects or phrases on separate slips of paper and place them in a hat or other container. Some topic ideas might include: 

Be a superhero 
Brushing your teeth 
Be a giraffe 
Shoveling snow 
Be a rock 
Eating an ice-cream cone 
Be a favorite book character 
Be a banana 
Be Neil Armstrong walking on the moon 

  1. Take turns with your child choosing one paper slip from the hat to act out. No speaking, writing, or drawing allowed… acting only! 
  1. See how many you can each guess in five minutes! 

The “Why” behind the Activity: 

A classic game of Charades is fun and entertaining, but it also has many added benefits. Charades presents a challenge to both the actor and the person guessing which encourages outside-of-the-box creative thinking. It also helps children become aware of emotions and feelings in a given situation which can help them better understand how to respond with care and kindness. The game can also improve your child’s vocabulary, promotes bonding with you, and develops trust. And it’s an all-around classic that can be played with and adapted for any age! 

Try out more fun and entertaining mind games! 

What’s Your Personality? Facts, Trivia, and Quizzes by Francesca Potts 

Let’s Clap, Jump, Sing, and Shout; Dance, Spin, and Turn It out! Games, Songs, and Stories from an African American Childhood collected by Patricia C. McKissack 

Boredom Buster: Games for the Road by Nicola Baxter 


brain break, charades, kids and family Read More

1-2-3 Brain Break: Boom Snap Clap

Posted on November 9, 2020 by Library Staff in Book Recommendations, Library Blog, Library Programs

 

Brain Breaks are short activities, often only 1-3 minutes long, that help kids get ready to learn or refocus on the task at hand. They often involve physical activity and movement though relaxing activities can also boost mental brain power.  

So, in addition to encouraging your kids to participate in these fun breaks, join the kiddos and have some refreshing, stress-free fun yourself, too! 

Boom Snap Clap is a body percussion activity. It builds your coordination, gets you in rhythm, plus it’s a lot of fun. 😊  

Supplies needed   

Just yourself 

Here’s what you do  

The movements are simple.

  1. Start with a gentle tap on your chest – this is the boom!
  2. Then snap your fingers – snap.
  3. Now give one clap. 
  4. The last movement will be to put your forefinger to your mouth and make a ‘shhh’ sound. 

Now that you’ve got the movements, we’re going to do the actions to a rhythm.  

Boom – snap – clap 

Boom – boom –snap – clap – snap 

Boom – snap – clap 

Boom boom – snap – shh! 

Easy peasy! Try going faster, alternating hands that do the boom and snap, or changing up the order of the actions. 

Challenge Extensions:  

For the little ones –  

Little fingers can struggle to do a snap – substitute a new action for the snaps. Children can make two fists and tap one fist on top of the other. 

For the older kids -   

Try mirroring the action rhythm with a family member. Or try doing the actions with your feet. Stomp for the boom, tap the side of your foot with your hand for the snap, and click feet together for the clap. 

“The Why” behind the Challenge:  

We all have a built-in rhythm to our bodies. Expressing rhythm through a structured activity helps center and refocus children. There are also lots of cross-influences between rhythm, music, logic and math concepts. 

Check out these books for more fun!  

Unbored Games: Serious Fun for Everyone by Joshua Glenn & Elizabeth Foy Larsen 

 

Anna Banana: 101 Jump-rope Rhymes compiled by Joanna Cole; illustrated by Alan Tiegreen 

Diez Deditos = Ten Little Fingers & Other Play Rhymes and Action Songs from Latin America selected, arranged, and translated by Jose-Luis Orozco; illustrated by Elisa Kleven 


book recommendation, brain break, kids and family, movement Read More
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