Last week I hosted a “parents night out” program at the library – an evening of crafts, songs, rhymes and snacks for parents of young children in the community. Because Halloween is just around the corner, we made our own versions of , “5 Little Pumpkins”!
We provided templates and craft materials, but parents were encouraged to use their imaginations and not feel constrained by the evening’s theme. One mother made five little strawberries with scraps of red felt, another made a cute little pumpkin couple. We had a family of veggies and some colourful ghosts, too!
I made a little handout with song lyrics, rhymes, and seasonal book suggestions, we sang some songs together and practiced using our new felt stories. We of course also had plenty of cookies to keep our energy levels high!
It was a fun, relaxed evening activity that gave parents a chance to meet other parents in their community, and to ask a librarian questions about early literacy.
Low-key events like this are great community builders, and allow librarians to connect with caregivers in a friendly, natural way. Plus, everybody likes to indulge their inner child and play with craft materials every once in a while! 😉