Is your little one nervous about going back to school? It is quite common! Starting school, whether it is your first year or you’ve done it before, can be scary. There are a lot of changes and new things to learn. Here are some tips to help alleviate worry and anxiety about going back to school.
Talk and listen
Have an open conversation about what is worrying them about going back to school. Ask what makes this a nerve wracking time so you can help them problem solve or prepare for specific situations. If they are not able to express what is scary – that’s ok! Assure them that being nervous is a normal emotion and reaction.
Prepare
Walking through anxiety provoking situations can be extremely helpful. If they are nervous about something specific, role play what the situation might look like and how they can address it or ask for help. If you are able to, drive to the school and visit so they can become familiar with where they will be each day.
Involve them in decisions
Have them help pick out their going back to school supplies, backpack, lunchbox or whatever else they may need for school. Getting something in their favorite color or including their favorite superhero or TV character can help make this a fun and exciting time!
Start the routine
Help get them into the swing of going back to school by starting the routine early. Change is hard, so the more time kids have to adjust, the better! This could involve setting a bed time, wake up time, eating and getting dressed in the morning, or whatever your family decides to do to!
Friends
Help connect them to their school friends! Reach out to other families who will be attending the same school or will be in the same class so they can meet. It is much easier to do something new when you have a friendly, familiar face by your side.
Calming exercises
Try some calming exercises to help alleviate worry and anxiety. Calming exercises are great to practice when you are feeling calm so that when you are anxious you are already an expert in a technique to help! Some calming exercises include belly breathing, 54321 grounding, or doing a little stretch!
Read books
Check out our Back-to-School picture book section for stories about going to school that children can relate to. Need other book recommendations? Just ask a librarian; we are happy to help!
Youth Services Assistant Librarian Jessica
Image by diana.grytsku on Freepik
Hi, cardholders! Summer is the perfect season to visit the amazing DuPage Children's Museum, where kids can flex their brain muscles, hone their fine motor skills, and -- of course -- have fun!
Located in Naperville, Illinois, the DuPage Children's Museum uses science and art to stimulate children's creativity and problem-solving skills. Here are just a few of the great exhibits families can visit:
- Play, build, and create with real wood and real tools at The Moser Construction House!
- Generate energy with a big waterwheel, create a current with circuits and conductors, and navigate a wind tunnel at AWEsome Energy!
- Work together to build a pyramid at Pyramid Bench!
There are so many cool things kids can do at the DuPage Children's Museum, all of which are designed to develop specific skills in children of all ages.
Barrington Area Library cardholders will receive one FREE museum admission with purchase of one regular admission. Maximum of three free admissions.
Advanced reservations are not required for Explore More Illinois users. Please go to the museum front desk and show your pass to receive your discount. Pass cannot be combined with any other offer. Not valid for parties, group visits, field trips, or Bubble Bash.
For more information, visit this page, accessible through the Barrington Area Library homepage. Please be sure to check offer availability prior to reservation. You can also contact us at exploremore@balibrary.org.
Youth Services Librarian Chris
Welcome to our new series, all about getting to know our very special Youth Services staff members at the Barrington Area Library! Each month, we'll publish an interview with one of our lovely staff members. Up next we have ME, Youth Services Specialist Stefanie!
What is your favorite part of working at the Barrington Area Library?
I started working here in 2016, and it’s been amazing to watch children (who were babies or very young when I started) growing up over the years!
What are some of your favorite books and/or genres?
Anything that Kate DiCamillo writes is an instant favorite. Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson, Normal People by Sally Rooney, Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston, and Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner are a handful of my favorite grown-up books. I thoroughly enjoy reading picture books and some of my favorite authors/illustrators are Esme Shapiro, Christian Robinson, Phoebe Wahl, and Corinna Luyken.
Do you have a hobby or knowledge of a certain topic that you like to incorporate into your work at the library?
I love incorporating my hobbies and interests into my work at the library! As some of you know, I recently started teaching myself the ukulele, and have been doing some ukulele-centric story times. I’m a big fan of hiking and spending time outside, so it’s really fun to bring my love of nature to my work as well. Taking care of my mental health is very important to me, which led me to start Little Kids, Big Feelings, and Meditation Story Time.
What do you like to do when you’re not working at the library?
I am obsessed with my animals! When I’m not at the library, you’ll find me walking or hiking with my dog, a chihuahua/rat terrier mix, Marnie, or cuddling with Marnie and my cat, Pico. I have another cat named Koko–she only receives love on her own terms though, so she doesn’t cuddle very much! I also love spending time with my partner, our family and friends, hiking, baking, meditating, knitting, going to concerts, and playing board games.
If you could be a character in any book in our collection, who would you be?
Obviously, I would be Hazel from Little Witch Hazel by Phoebe Wahl!
Is there a fun fact about yourself that you’d like to share?
I recently found out that I’m part Icelandic, which I think is really cool because it’s been a dream of mine to visit there!
Youth Services Specialist Stefanie
Mindfulness is an activity you can practice year-round, but here are some summer inspired activities to encourage mindful moments for your little ones.
- Gardening
Whether it is at home or participating in a gardening program at the BALibrary, gardening is a great way to connect to nature! What colors do you see? How does the dirt feel between your fingers? Notice how the flowers smell. - Cloud watching
Gaze up at the clouds and see what shapes you can see! Better yet, lay in the grass and notice how it feels beneath your body. - Blowing bubbles
Get out your bubbles and wand! Pay attention your breath as you inhale and exhale to make the bubbles. - Draw with sidewalk chalk
Get creative and draw something you love! What colors do you use? What shapes are within your drawings? What texture does the chalk have? - Nature walk
Put on those walking shoes and explore nature! What do you see? What colors do you notice? What does the ground feel like beneath your feet? Do you feel the sun on your face or the wind in your hair? What do you hear or smell? Name anything else you notice!
Interested in programs related to mindfulness? Check out Morning Garden Story Time, Loose Parts Nature Play, Nature Art, Nature I Spy, Meditation Story Time, and Little Kids, Big Feelings.
Youth Services Assistant Librarian Jessica
What’s in a story? Story Elements
Setting:
A story's setting can be best described as the location, time, or time period of the story. It’s the where and when of a story. Some stories have a simpler setting, such as one place or location in which the story is set. As your reader progresses in their reading ability, storylines become more complex. Settings and the time period can occur in different locations throughout the story.
The setting of the story is powerful because it has a direct impact on what the characters experience in the story.
Questions to ask while reading with your child:
- What is the weather like? (Is it sunny, hot, snowing, etc.)
- Is it dark or light when the story takes place?
- What year or season is it?
- What does the environment look like? (forest, house, farm)
Here are some great books that showcase settings.
Activity: Setting Match Up
Read (or listen to) the following passages. Use context clues to identify the setting of each passage. Match the labels to the correct passage.
Extend and Explore:
Write your own setting for the two remaining word cards you didn’t use. Be descriptive and use details about the sights and sounds of your story. Then draw an illustration to fit the story/setting.
Activity: Calling All Artists
Goldfish on Vacation is a true story that occurred during the summers of 1992 to 2005. Read the story aloud to your young reader. Have your young reader think about where the story takes place. After listening to the story, have your reader draw a picture of the setting of the story while maybe even enjoying goldfish crackers.
Explore and Extend:
*After creating the illustration, use craft sticks to make a frame. You can also glue the illustration onto a deli tray.
*Play I-Spy -“I spy with my little eye…” using the last two pages of Goldfish on Vacation. This is an excellent activity for your young reader to practice describing, listening, and searching.
*Discuss the setting of the story and how the story might be different if it had taken place in a rural area or in the autumn. How would the story be different?
Activity: Compare & Contrast
After listening to Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, compare and contrast the town of Chewandswallow with your hometown.
Compare & Contrast
Extend and Explore:
Where would you rather live; in your town or in the town of Chewandswallow? What is your reason for your choice?
I would rather live in _______________because ___________________________________
Understanding the setting of a story is a key aspect to reading comprehension. The setting impacts the characters and the story's mood. It also helps to connect story elements, such as the characters, problems, solutions, and conclusions.
Have fun and explore, with your reader, other pictures books, or novels. Remember to apply some of the fun techniques and questions shown above or create your own!
Have fun and keep reading.
Be sure to check out our story kit in the Early Reader Kits, available in the YS Department.
Youth Services Assistant Librarian Erin
Youth Services Assistant Librarian Karen
2023 Summer Reading Secret Code: DISCOVER IDEAS
Welcome to our series, all about getting to know our very special Youth Services staff members at the Barrington Area Library! Each month, we'll publish an interview with one of our lovely staff members. Up next we have Youth Services Assistant Librarian Jessi!
What is your favorite part of working at the Barrington Area Library?
My favorite part about working here is how friendly, welcoming and supportive everyone is! Walking into the library always puts a smile on my face, whether it is seeing children find a book they love or seeing their creativity through building with Legos or the light bright wall.
What are some of your favorite books and/or genres?
I love to read lots of different genres! My favorite ones are romance, contemporary fiction, thrillers, and literary fiction. I love reading new authors or trying a genre or type of book that is new to me. You never know what you might enjoy!
Do you have a hobby or knowledge of a certain topic that you like to incorporate into your work at the library?
I have a lot of knowledge about mental health care, so I try to incorporate ideas about mindfulness and self-care into my work. I enjoy creating programming or blog posts that talk about how to take care of our mental health and help us focus on being the best versions of ourselves!
What do you like to do when you’re not working at the library?
Is it too cliché to say read!? I read 130 books in 2022! I also enjoy working out and playing with my dog.
Is there a fun fact about yourself that you’d like to share?
A fun fact about me is I shaved my head to raise money for childhood cancer in 2016! I like to volunteer and help others and this was something I could do to make an impact so I figured why not?
Youth Services Specialist Stefanie Molinaro
Did somebody say new books? The new 2024 Illinois Reader's Choice Book Awards are here! Find the newly awarded books in the Youth Services Department. We have multiple copies of the Monarch, Bluestem, and Caudill Award Winners. These are all great options for summer reading!
Find Monarch Books in the catalog.
Find Bluestem Books in the catalog.
Find Caudill books in the catalog.
Happy Reading!
Youth Services Librarian Claire
Mental health is important all year round, but May is the month where we bring awareness to this important topic! Mental health is just like physical health – you need to do things to take care of your mind so that it works at its best. This will help you do all the things you want to do like coming to the library to play and read!
To learn more about mental health, check out our Wellness Wonders: Mental Health Awareness Month Books mobile display. The display includes Board Books, Picture Books, Juvenile Non-Fiction, Juvenile Fiction, and Teen Fiction books. The mobile display will be up all month long located in the YS department near the beginning of the non-fiction shelves.
Want to participate in mental health focused programming? Check out Little Kids, Big Feelings and Meditation Story Time or check out our Early Learning Mindfulness Kits.
Youth Services Assistant Librarian Jessica
If you can't make it to Baby Time this month, or if you just can't get enough and want to recreate it at home-we've got you covered! Here are all of the wonderful rhymes we'll be sharing in our May sessions.
All the Little Babies
All the little babies go bouncin’, bouncin’
All the little babies go bouncin’ now.
All the little babies go bouncin’, bouncin’
All the little babies go bouncin’ now.
All the little babies go swayin’, swayin’
All the little babies go swayin’ now.
All the little babies go swayin’, swayin’
All the little babies go swayin’ now.
All the little babies say hello, hello
All the little babies say hello now.
All the little babies say hello, hello
All the little babies say hello now.
Peas Porridge Hot
Peas porridge hot, peas porridge cold,
Peas porridge in the pot, Nine days old.
Baa, Baa Black Sheep
Baa, baa black sheep, have you any wool?
Yes, sir, yes sir, three bags full.
One for my master, one for the dame,
And one for the little boy who lives down the lane.
There Was a Little Mouse
There was a little mouse,
Looking for his house.
Not here,
Not here,
But here, here here.
Dump Truck, Dump Truck
Dump truck, dump truck, bumpin down the road
Spilling gravel as you travel with your heavy load
Bumpity, bumpity, bump
Dump truck, dump truck, dump truck, DUMP!
Bouncing, Bouncing Baby on my Knee
Bouncing, bouncing baby on my knee
Bouncing, bouncing 1 2 3!
Clapping, clapping with baby on my knee
Clapping, clapping 1 2 3!
Hugging, hugging baby on my knee
Hugging, hugging 1 2 3!
My Little Hands
With my little hands I go clap, clap, clap
With my little feet I go tap, tap, tap
With my little arms I wave bye, bye, bye
With my little legs, I kick high, high, high,
With my little eyes, I say “Peek-a-boo!”
With my little lips I say “I love you!”
Youth Services Specialist Stefanie
Welcome to our series, all about getting to know our very special Youth Services staff members at the Barrington Area Library! Each month, we'll publish an interview with one of our lovely staff members. Up next we have Youth Services Specialist Venessa!
What is your favorite part of working at the Barrington Area Library?
There are so many positive aspects to being part of the Barrington Area Library. My favorite is the people and relationships that have been created during my time here. Whether it be getting to know my co-workers or engaging in meaningful interactions with our youngest community members or anything in between; the people are what makes Barrington Area Library so wonderful.
What are some of your favorite books and/or genres?
I don’t have a favorite book. I love picture books! I appreciate the illustrations in a book as much as I do the contents. I also enjoy reading self help books; I feel inspired when I read useful books about life that have the potential to be life changing.
Do you have a hobby or knowledge of a certain topic that you like to incorporate into your work at the library?
I love spending time outdoors in nature. I love that Barrington Area Library offers Story Time Nature Walk at Crabtree Nature Center. I really enjoy partnering with Crabtree to maximize our outdoor experiences together.
What do you like to do when you’re not working at the library?
When I am not working at the library I like to meditate and spend time with my family. I especially enjoy spending time outdoors. I love warm weather. I like to go for walks with my children and my dogs, attend sporting events, go camping and just relax by water.
Is there a fun fact about yourself that you’d like to share?
Fun Fact #1: I have two very big dogs! Mack and Marshal. Mack is a Saint Bernard and Marshal is a Mastiff/Shepherd mix. Together they weigh over 300lbs.
Fun Fact #2: I collect frogs.
Youth Services Specialist Stefanie
In our last literacy blog, Let’s Hear It For The Vowels, we introduced vowels a,e,i,o,u , sometimes y, and the sounds they make. Now it’s time to start talking about how vowels work as a team. That’s right, sometimes vowels team up, just like your favorite sports team. These teams work together to make a specific sound. Go team!
There are a lot of vowel teams out there. For our post today, we’re going to focus on beginning vowel teams.
Fast Tip: Keep in mind, vowels can be tricky because there are no set rules that apply to vowels all of the time. The "rules" are more generalizations.
But, with a little patience and practice, your emerging reader will be a pro in no time!
Your Vowel Team Starting Lineup
Let’s start learning about teamwork with vowels by introducing our starting lineup of vowel teams. These teams are the most common, and the most mighty!
Long A Team ….-ai, -ay, - a_e (long a words: paint, say, game)
Long E Team ….–ea, -ee, e_e (long e words: reach, tree, eve)
Long O Team….. -oa, -oe, o_e (long o words: boat, toe, cone)
Long U Team….-ue, -ew, u_e (long u words: glue, few, cube)
Fast Tip: The two vowels in a vowel team work together to make one vowel sound so they can’t be split up.
After your reader is successful with these vowel teams, you can expand your line-up by introducing other combinations.
The Tricky Teammate: Silent E
A common teammate in words is the silent e. Sometimes the vowel e can get a little sneaky and remain silent. This can happen when the e comes at the end of the word and there is a consonant between a vowel and the letter e.
For example, the word take is pronounced tāk because the e remains silent.
Vowel Consonant e (V_e) is when one vowel is followed by a consonant and the letter e.
Examples of vowel, consonant, and “silent e” are:
a_e game (silent e makes letter a say its name)
e_e eve (silent e makes letter e say its name)
I_e bike (silent e makes letter i say its name)
o_e cone (silent e makes letter 0 say its name)
u_e cute (silent 3 makes letter u say its name)
Ready to get to know more about your vowel teams? We have some great books in the library to add to your practice!
Teaching and Practicing Each Vowel Team
Lace up your tennis shoes and grab your gear, it’s time to practice with your vowel teams! Here are a few activities you can do anytime to introduce and reinforce vowel teams.
GAME PLAN for teaching each vowel team: (Teach one vowel team per week)
Select the vowel team you wish to introduce, and create word cards that focus on that one vowel team. List provided below for your convenience.
ai and ay are great vowel teams to start with because they are common and have a predictable pattern.
Read aloud the word cards (do not show words or word cards) to your young reader. Prompt your student by saying, “What common sound do you hear in these words: “rain, paint, train.” (Student identifies long a sound by hearing and has not yet seen the words or letters)
When your young reader is ready, have your young reader practice decoding word cards by highlighting the vowel team and saying aloud the corresponding sound. When your young reader highlights the vowel teams, it helps them remember the teams by emphasizing the letter patterns and their corresponding sound.
GAME PLAN for Practicing Vowel Teams
This Activity is sure to be a SLAM DUNK!
Use a cup, a small container, or even a trash can. Take turns saying the word and the vowel team, then crumble the paper and shoot for a point!
Extend and Explore
- 🏀 For a challenge, add another container and word cards from two different “teams.” When shooting, be sure to choose the correct “basketball hoop” that corresponds with your word card/vowel team.
- 🏀Vary the distance from where you take the shot.
- Shoot from the closest spot (slam dunk) for 1 point.
- Shoot from the medium spot for 2 points.
- Shoot from the farthest spot for 3 points.
Yaaaay Team!
Cheerleaders always say, “YAY,” when they clap and cheer. Listen for the Long A sound, underline the spelling patterns for Long A, and then sort/ or write them, on the corresponding pom pom.
Extend and Explore
Create another pom pom that allows the vowel, consonant, silent e (a_e) word pattern. Say the word, write the word on your pom pom, and underline the spelling pattern. How many words are on your silent e pom pom?
Tongue Twisters and Poems
You and your beginning reader can create and write a silly poem or tongue twister. Help your beginning reader recognize vowel teams by highlighting the repeated sounds in the poem or tongue twister.
Extend and Explore
Repeated readings by your young reader is a practice that aims to increase oral reading fluency. A fun way to practice is to have your reader use different voices as they read. For example, read the poem/tongue twister using a robot voice, a mouse voice, a princess voice, or a cowboy voice. Be silly, have fun, and watch your reader grow in fluency and confidence!
Practice Makes Perfect!
Understanding word structure can be challenging. Like in anything in life, the more practice and exposure to a concept, the easier it will become for your reader. Be sure review, and if you see your reader getting frustrated, feel free to go back and review single vowel sounds or letter recognition. The most important thing to remember is to have fun!
Be sure to check out our Beginning and Early Reader Kits, available in the YS Department.
Youth Services Assistant Librarian Erin
Youth Services Assistant Librarian Karen
If you can't make it to Baby Time this month, or if you just can't get enough and want to recreate it at home-we've got you covered! Here are all of the wonderful rhymes we'll be sharing in our April sessions.
All the Little Babies
All the little babies go bouncin’, bouncin’
All the little babies go bouncin’ now.
All the little babies go bouncin’, bouncin’
All the little babies go bouncin’ now.
All the little babies go swayin’, swayin’
All the little babies go swayin’ now.
All the little babies go swayin’, swayin’
All the little babies go swayin’ now.
All the little babies say hello, hello
All the little babies say hello now.
All the little babies say hello, hello
All the little babies say hello now.
To Market, To Market
To market, to market, to buy a fat hog,
Home again, home again, jiggity jog.
To market, to market to buy a fat pig.
Home again, home again,
Jiggity jig.
Little Miss Muffet
Little Miss Muffet sat on a tuffet
Eating her curds and whey
Along came a spider and sat down beside her
And frightened Miss Muffet away
Spots, Spots, Spots
Spots, spots, spots, spots, spots, spots, spots, spots
A leopard has lots of spots
What a lot of spots he got
A tiger's stripes are always nice
But a leopard has lots of spots
Spots, spots, spots, spots, spots, spots, spots, spots
Toast in the Toaster
I’m toast in the toaster
And I’m getting very hot!
Tick, tock,
Tick, tock,
Up I pop!
Head and Shoulders Baby 1,2,3
Head and shoulders baby 1, 2, 3
Head and shoulders baby 1, 2, 3
Head and shoulders baby 1, 2, 3
Head and shoulders, head and shoulders
Head and shoulders baby 1, 2, 3!
Knees and toes baby 1, 2, 3
Knees and toes baby 1, 2, 3
Knees and toes baby 1, 2, 3
Knees and toes, knees and toes
Knees and toes baby 1, 2, 3!
Back and tummy baby 1,2,3
Back and tummy baby 1,2,3
Back and tummy baby 1,2,3
Back and tummy, back and tummy
Back and tummy baby 1,2,3!
Up, Up, Up
Up, up, up, in the sky like this
Down, down, down, for a great big kiss
Up like this,
Down for a kiss,
You’re my special baby.
Youth Services Specialist Stefanie