Parents
Explaining the Birds and Bees to Your Kids
Written by childrens library on 04/19/2013
Waitlist - Thursday, May 16 at 7 PM
Waitlist - Wednesday, May 22 at 10 AM
Amanda Romaniello, LPC and Ed Moran, LCSW from Family Centers will help moms and dads prepare to have a frank discussion on "the birds and the bees" with their child. Register online for one of the two scheduled workshops.
Growing Good Kids
Written by claire on 03/23/2012
Join us for the May session of Growing Good Kids.
Tuesday, May 7 at 10 AM in the Toddler Room
This program is a resource roundtable for caregivers at the Darien Library. Attendees can participate in an informal dialogue on childcare topics facilitated by Kate Frommer, Psy.D from Child Guidance Center of Southern Connecticut.
Common Core Resources for Parents
Written by KieraP on 03/20/2013
Looking to learn more about the Common Core State Standards? Here are a few great resources:
Presentation Slides from March 20, 2013 Panel Discussion
CoreStandards.org The website that details all aspects of the standards.
Connecticut State Department of Education
About Common Core Presented by the Connecticut Education Association
Parent Guides to Student Sucess Created by the National PTA, these are grade-level guides that detail the skills children are expected to master.
Shifts for Students and Parents Created by EngageNY.org, this document explains the six major shifts in English and Math that happen under Common Core.
2013 ALA Youth Media Award Winners
Written by egattullo on 01/30/2013
Congratulations to this year's ALA Youth Media Award Winners!
The Newbery Award for excellence in children's literature went to The One and Only Ivan by Kathryn Applegate. Newbery honors were given to Laura Amy Schlitz for Splendors and Glooms, Sheila Turnage for Three Times Lucky, and Sibert Winner Bomb.
This year, the Caldecott Award for excellence in picture books went to John Klassen, for This is Not My Hat. Klassen also won a Caldecott Honor for Extra Yarn, by Mac Barnett. Other Caldecott Honors were given to Peter Brown for Creepy Carrots, Laura Seeger for Green, David Small for One Cool Friend and to Pamela Zagarenski for Sleep Like a Tiger. Special Congratulations to Miss Kiera on her excellent work on the 2013 Caldecott Committee!
The Sibert Award for excellence in children's non-fiction went to Bomb: The Race to Build (And Steal) The World's Most Dangerous Weapon by Steven Sheinkin. And the Geisel Award, for excellence in Early Readers, went to Up, Tall and High, by Ethan Long.
See a full list of winners below!
Dealing with Bullies Booklist
 |
photo courtesy of Flickr user Eddie~S |
From pushes on the playground to mean instant messaging, bullying is an issue that almost all children face at some time or another. With a recent surge in media attention and a new focus on cyber-bullying, parents may wonder where and how to find the best information and ways of talking to their own kids about bullies.
What if my child is the victim of bullying?
A recent article in Parenting magazine offered the following 3 Step process for parents:
Step One: Find out what's going on. Get the facts and reassure your child that you will both work together on a solution.
Step Two: Help your child figure out how to respond. Some responses include:
- Stand tall and act brave
- Ignore the bully
- Stick with friends
- Tell an Adult
Step Three: Take action yourself. Set up a meeting with the teacher, parent, or caregiver.
What if my child's friend is the bully?
One of the hardest things for a child to learn is how to stand up for what's right, even in the face of possible scrutiny or embarassment.
The US Department of Health and Human Services has a kid-friendly website called Stop Bullying Now that features info, games, quizzes, and webisodes all designed to address the issues of bullying , offer meaningful discussion starters, and help promote positive ways of combatting this childhood problem. Check out this video featuring the character Melanie and her struggle with a friend who is a known bully.
What if my child is the bully?
It can sometimes be hard to tell if childhood squabbles are simply "kids being kids" or if there is a more serious problem.
Stop Bullying Now offers the following advice to parents:
- Make it clear to your child that you take bullying seriously and that you will not tolerate this behavior.
- Develop clear and consistent rules within your family for your children's behavior. Praise and reinforce your children for following rules and use non-physical, non hostile consequences for rule violations.
- Spend more time with your child and carefully supervise and monitor his or her activities. Find out who your child's friends are and how and where they spend free time.
- Build on your child's talents by encouraging him or her to get involved in prosocial activities (such as clubs, music lessons, nonviolent sports).
- Share your concerns with your child's teacher, counselor, or principal. Work together to send clear messages to your child that his or her bullying must stop.
- If you or your child needs additional help, talk with a school counselor or mental health professional.
The Children's Library also offers some great books for both children and parents on the subject of bullying. These are a few of our favorites:
 |
 |
 |
 |
App Chat with the Children's Librarians
Written by KieraP on 03/15/2012
On Thursday, the children's librarians hosted an App Chat. A small but enthusiastic group of parents met with Miss Kiera and Miss Claire to hear about great new apps for all ages and share their own favorites.
Click to view and print the handouts:
What are some of your favorite apps- for children or grownups? Share them in the comments below!
Our Favorite Parenting Blogs
Written by KieraP on 02/06/2012
Whether you're sporting your first baby bump or expecting your third little bundle of joy, chances are there is a parenting blog out there that you'll love. Moms, dads, and caregivers can trade tips, tricks, day-in-the-life adventures, and even shopping bargains through social media platforms like blogs. Here are a few of our favorite parenting blogs:
Pregnant Chicken: Laugh-out-loud funny observations and straightforward information for new parents.
Cool Mom Picks: Real Simple named this shopping blog as one of their top three. The bloggers curate list of great gifts, craft ideas, and products for both baby and mom- so you don't have to.
OhDeeDoh: From the creators of Apartment Therapy comes this interior design blog that has tips on everything from home improvement projects, to setting up a nursery, to converting a child's bedroom into a cool teen space.
Babble: More of a parenting website than a blog per se, Babble is a fount of information on everything from taming tantrums to having "The Talk." They also feature some great personal mom/dad blogs.
Autism Spot: An empowering and positive blog with information for parents of children with autism or other sensory integration disorders. Contains news about scientific studies and trials, activities for sensory and social development, and support forums.
Geek Dad: Several dads (and sometimes moms, too!) contribute to this fun, tech-savvy Wired blog for parents. From books, to video games, to Lego competitions, there is no shortage of great, geeky ideas.
Our Family Eats: Looking for a quick, healthy, and delicious dinner idea? Pop over to this practical foodie blog for busy chefs.
Radical Parenting: Believe it or not, this insightful and informative blog is not written by parents- but by a group of teen writers. Started by Vanessa Van Petten at age 16, the site is now home to over 120 teen contributors. For an inside look at the brain of a teenager, this is an invaluable resource for moms and dads.
Did you know we have some amazing parent bloggers right here in Darien? Check out these local mom bloggers and come meet them in person at the Tech Moms panel event next Wednesday, February 15 at 9:30am.
Lisa Boncheck Adams (LisaBAdams.com): Writings on breast cancer, grief & loss, life, and family.
Nicole Lyons (All About Darien): A "good-to-know" guide for and about everything Darien.
Jacquie (Afterwordsblog.com): Funny, poignant tales of a transplanted Brooklynite (now Darienite) living with her husband and two kids ("The Boy" and "The Girl") in suburbia.
Jennifer St. Jean (Itty Bitty Bag): Owner and creator of the Itty Bitty Bag company, this Darien mom is a craft and sewing goddess- she can even give detailed instructions how to hem a pleated jumper!
Have a favorite parenting blog that we missed? Share it in the comments section below!
photo courtesy of Flickr user miguelphotobooth.
Programs for Children
Little Clickers [Fridays, March 23 - April 27 at 10:30AM]
REGISTRATON OPENS FEBRUARY 27*
A technology class for three- to five-year-olds with a parent/caregiver. This interactive class will introduce new kid-friendly websites and help your preschooler learn basic computer skills. *Registration is a lottery; register here between Monday, February 27 and Monday, March 12.
Techsplorers [Wednesdays, January 4, January 18, February 1, February 15 at 4:15PM]
Wailtlist for Techsplorers (Space is limited)
Children ages six- to eight-years-old will have the opportunity to reinforce computer skills, explore fun new websites and create unique projects using both traditional and digital art techniques.
iKids [Mondays, January 9, January 23, February 6, February 27 at 4:15PM]
Waitlist for iKids (Space is limited)
A creation-based technology program for nine- to twelve-year-olds. This highly interactive class focuses on using technology to express creativity. From podcasting and digital photography to book trailers and art apps, kids will explore different media and create their own.
Storytubes Creation Lab [December 27 - February 4; see registration form for details]
Calling all kid filmmakers and book lovers! Storytubes 2012 is a national competition in which children combine their love of reading with savvy tech skills to create unique book trailers. Darien Library is proud to be a Partner Library for the 2012 competition! Register to reserve time in the computer lab to use the Children's Library cameras and software to make your book trailer.
Part of Cyber Parents & Digital Natives: A Technology Series for the Modern Family.
Programs for Parents
Monday Matinee Film Series
Grab a coffee on us, get comfortable and explore the role of technology in the lives of children and teens as presented in these eye-opening documentaries:
Digital Nation [Mondays, January 9 and January 23 at 10AM] Over a single generation, the Web and digital media have remade nearly every aspect of modern culture. Frontline explores our lives as citizens in a digital age. 90 minutes.
Remote Control [Mondays, February 6 and February 27 at 10AM] The average American child spends over 40 hours per week consuming media, the equivalent of a full-time job. Remote Control offers a fascinating look at the centrality of media in our lives, revealing far-reaching effects that we are only beginning to understand. 39 minutes.
Growing Up Online [Mondays, March 5 and 19 at 10AM] This Frontline documentary peers inside the world of the new cyber-savvy generation of tweens and teeens; a generation with a radically different notion of privacy and personal space. 60 minutes.
Computer Basics for Parents [Wednesday, January 18, 9:30 - 11:30AM]
Have you just begun to dip a toes into the digital waters? We've got the perfect beginner's class for you. Learn basic computer vocabulary and concepts. Play with common applications and software. Ask questions and get answers!
Facebook & Google+: A Workshop for Parents [Wednesday, January 25, 9:30 - 11:30AM]
Are you on Facebook or Google+? How about your tween or teen? In this hands-on workshop, you will learn how to navigate privacy settings and keep your profile safe in both Facebook and Google+.
Twitter for Parents
Tuesday, January 31, 9:30 - 10:30AM [Click here to REGISTER.]
Wednesday, February 1, 9:30 - 10:30AM [Click here to REGISTER.]
Tweeting's not just for the birds anymore! Learn the basics of using Twitter and experience how this dynamic tool can connect people across the globe. Find out how to limit settings and establish guidelines for tweens and tween who tweet. Register for one of the two offered workshops.
Tweet Up with the Children's Librarians [Fridays, February 10 at 11AM, March 2 at 11AM]
Whether you're on Twitter 24/7 or just tentatively tweeting, join us for these fast-paced and fun conversations, known as "Tweet Ups", on Twitter. On February 10, we'll be discussing eBooks, eReaders, and best practices for engaging both reluctant and voracious young readers. On March 2, we'll be talking about using Darien Library's interactive website and catalog. Tweet along by using the hashtag #CLTweetUp. Tweet from the Children's Library computers, at home, or on the go!
Tech Moms: A Panel Discussion for Parents [Wednesday, February 15 at 9:30AM]
Have you ever thought about starting a blog or a website? Whether you're interested in posting day-in-the-life observations, starting your own online business, or forming parenting network, you'll have the opportunity to meet four local moms who regularly blog, tweet and maintain personal and/or professional websites. Find out ho
w these modern moms successfully use technology for parenting, business, and beyond. Panelists will include Nicole Lyons, Jacquie Miller and Jennifer St. Jean. The panel will be moderated by Lisa Adams.
Etsy Workshop [Tuesday, March 6, 10AM - 12 Noon]
Are you crafty? Do you make handmade goods? Etsy is the world's most vibrant place for buying and selling handmade or vintage items. Learn all about how to run an Etsy shop from Jennifer St. Jean of Itty Bitty Bag.
Smart Apps, Sound Screentime: A Panel Discussion for Parents [Tuesday, March 13 at 9:30AM]
Touch screen technology and apps have changed the way even very young children interact with media, books and each other. But how much screentime is too much? Where do parents draw the line between healthy does of technology and oversaturation? How can parents find great, educational apps for different age groups? Hear from a panel of experts who will share their experiences and recommendations. This program is co-sponsored by Darien Library and YWCA Parent Awareness, members of Thriving Youth; Connected Community.
App Chat [Thursday, March 15 at 4PM]
Parents and educators are invited to join the Children's Librarians at this special edition of Children's Library Chat. We'll be discussing great apps for different age groups- everything from interactive eBooks to educational games. We'll also be sharing tips on how to find and evaluate apps for children.
Part of Cyber Parents & Digital Natives: A Technology Series for the Modern Family.
[Tweet bird image and laptop photo courtesy of Flickr user dmitrybarsky]
Darien Library, 1441 Post Road, Darien, Connecticut, 06820-5419 · 203-655-1234Directions and Contact Information. Twitter: darienlibrary. AIM & Y!M: deweydarien.