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Health & Fitness

A few tips to keep them from saying "I'm Bored"!

As a school librarian and a parent, I know how easily children can become bored and distracted.  This blog will offer weekly treasures and tips to keep your child engaged in wonder and inquiry.

For Spring Vacation Week consider...

  1. Visit Southbury Public Library and check out a book by Newbery winning author, Beverly Cleary.  Her birthday is today!  Visit the link to watch an interview and to learn more about this beloved author.  See how many of the trivia questions you can answer!   Visit my "Happy Birthday Beverly Cleary" page.

2. If you have not heard of the Makerspace movement, then now is the time!  Schools and libraries throughout the country are reconfiguring their spaces in order to create an environment that fosters creativity and innovation.   The Westport Library is worth a day trip during this vacation week.  You will get to see first-hand what happens when a community decides to foster collaboration and imagination!  Mark your calendar for their Mini MakerFaire- April 26th.  Wouldn't it be great if the Southbury Public Library could somehow use the basement area for an innovation lab!  Think of all the expertise we have right in our community that could benefit young and old alike.  

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3.  Recycle and create: When my children were elementary school age, we would raid the local stores for boxes--the bigger the better.  I would get out all sorts of craft supplies and recyclables and David and Laura would create.  They would spebd hours outside working together with hardly any sibling quarrels.  I never heard the dreaded, "I'm bored."   The weather forecast looks great for this kind of activity this week, so give it a try.  For inspiration, watch this video with your children and you will never again look at a cardboard the same way.

4.  Do you have an iPad, iPhone, or iTouch? Consider using any of these apps during vacation week to document your child's exploration and to preserve these wonderful memories.  Try Fotobabble to create an audio image and send it to family, friends, or your child's teacher.  Use Educreations so your child can create a screencast of a sequence of events or to explain an inquiry project or exploration. Send the link for the screencast to share with others.  Also, Pic Collage is great for making a collage of favorite snapshots of the week.  Give it a try and send me your creations!  I will share on the next blog post.

Find out what's happening in Southburywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

5.  Day trips to foster wonder: 

Imagine Nation Museum, Bristol:  Keep the kids’ minds and creativity engaged at April Vacation Camp, Camp Imagination at Imagine Nation Museum in Bristol. Camp Imagination blends the  excitement of interactive exhibits with a creative, fun-filled program. Activities feature artists, their styles and inspirations.

Connecticut Science Center, Hartford: Explore a different science activity each day at April Vacation Exploration Camps at the Connecticut Science Center, Hartford. Program includes structured activities with staff scientists and counselors plus supervised free time to explore the Science Center’s galleries and exhibits. Come for the day or the week, April 14 – 1

Also at the Connecticut Science Center, travel back in time to ancient Egypt through a fascinating hands-on exhibit, “Lost Egypt.”  See real mummies, explore ancient artifacts, read hieroglyphics, dig for clues to Egypt’s rich past and even build a pyramid! Get your friends together for this fun outing and learn all about ancient Egypt! Exhibits runs through May 4

The Dinosaur Place at Nature's Art Village, Oakdale:  Join in a celebration of planet Earth at Earth Week Celebration,
The Dinosaur Place at Nature's Art Village, Oakdale, April 14 – 18. There will be family-friendly entertainment and hands-on activities all week! See a magic show, visit a live petting zoo, enjoy a disc-dog performance and more.

6.  April is National Poetry Month.  Check out this fun website for creating shape poems Theme Poems.  or use the Theme poem app.    Go to this page for all the resources I have collected on Poetry Month because you don't want to miss "Poem in Your Pocket day!

Please share which of these activities you participated in this week!

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