Marvelous May

Pen and Paper Games

Do you ever wonder what everyone else’s kids are doing when they are not staring at a screen?
Just for fun, I’m sharing some screen free activities done with pen and paper.
These are great boredom busters for kids. The list includes a single player and some two player games. All you need is a sheet of paper and something to write with.

Blind Drawing: Grab a pencil and paper; take a look around and pick one object. Close your eyes and try to draw it without picking up your pencil from the paper.
Dots and Boxes: Plot out dots in an array (i.e. 10x10). Then taking turns, players connect dots by drawing a line to connect 1 dot to another dot. Alternate between players. If a player draws a line to connect dots and that line completes a square, then that person gets to put their initial in the newly completed box. The player with the most completed boxes is the winner
Nim: Draw 1, 3, 5, 7 marks (l) in the shape of a pyramid. The objective is to force your opponent to cross out the last remaining mark. Players alternate turns crossing out as many marks as they wish on each turn. However, they can only cross out marks on one line per turn.

Example of NIM Board Game: l
l l l
l l l l l
l l l l l l l

Young Writing Workshop

Final Workshop Dates: May 1 and May 8th at 4:30 PM Annex

Registration Required: Register here for May 1 and May 8

Encouraging young aspiring writers in grades 6 to 10 who are looking to explore and create with their writing. This is an opportunity to meet and collaborate with other like minded young writers while also having fun.

Participants are not required to attend all four workshops.

Writing Competition For Grades 6-10

Grand prize of $250

“A life without passion is not life - it is merely existence.”

What is your passion? Art, music, nature, professional wrestling? For this year's writing contest we want to learn what you’re passionate about. Through a nonfiction essay or poetry, let us know what drives you.

Deadline to enter is May 14. Click here to learn more.

Safe Sitter Program

Saturday, June 22nd
9 AM - 4 PM

Be the sitter that parents and kids want! Take a medically-accurate Safe Sitter course with a trained instructor. Learn everything you need to know to be a great sitter. Gain the skills and confidence needed to do the job well and earn parents' trust.

This course teaches young teens (11 and up) life and safety skills. Students will learn how to prevent unsafe situations and what to do when faced with potential dangers such as a power failure or weather emergency. Participants will learn a system to help them assess and respond to injuries and illness and how to manage behaviors so that they will stay in control of themselves and the children in their care. In addition, the course will give participants the chance to practice how to screen for potential jobs and discuss fees.

This course is open to kids in grades 6 - 8. To reserve your space, you need to give the library a $30.00 deposit to reserve your spot. This deposit is refundable, it will be returned to you once the course is completed. Participants will also need to bring a bag lunch.

Click the link below to register. Your registration is complete once you stop at the NE Millerton Library to give your refundable deposit. .

3D Printer Workshop

Wednesday May 22
6:00 - 7:00 PM

Register here.

Participants will be able to explore and create with Tinkercad, a web app for 3D design. Tinkercad provides patrons the chance to design 3D projects and then send these designs to the 3D printer to make their imagination become reality. This month we are encouraging participants to design a keychain for themselves or as a gift for someone else (perhaps a Father's Day gift or a gift for an older friend).

Baby and Me Support Group

Friday, May 17th
2:00 - 3:00

Each month we host a Parents of Infants and Toddlers Group. This group is a chance for parents of the very young to come together and help one another through the chaos of being a parent. These groups are a chance to join forces to navigate the world of parenthood together. Research indicates that 70% of parents agree that having an inner circle is their largest source of support. This month's topic will include, but will not be limited to, discussion on moving to solids and other strategies to encourage your children to explore trying foods.

Registration is encouraged but not required.
Click here to register

Make a Terrarium

Saturday, May 4, 2024
1:00 -2:30
Ages 8 and up
Register here

Young patrons are invited to spend a delightful Saturday afternoon creating a terrarium that they can take home to enjoy for many years. A terrarium is a small, transparent enclosure that will be filled with seeds which will grow into tiny, slow growing plants. These tiny plants can live in this enclosure for several years. Terrariums are very easy to maintain as you only need to spray them with water every couple of weeks; or when the soil is dry to the touch.

Story Hour with Our Library Dogs

The last Tuesday and Saturday mornings of each month, Maxxi (with handler, Alicia) and Franco (with handler, Lisa) are available to sit with young patrons to make the magic happen as they share books together. Canine Link Therapy Dogs has provided us with this wonderful connection to help with our continued mission of creating a community of readers. Register below for the date and time when you can bring your young reader to the library to share in this magical experience of reading with a furry friend.

Tuesdays with Maxxi starting at 11 AM: (click on the date to choose a 20 minute time slot.)
May 28th
June 25th

Saturdays with Franco starting at 11 AM: (click on the date to choose a 20 minute time slot.)
May 25th
June 29th

Story Hour Happenings with Ms. Lynn

Tuesdays and Saturdays at 11 AM

Caregivers are invited to bring children (any age) who enjoy circle time with songs, fingerplays and a Read Aloud with a coordinating craft.

This month's story time will have a variety of topics such as the gardening, pollinators, flowers, Mother's day and Memorial Day.

Baby & Young Toddler Play Group

Wednesdays at 11:15 AM

This session is tailored to serve babies, young toddlers, and their caregivers. The toddlers are encouraged to free play with the various toys and small motor manipulatives that are laid out each session, such as playdough, dot painters, tearing and gluing paper and stampers.

Library Happenings Last Month