for 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!
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.
Learn How to Manage Your Clutter!
Written by Erica B on 02/28/2011
The Value of Clutter: A Panel Presentation
Friday, March 4 at 10 AM
In January, they taught us about maximizing our closet space, managing our time, and organizing our important files. Now, back by popular demand, F.O.C.U.S. (Fairfield Organizers Creating Ultimate Solutions), a group consisting of local members of NAPO, the National Association of Professional Organizers, returns for a panel presentation that helps us make sense of, deal with, and become free of that thing that consumes many of us throughout our day - clutter!
This fun and informative look at why we keep clutter, and where it should go, will be moderated by Susan Lovallo, CPA, CPO, of Clutter Solutions, LLC. Topics to be covered include:
Paper Clutter (magazines, children's artwork, mail, greeting cards, and more) Presented by Matt Baier of Matt Baier Organizing, LLC.
Closet Clutter (baby clothes, "skinny" clothes, shoes, keepsakes, and more) Presented by Janet Barnes of Connecticut Closet and Shelf.
Assorted Clutter (books, old equipment, shopping bags, and more) Presented by Cara Brook of Strategize. Organize. Simplify., LLC.
What kinds of clutter have got you stumped? Bring your questions and have them answered by the pros!
Stress Management
Written by Barbara T. on 11/01/2010
Stress Management: Caring for Ourselves, Empowering Our Children
Friday, November 12 at 11 a.m.
Experts and studies prove that no matter how busy we are, it is important to find ways to manage stress to maintain a healthy lifestyle and overall sense of well-being. This panel discussion will provide specific tips for reducing stress for ourselves while helping our children to develop healthy stress-management habits, as well.
Presented by representatives from The Child Guidance Center of Southern CT, Darien Youth Options, and Family Centers, this program is part of our Health & Wellness Series, “A Picture of Health.”
Presenting will be:
- Lindsay Grossman, Child Guidance Center of Southern CT
- Sophia Hughes, Darien Youth Options/Liberation Programs
- Ed Moran, Family Centers
- Heather Smith, Psychotherapist/Eating Disorder Specialist
- Marina Thomas, Person to Person
The Library's Health and Wellness Series is an extensive series of lectures, expert panels, computer workshops, and films. The schedule offers sessions on a variety of health issues, including nutrition, stress management, personal safety for children and teens, pain management, holistic medicine, sleep disorders, and medication management.
Play Again Documentary Comes to the Darien Library
Written by JudyS on 10/13/2010
Darien Land Trust in cooperation with Darien Nature Center invite the public to a free viewing of Play Again, an award-winning documentary directed by Tonje Hessen Schei. At a time when children spend more time in the virtual world than in the natural world, "Play Again" unplugs a group of media-savvy teens and takes them on their first wilderness adventure. Through the voices of children and leading experts, "Play Again" investigates the consequences of a childhood removed from nature and encourages action for a sustainable future.
The film will be shown on Monday, November 1, in the Community Room of the Darien Library, 1441 Post Rd., Darien. The program is slated to run from 7 to 9 p.m. For more information, visit www.playagainfilm.com.
Finding Books in a Series
Written by Anna on 06/23/2010
Question: Every wondered what book 26 is in the Geronimo Stilton series?
Answer: The Mummy with No Name
An easy place to find the answer is right here.
A library in Missouri has organized tons of series! It's pretty awesome; it contains over 29,000 children's books.
You can also use the database Novelist. Find children's books similar to other books, their descriptions, and reviews of them too. Have your library card handy.
Darien Library, 1441 Post Road, Darien, Connecticut, 06820-5419 · 203-655-1234Directions and Contact Information. Twitter: darienlibrary. AIM & Y!M: deweydarien.
For Teachers
