Puppet Shows at Home

Last week during Family Storytime, several parents had the opportunity to share a special one-on-one learning experience with their children. As parents read simple fairy tales, their kids listened and acted out the story out with a set of finger puppets. The resulting interactions were simply  delightful!

If you are wondering how to do puppet plays at home, just follow these simple steps:

1. Choose a simple story from a favorite book, tell one from memory, or make one up.
2. Set up a simple cardboard box stage, or just use a small table.
3. Use a flashlight for a spotlight and add sound effects with simple objects if you wish
4. Look for puppet characters among your kids' stuffed animals. Or grab a pair of colorful socks or gloves, large kitchen spoons or utensils. Give them a face, some yarn hair, and you're ready to start. A small handout of a few puppet-making ideas is available at the YS desk.
5. Give your puppets interesting voices, and actions. Move them with as much variety as possible.
6. Basic rules for puppet actors:
   • Face the audience or the puppet that is talking.
   • Only one puppet talks at a time.
   • Puppets do not hit other puppets.
7. REPEAT the story letting your children be the puppeteers!

If you would like more information on how to make puppets, stages and props,or story scripts for your play, check out these clever library books.  

ON WITH THE SHOW!  

                                                           

The Importance of Summer Reading

You hear us say it all the time up here on the 2nd floor of the library, "You have to read over the summer, you might as well get prizes for it!" 

 

There is a certain level of enthusiasm that comes along with Summer Reading Club each year on the part of the staff here, but it isn't just because we love putting together the booklists, programs, and picking out prizes... it is because we know just how important reading over the summer is, and we know that our excitement rubs off on the children who come to the library.

 

As your child's school year winds down, take the time to read this article by Julie Wood, a literacy expert.  Studies show that children who read over the summer do better in school than those who don't, something most of use knew already.  But did you know that by middle school, children who don't read over the summer have already lost a total of two full years of reading?  That is a lot of time to be behind in a key skill of education. 

 

Julie gives some great tips on how to help your child be ready to read wherever he or she might be and how to get them excited for exercising their 'reading muscle' over the summer.  I especially love that she suggests joining a library's summer reading program to encourage your child to read. 

 

We here at DPPL hope that you bring your enthusiasm for summer and reading during it as well.  As the person that your child looks to for guidance, it is most important for you to set an example - let your children know how important it is to practice reading (and hey, YOU can get prizes too by joining the adult summer reading club).

 

We hope to see you in here over the summer, check back for more information on the upcoming Summer Reading Club, Have Book, Will Travel, next week!

The Eyes Have It

Babies spend a lot of time staring at things. As their vision develops, newborns like to look at contrasting colors and shapes. The pictures in many children's books have strong color contrast to aid in this development. Your baby will enjoy gazing at them. Prop open a book with a bright illustration at the side of your baby's bed. They will enjoy the picture!

These books have bold illustrations which babies will enjoy:

 

Machines at Work, Picture Book by Byron Barton

My Car, Board Book by Byron Barton

Ten Black Dots, Picture Book by Donald Crews 

Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf, Picture Book by Lois Ehlert 

"More More More", Said The Baby, Picture Book by Vera B. Williams

Red, Blue, Yellow Shoe,  Board Book by Tana Hoban

Chess + Library = Big Brain

With study after study touting chess playing with an increase in cognitive and social skills in children- it seems chess is in the equation. That’s the kind of news that gets us excited and springs the library into action! We are delighted to introduce our newest offering (thanks to funding by the Friends of the Library): a library family chess club, Chess Mates! The club will meet the first Saturday of September through May, no registration required. Next one is tomorrow, April 6^th from, 1:30-2:30 pm.  Instructors from CheckMatesUSA will be present to teach chess at all ages and skill levels but a basic understanding of chess is required.  Chess for the family allows parents and siblings to enjoy brain boosting benefits of chess too.

In May, we are having a Beginner Chess Workshop, a 3 consecutive Saturday afternoon series for children who would like to learn how to start playing chess. Visit the Events calendar or call the Youth Services Desk  847-376-2839 for more information on any chess program. We hope to see you here!

Brain abilities and other benefits of playing chess at Des Plaines Public Library

• Memory skills
• Exercises and develops of various parts of the brain
• Problem solving
• Concentration, planning, strategizing
• Creativity
• Reading skills
• Social skills
• Communication/ sportsmanship
• Self confidence/ self worth / coping skills

Here are some links to studies on chess and the brain! 

Ten Big Brain Benefits of Playing Chess

Chess Also Develops Psychological Skills Says New Study

Chess Improves Academic Performance

Note: Above blog image source: http://www.onlinecollegecourses.com/