Parents' Film Screening

How Difficult Can This Be? The F.A.T. City Workshop

Wednesday, May 19

9:30 am and 6:30 pm

On Wednesday, May 19, there will be two screenings held in the Library's Community Room of the film        How Difficult Can This Be? The F.A.T. City Workshop.

In this film experience the frustration, anxiety, and tension felt by children with learning disabilities. This groundbreaking workshop led by Richard Lavoie, a nationally known expert on learning disabilities, parents and teachers are shown what the world looks like through the eyes of a LD child.

Running Time: 70 minutes

The Darien Library will be co-sponsoring this new storytime with the Darien Senior Center. Preschoolers and their caregivers are welcome to join us at the Darien Senior Center for stories, songs, and movement activities.

Ages 3 to 5

Wednesday, April 21 1:30pm – 2pm

Darien Senior Center: 30 Edgerton Street

photo courtesy of Flicker user GlennFleishman

Author Judith Warner's brand new book

Darien Library's Spring Author Series has Judith Warner visiting Thursday, March 4 at 7 p.m.

In her newest book, Judith Warner, "New York Times" bestselling author of 2005's Perfect Madness: Motherhood in the Age of Anxiety, returns to explore the answers to two very timely questions: Are we overdiagnosing and overmedicating our children?  Are parents and physicians labeling children to "explain away" bad behavior? With five years of rigorous investigation and research of parents, psychologists, psychiatrists, and other experts, Warner brings concerns and perspectives to this controversial debate.

This event is co-sponsored by the Darien YWCA Parent Awareness Network.  Refreshments will be served.

Presentation will conclude with a book signing.  Books will be available for purchase. 

Additional parking for evening and weekend Library programs on Thorndal Circle (behind Nielsen's).

Photo courtesy of Flickr user San Jose Library

I am always looking for good, current research about how young children use technology. There is a lot of studies that have been done on teenagers, but research with younger children is not nearly as common. I was thrilled to see that one of my favorite websites, Read Write Web is undergoing a big survey which aims to find out how children under the age of 12 use web technology. Are any of you parents out there interested in taking part? Click here to participate in the survey.

The new Darien Library has officially been open for a year!  Can you believe it?!

If you've used the Children's Library relaxing, reading together, searching for books, movies (and more!), using the computers, researching for homework...how was the process?

Is the room set up to assist with what you'd like to find?  Please tell us.  Here's a survey that asks about your experience using the new Children's Library.

One of the reasons why the Microsoft Surface was moved from the original spot was due to feedback.  We ask for it, and really appreciate it!

Thanks a whole bunch!

There are two new-ish storytimes in the Children's Library...here's the scoop.  Please join us, they are both drop-in!

Dads' Storytime

Fathers and pre-walking babies are invited to spend time together for stories, rhymes, and songs.

Saturdays at 11 a.m. January 30 and March 6

Grandparents' Storytime

The Darien Library will be co-sponsoring this new storytime with the Darien Senior Center.  Preschoolers and their caregivers are welcome to join us at the Darien Senior Center for stories, songs, and movement activities.  Program is held at the Darien Senior Center on 30 Edgerton Street.

Wednesdays at 1:30 p.m. January 20, February 17, March 17

We've been in the NEW Library for almost a year!  What has your program experience been for children in their first five years?

Here's a small survey to determine what days and times are preferable, and other questions to help us tweak and improve.

Thank you so, so much!

In honor of November being Family Stories Month, I thought it would be kind of fun to tag some Family Movies.  It's a common question we encounter in the Children's Library, and I think it is harder to answer than what would make a good family read-aloud book.  Honest!

Some of the movies in the list are rated G, although most are rated PG.  Please feel free to share your own too because the list is not comprehensive by a longshot; it is really just the beginning!

Hey parents, looking for something to do with the family while the kids are on break from school?  Guess what? The Connecticut Science Center in Hartford has sent us a booklet of coupons for 20% off admission (up to 4 people)!  Come by the Children's Library and pick one up today!

Geography - fun way to teach about the United States.

Biographies - on people in American history.

Inventions - great resource about inventors and their inventions.

Xpeditions - filled with lesson plans and ideas about geography and earth science.

Volcanos - talks about different types of volcanos and minerals.