Bryce Don't Play

Howdy
I was rather delighted to see that my blog, One for the Books,  received a shout out in the blog Bryce Don't Play. In her latest blog post, Awesome New-To-Me Blogs, Bryce recounts 9 librarians who write about programing, storytimes, STEAM, STEM, professional issues and of course they cover a broad swath of book reviews.  With her educational background, this twice degreed librarian is both encouraging  and  humbling. Which is super important since her resume can make most other CVs look a tad paltry. 

For bite sized morsels from library land be sure to follow Bryce on Twitter; right after you subscribe to her blog of course.  

I really appreciate being featured in this article along with 8 other highly motivated, busy bodies whom I hope I can meet some day. 

Scampers away to think about writing her own favorite blogs to follow post.

Laura

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News You Can Use - Teething Beads

Howdy

Extra disclaimer - I am not a doctor or a scientist. All information shared should in the context of me presenting newly gathered knowledge and not as a strict guideline for how to raise a child.

I do a weekly preschool class that follows a baby storytime lead by another staff member. I keep seeing beaded amber necklaces on my Storytime little ones. After spying my third infant with beaded jewelry I started to wonder what was going on.  As a self proclaimed nosey parker I just flat asked people if these necklaces the latest baby accessory. Parents tell me the oils help soothe teething pain. Is this a fad? It sounded a bit dubious.

Here's the scoop,

Teething necklaces have been used by parents for centuries, especially in the Baltic region of Europe from which the most effective form of the resin originates. While these parents may not have known how or why these baubles helped to relieve the pain, drooling, inflammation and irritability that their children experienced as new teeth broke through the surface of the gums, they did realize that the treatment was effective. Modern parents who hope to alleviate these difficult symptoms for their own children without resorting to over-the-counter topical analgesic gels filled with synthetic chemicals are helping amber teething necklaces to enjoy a resurgence in popularity. Thanks to today’s scientific advances, however, it is possible to understand exactly how and why a teething necklace made from amber can make the process of teething easier for your child. (Amber)

Baltic amber contains Succinic Acid.  When the beaded necklaces are worn against the skin, a tiny amount of oil that contains succinic acid is released because of body heat. When the oil is absorbed, fans of these beads say it has an analgesic effect on swollen, sore gums. Because the succinic acid is naturally occurring in both the amber and the human body, this method of pain relief is thought to be more natural. (WhatToExpect)

You can visit Amber Teething Necklace, a site that sells the beads as well as providing more information about how the amber soothes the teething process.  Talking to people about this idea lead to a variety of perspectives.  Many parents say they have used the beads with positive and noticeable effects. While other parents didn't see a change in their child's teething pain when wearing the necklace. People with or without children felt the beads were a hazard since infants could swallow and choke on them, or that the  necklaces  could  strangle a baby.  Adults also stated they knew it would just be a placebo effect but would  continue using the beads.  Its possible that this is a fad that will ebb and flow like other child-rearing trends. 

To be safe, children wearing the necklaces should always be supervised.  Necklaces should have quick release or tear away style closures to prevent a child from becoming trapped. Beads should be removed at naptime and bedtime, or the beads should be placed around the infant's ankle to limit the chance of entrapment. Necklaces should have knots between each bead to ensure the entire strand does not come apart, leading to a child ingesting the beads.  Be sure to buy a necklaces from a reputable sources and when in doubt, discuss this choice with your doctor.  Remember that other sources of pain relief may be available for the child. (ACCC)

Further Reading :

Amber Necklaces and Teething Babies

Amber Teething Necklaces Pose Choking Hazard

Laura

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YALSA The Hub : Dream Interpretation - Snakes

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I think I finally found a way to use my strange dreams to their best advantage.  I am testing a booklist post on YALSA The Hub that chooses teen fiction to counteract specific dreams or nightmares. Hopefully, if the idea is successful, I will be able to create a series of booklists on dreams.  

Dream Interpretation - Snakes

Laura

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Folder Story - Paint

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I was inspired by folder stories last week.  Other staff use them.  I saw some ideas online. However I've never seen a librarian present a folder story so I didn't know how to begin. I did a quick google search and found a template I thought I could try. 

(Not) Flannel Friday: “Mrs. Mark’s Favorite Color” File Folder Story

Here's the final result.  I can't wait to test it on my storytime kids. Basically the folder has a cut out to reveal changes in the story.  In my story the colors change and at the end there is a rainbow made of all the preceding colors. And if you are organized or have nimble fingers you can change out of the papers without dropping the contents of your folder story on the floor.

Next time I think I might try a story that didn't require you to cut out two holes for the colors to show through.  For some reason I found this added feature really confusing.

Laura

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Preschool Storytime - Lego/Construction

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This is the program that I sweated and fretted over so it would be perfect for job interviews.  It may be a bit neurotic but I did have a great time presenting this storytime to my preschoolers and their parents.

Opening

• Song - Hello Everybody by Peter and Ellen Allard
• Book - Tip Tip, Dig Dig by Emma Garcia
• egg shakers -  Construction Time on Sunflower Storytime.

• Song - Everything is Awesome from The Lego Movie Soundtrack
• free dance with egg shakers 

• Hello My Name is Joe - Peter and Ellen Allard 

• Felt Board - Five Little Legos 

Originally I wanted to do Five Little Legos, which I had seen on Thrive After Three. Sometimes I'm limited by my own imagination but this time I was limited by supplies. So I made up a new rhyme for counting Lego Blocks.

5 legos in a tower tall
I want to knock them over and make them fall
I'll clean up my toys one by one

Felt Lego blocks that stick to nearly
everything, even wool pants.

let's count to see when I am done

4 legos in a tower tall
I want to knock it over and make them fall
I'll clean up my toys one by one
let's count to see when i am done

3 legos in a tower tall
I want to know it over and make them fall
I'll clean up my toys one by one
let's count to see when i am done

2 legos in a tower tall
I want to knock them over and make them fall
I'll clean up my toys one by one
let's count to see when i am done

1 lego in a tower tall
I want to knock it over and make it fall
I'll clean up my toys one by one
But theres nothing to count because we are all done.

• Book - Who made this cake? by Chihiro Nakagawa 

• Felt Board - Dump Trucks
• I saw this idea from Construction Time on Sunflower Storytime.  They suggest you use colored paper strewn on the floor and encourage the children to match the colors of the paper to the colors of the truck.  In the original there are three trucks but I had fives colors from the Lego project so there are five trucks too.

Great simple shapes I can use over
and over again. 

Dump trucks, dump trucks, Cleaning up the town.
Do you see any garbage lying around?
Pick up the trash and match it to a truck, 
Soon the whole town will be all cleaned up!

• Book - Diggers Go by Steve Light

• Finger Play - I’m a Builder Tune of “Frere Jacques” (Modified from the original by Jean Warren)

I’m a builder!
Hear me pound!
Hear my sound!
Tap- a tap, a tap-tap
Tap-a tap, a tap-tap
All day long!
All day long!

• Book - Trucks Go by Steve Light

• Finger Play - Five Little Nails (Modified from the original by Melissa Depper, Denver Colorado)

Five little nails, standing straight and steady.
Here I come with my hammer ready!
BAM! BAM! BAM! One nail goes down.
Four little nails are left to pound.

Four little nails, standing straight and steady.
Here I come with my hammer ready!
BAM! BAM! BAM! One nail goes down.
Three little nails are left to pound.

Three little nails, standing straight and steady.
Here I come with my hammer ready!
BAM! BAM! BAM! One nail goes down.
Two little nails are left to pound.

Two little nails, standing straight and steady.
Here I come with my hammer ready!
BAM! BAM! BAM! One nail goes down.
One little nail is left to pound.

One little nail, standing straight and steady.
Here I come with my hammer ready!
BAM! BAM! BAM! That nail goes down.
No little nails are left to pound.

• Book - Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site by Sherri Duskey Rinker

Closing 

Peter Hammers

Laura

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