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| "My childhood library was small enough not to be intimidating. And yet I felt the whole world was contained in those two rooms. I could walk any aisle and smell wisdom." -Rita Dove |
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Enjoy the Best Summer Ever -- 7/17/02 By Caroline Parr By mid-July, adults feel as though summer is virtually over - vacations are either taken or scheduled, children's activities are in place, and soon enough we'll be shopping for back-to-school clothes. But we still have lots of long, hot days ahead of us, and it's best to be prepared. That's where the Parents' Shelf can help. Each branch of the Central Rappahannock Regional Library houses this collection of books about child raising for parents and caregivers, located near the picture book section. Even if you've got a babe in arms and a handful of toddlers tugging at your sleeves, you can find Dr. Spock or Dr. Dobson right next to Curious George and Peter Rabbit. Stock up the next time you're in the library, and the dog days of summer won't take you by surprise. Whenever I'm looking for activities to do with children, I turn to MaryAnn Kohl's books. She has a process-oriented approach that emphasizes flexibility and letting the child have fun. Her "Making Make-Believe" is a great book to jump-start summer fun with kids from three to eight. She begins with a note to parents that explains their role in dramatic play: gathering materials, assisting with cutting or sewing, but mostly staying out of the way. Also included is a checklist of the ways dramatic play can help children's development, whether cognitively (solving problems like who gets to be the wolf), socially (sharing roles, cooperating, working through problems) or physically (jumping rope and cutting with scissors, for example). Even if all you have to start with is a towel, a cardboard cereal box, and a sofa cushion, Kohl helps you get going. That towel makes a perfect superhero's cape, you can cut the cereal box into a frame that fits a child's face for a TV screen or a window, and just pile up some cushions to make a pirate ship. Nursery school teachers, child care providers and parents will find a wealth of ideas in this book, as well as in Kohl's "The Big Messy Art Book: But Easy To Clean Up" and "Mudworks: Creative Clay, Dough, And Modeling Experiences."
Just up the road is a city filled with great things to do with children, many of them free. Fodor's "Around Washington, DC with Kids" claims to include "68 Great Things to Do Together," starting with Arlington National Cemetery and ending with Wolf Trap Farm Park. Think the Kennedy Center is too adult, and too expensive, for your kids? Try the Millennium Stage, which offers free performances every evening at 6:00. The Navy Museum, suggested here for kids five and up, comes complete with cannons to climb, a space capsule to board, and a submarine periscope to peer through. Closest Metro stops, recommended ages, and "kid-friendly eats" round out this handy guide. As every parent knows, the children's room of the library is not just for kids. Let the Parent's Shelf help your family enjoy the best summer ever! CRRL Patrons: Use the library's online catalog to reserve any of these titles or call your local branch to check them out today. Web site visitors: Print out this book list and use it as a guide on your next visit to your local library. |
Your school-age children will find lots to do in "The Rain or Shine Activity Book" by Joanna Cole and Stephanie Calmenson. This experienced duo includes everything your kids will need to have fun during the dog days of summer, from how to play Slapjack and Crazy Eights to directions for making paper crafts (including an origami frog that really hops).
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