Painting with Spaghetti

What's that you say? Painting with noodles? It might seem a little weird but the preschool kids really enjoyed it as an after storytime activity.  All it took was some cooked spaghetti, water and finger paint. We thinned out the paint with some water and mixed in the cooked spaghetti. 

Since we don’t have a stove at the library we boiled water in an electric kettle and poured it over the spaghetti, letting it sit until it had softened. Then the kids used the spaghetti to paint.   

 

We used red, yellow and blue so the kids could experiment with doing color mixing as well. Next time we do this we might try using shaped pasta, so that we can experiment with the different patterns.

 

A Twist on Finger Painting

 

A few weeks ago our storytimes tried a fun alternative to traditional finger painting: finger painting on windows! Doing something that feels naughty is always fun, parents love a mess they don't have to clean up, and you can tie in color mixing conversations for some STEM cred.
How To:
Most of our sessions painted on contact paper applied to the windows beforehand, but some painted right on the windows. When wet, the paint wiped up easily from surfaces but we have yet to wash the windows (I'll post an update when we do letting you all know how clean up goes).
We used Colorations brand finger paint and did test the process out beforehand. We used craft sticks to dish paint into leftover microwave meal containers. Do be sure to put away your supplies or prepare to have families self-serving more paint and using the craft sticks instead of fingers. Some of us laid down paper on the floor in front of the painting to catch messes and some also offered aprons for the kids to wear.
Reflections:
As some of the more heavily painted spots dried, the paint flaked, but this is a case of process over product anyway. It doesn't look as nice from the outside as some of our window activities, but again, process. I think the preschool and family storytime staff weren't a huge fan because of the mess, but the baby and toddler storytime staff had a grand old time. A difference in expectations, perhaps?  The kids loved it almost universally. I had the mom of a toddler tell me her daughter usually hates messy play but couldn't get enough of this activity. Success!

Flannel Friday: On Mother's Lap

On Mother's Lap by Ann Herbert Scott and illustrated by Glo Coalson

I think I heard about this older title from Heather McNeil at an OLA/WLA storytime workshop (It was a fabulous workshop, by the way). I put it on hold and when it came in I loved that it was a bit of a quiet story with a nice refrain. A little boy adds more and more things to his mother's lap, but isn't sure there is room for everything he wants AND the baby - something a lot of families in my toddler storytime can relate to. It would make a great Mother's Day read, but it's also what my co-worker calls a "happens to be" story; the characters are Inuit but it isn't the focus of the story. A nice way to add some diversity to any given storytime.
I made flannel pieces of each of the things the little boy, Michael, adds to Mother's lap. I photocopied and enlarged images I thought would translate well to flannel, then used packing tape to tape them to their various colors. I cut out each piece using the lines of the illustration as a guide. The tape makes for clean lines but it doesn't seperate well from cheap flannel. Be warned. I added a bit of pink marker to the baby and doll, a couple french knots for eyes to the dog, used sharpie to give the blanket the look of fur, and viola!
I didn't include the rocking chair, Mother, or Michael, but obviously you could. Each time Michael added a new thing to Mother's lap I put it on the flannel board. When the book was over we revisited each item and noticed that there really is a lot of room on mother's lap. My group of twos was totally rapt and they were particularly rambunctious the day I tried it.

Baby-friendly Display Ideas

We're lucky enough to have a large, dedicated Early Learning Center in our branch, which contains a colorful wall complete with display and shelving space. There are a few permanent displays and others that rotate. Our Display Maven's latest genius was to add some of our dollies and stuffies to the space with mirrors. A perfect addition to the space with baby and toddler appeal, and a good idea to utilize near check out or any other place families may have to wait. If you don't have locking cubbies or hand mirrors, get your hands on reflective contact paper (such as this or this, which are just ideas and by no means endorsed by FVRL, my employer) and affix it to poster board or right to the wall, desk, etc.
We also have letter and number magnets near our check outs to keep kids occupied. The side panels of our desks and the check out counters are magnetic. If you'd like to try something similar but don't have a magnetic surface, re-purpose a cookie sheet or an oil drip pan.

What family-friendly ideas have you used to occupy little ones at desks? Cough them up.

stupidly simple toddler play

After toddler storytimes at our branch we provide some kind of art, play or sensory experience. It doesn't typically include an end result one would want to take home but parents seem more than happy not the schlep or toss another thing. We recently put out a ton of shredded paper (originally created for this program and since used 5 separate times for a variety of events. Well worth the effort) on a tarp and let the kids have at it. While the janitorial staff was less than thrilled, the kids and their grown ups were ecstatic. Kendra opted not to use the tarp, but instead pulled out the large parachute for an added element of fun.

Another simple, well received activity was "painting" in salt. We have a set of plastic trays which I covered in a thin layer of salt. We have tons because we make playdough once a month for each storytime we present. I set out thin paintbrushes and asked kids to double up on trays, which wasn't a problem. Minimal spilling and only one kid tasted it (He was not impressed). In retrospect, I should have used a stiffer, fatter set of brushes we have. I suggested to parents that this is a great tool for building letter awareness or practicing shapes.

Check These Books Out: Oldies but Goodies edition

Back again with more book recommendations. This time, with older titles you may have missed or never seen to begin with. These are favorites with staff at Vancouver Community Library, some with notes about ages to use them with.

Tuck Me In by Dean Hacohen

is great with toddlers.

published 2010

Monkey and Me by Emily Gravett

Use with babies and bounce to the beat or clap along with toddlers.

published 2008

Here Comes Henny by Charlotte Pomerantz

 is full of fun rhymes for preschoolers.

published 1994

One Mole Digging a Hole by Julia Donaldson 

for toddler and preschool storytimes.

published 2008

Just a Little Bit by Ann Tompert 

Use for preschool and early elementary.

published 1993

Do Like a Duck Does! by Judy Hindley
published 2002

 

Five Minutes' Peace

published 1986

Peace at Last

published 1980

by Jill Murphy

Watch Out! Big Bro's Coming! by Jez Alborough  

published 1997

I'd Really Like to Eat a Child by Sylviane Donnio

published 2007 

How Will We Get to the Beach? by Brigitte Luciani

published 2000

Shamoo: A whale of a Cow by Ros Hill

published 2005

Mooses Come Walking by Arlo Guthrie

published 1995

  

Feast for 10 by Cathryn Falwell 

published 1993

The Birdwatchers by Simon James

published 2002

Check These Books Out: Tours Edition

Tis the season of school visits and tours. I asked our staff to share their go-to titles, from books that will get preschoolers giggling on up to entertaining even the coolest 5th graders. If you haven't seen these titles, check them out! (And if you glean nothing else, almost ANY Jan Thomas is a hit with a crowd. If you haven't read much by her, go now and do it. I'll wait.) Any favorites to use in groups? Do share!

 

Is Everyone Ready for Fun? By Jan Thomas

I Spy with My Little Eye by Edward Gibbs

Huff & Puff by Claudia Rueda

What Color is Your Underwear? by Sam Lloyd works well for toddlers and preschool visits.

Shark in the Park! by Nick Sharratt

My Cat, the Silliest Cat in the World by Gilles Bachelet

Sipping Spiders Through A Straw: campfire songs for monsters by Kelly Dipucchio. Sing a few of the funniest songs to jaded school-agers.

Life-Size Zoo by Teruyuki Komiya. This is a great book to pull out when waiting for classes to be seated and settle down.

Kel Gilligan's Daredevil Stunt Show by Michael Buckley

Animal Soup by Todd H Doodler

 Whatever by William Bee. For middle to upper elementary students.

Parker Picks by Deb Levine. Great for 5 to 8 year olds.









 

The Bear on the Bed by Ruth Miller is another great one for early elementary students.

 My Little Sister Ate One Hare by Bill Grossman