Posts filed under 'Programming'
Although I have offered storytimes for special needs families, I’ve also offered other kinds of programs too. In March I collaborated on a program with clinicians from one of our Early Intervention agencies. The event was for everyone in the family so it was a mix of special needs kids and their siblings.
I have worked with EI staff before and I can’t say enough good things about them. I really liked having them on board as they are trained occupational therapists who work with special needs kids. They are extremely knowledgeable about appropriate and engaging activities. Nothing like bringing in the experts!
We decided we would offer a drop-in event that would feature a few different activities. Coloring and stickers were two activities. We also provided a “Thomas the Tank Engine” tent for children to sit in. When we were planning the program we originally envisioned the tent as a quiet and contained spot – a place for kids to re-group. To our surprise, during the program, the tent became a moving and grooving train as the kids would climb inside and crawl around to make the train move. They had a ball and it was very popular. It turned out to be a great way for kids to get out their wiggles and jiggles.
As I said, it’s terrific to have the input of the experts. It was the EI clinicians who came up with the most popular activity – bath foam art. Bath foam is squeezed onto tables and kids use their hands and different tools to make designs. The clinician also brought in screens that connected. Two sides were solid and two were mirrored. We squeezed the bath foam on the screens for the kids to play with. The clinician brought paint brushes and rollers that kids used to work the foam. The foam is great as it doesn’t stain and kids used paper towels or baby wipes to clean up.
We also had a special guest – Sir Topham Hatt. Sir Hatt sat in a corner and read Thomas stories. None of the children sat quietly and listened and it appeared that they weren’t interested. Not so! Most of the kids paced near Sir Hatt. The minute he stopped reading a child would hand him another book. One little boy loved “Thomas the Tank Engine” and once he became comfortable in the situation, stood right next to Sir Hatt, pointing to the pictures and demanding “More!” The boy spent most of his time with Sir Hatt.
This was a drop-in event. Families could stop by any time between 10 AM and 11:30 AM. Most came closer to 10 AM and stayed the entire session. It was our first time offering this program and we had a smallish group but I think that was a benefit as it was easier for us to manage and assess the activity. I think a smaller number of participants helps the kids feel more comfortable. For kids with sensory issues a large group might be too loud and active. It was also easier to share the materials and nobody had to wait his or her turn.
To see photos from the event check out our Pollard Library’s Autism Guide blog.
April 24th, 2012
Molly Hancock
So, you’ve bought some new materials, you’ve put together a booklist and/or webpage, you’ve planned a sensory storytime… Now how do you spread the word to your community? Here are some ideas:
- Local newspaper(s) – print and online (Patch)
- Library website, newsletter, etc.
- Local Early Intervention office
- Integrated Preschool in your city/town (send over enough flyers for them to put one in every child’s backpack)
- SEPAC (special education parent advisory council) – every city/town that has special education in its public schools has a SEPAC
- Local autism resource center – see MA list here
- Local public access channel
- PTAs, public school newsletters
What other ways could we market the materials and services we have for families affected by autism? Please leave a comment with your ideas!
November 10th, 2011
Ashley Waring
I finally offered my first sensory storytime this morning. It was wonderful! Only 3 families came, but check out this fabulous email our library received this afternoon:
Just wanted to send a big thank you for the sensory storytime
this morning! It was terrific! I will be sure to let other preschool parents [know] to come to the next one. My four-year old LOVED it and I think I’m even more excited than he is as the event stirred up a lot of great ideas for activities I can do with my kids at home! Thank you thank you!!!
Obviously even though it wasn’t a huge crowd, it made a huge impact. Just goes to show that families want these services and will be very appreciative if you offer them. The parents were so enthusiastic and participated fully, much more so than at a “regular” storytime.
This was my schedule:
- Hello song
- Shirt song
- Fingerplay
- Five Little Pumpkins book (with feltboard)
- Scarves and music
- Sticky bubblegum song with Therabands
- Dog’s Colorful Day book (with feltboard)
- Goodbye song
- Bubbles and music
I used carpet squares on the floor to help kids with boundaries, I used a visual schedule, and I had a table display near the door with books, DVDs, and other materials for families to take home. After the storytime, the families went into our picture book room and the kids played with toys while the moms talked. If I have a larger group next time, I’ll bring toys into the storytime room so families can stay and socialize in there when the program is finished.
November 4th, 2011
Ashley Waring
I started doing sensory story times in January 2011. This story time, which is opened to all children ages 2-5, is especially geared to children with sensory integration issues. It is also for those children who may have difficulty sitting through regular story times. I hold this story time one day every other month. I have been holding this story time during the week, usually in the morning, but starting in January 2012 I will hold this story time on Saturday mornings. I have noticed that story times during the week don’t always work well for families that have children with sensory issues and I don’t want this to just turn into a regular story time. I am hoping that Saturday mornings will work better with people’s schedules.
I struggled with being able to only do this story time once every other month. I originally wanted to do it on a more regular basis, but I just didn’t have the time in my schedule. However, I feel that the children will benefit from and enjoy the story time, even if I am only able to offer it on a limited basis.
For each story time I pick a theme, such as colors or the farm, and read books related to that theme. We always start and end with the same songs. We also do fingerplays/rhymes, three stories (at least one story is an interactive story that the children can help me with), and often an activity with scarves (usually moving the scarves to soft music). After we sing our goodbye song I blow some bubbles and then the children have the opportunity to color a picture related to the theme, while parents can visit with one another. I also put out stuffed animals and fidget balls for the children to use during the story time and a picture schedule of the activities is on the wall behind me during the program.
I advertise this story time at local preschools, in our monthly e-newsletter, in brochures/advertisements within the library, in the local newspaper, on our website, and I am now sending letters and flyers to local organizations that offer head start, early intervention, and therapy for children with autism.
October 7th, 2011
Gina Lipkin
I’ve been surfing the Internet doing research for some Autism Awareness activities and came across this site. It’s called “Autism Games” and was created by a speech pathologist. I haven’t had a chance to look at it in depth but it appears there are various levels. http://sites.google.com/site/autismgames/home/games-pages
March 23rd, 2011
Molly Hancock
A Lenten half-day retreat will be offered for mothers of children with physical, developmental and/or emotional challenges on Saturday, March 26th, 8:30 AM to noon at the Sisters of St. Joseph, 637 Cambridge St., Brighton, MA 02135. For more information or to register call 617-747-2056 or e-mail Maryritaweschler@csjboston.org.
March 22nd, 2011
Molly Hancock
South Bay Early Intervention is running an Autism support group, “Putting the Pieces Together” at the Pollard Library in Lowell. The group meets the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month at 6:30 PM.
The Thom Anne Sullivan Center is conducting a support group for siblings of special needs kids at the Pollard Library on Tuesdays at 4 PM, April 5th through April 26th. The group is for children in grades 1 – 4 but if there is interest in a similar group for younger siblings staff at the Thom/Anne Sullivan will put one together. Sign up is required and families can call 978-970-4122 to reserve their spots.
I will be conducting a Special Friends storytime for special needs families on Saturday, April 2nd at 10:30 AM. It is a drop-in storytime.
March 22nd, 2011
Molly Hancock
Autism Awareness Day at the Statehouse in Boston
Tuesday, April 13, 2010, 9:00 AM
Great Hall at the State House
This year’s theme is “Awash in Autism: Ask Me About 1 in 110.” ( “1 in 110” refers to the CDC’s most recent statistics about ASD incidences.) The program will consist of various presentations including that of Advocates for Autism of Massachusetts who will share information about their work including insurance coverage for autism, updates from government officials, and awards for those who have made significant contributions to the ASD community. Following the presentation there will be time to visit with legislators.
For more information contact Nancy Farnsworth at 413-529-2428 x113 or farnswon@theassn.org.
Autism Safety Resource Fair and Floating Hospital for Children’s Autism Awareness Day
Wednesday, April 7, 2010, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Tufts Medical Center, Main Lobby
Boston, MA
Some of the features of the event: “Project Lifesaver” by LoJack, water safety/community safety/home safety.
Some of the organizations in attendance: Autism Speaks, National Autism Center, Boston Families for Autism, Aspergers Association of New England and more
From 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM there will be a discussion – “Autism Safety in the Community and in the Hospital.”
For more information, contact 617-636-1305 or bbentley@tuftsmedicalcenter.org.
March 31st, 2010
Molly Hancock
It was not the intention of this grant to have you create a program just for children with autism. It is hoped instead you getting lots of strategies and ideas for including them into your regular program.
This article offers lots of tips but actually suggests at the end that you include both children with autism and neurotypicals in your group! The benefits are huge for doing this, the author suggests. The author also recommends talking with parents in advance. They know their children best and can be great partners in this.
The San Jose Public Library offers “inclusive story times”. They have made adjustments in their programming, including: “using pictorial schedules to help children with the many transitions involved in a story time; using books that help match words with pictures so children have a more active role in the reading; and using carpet squares to create a more defined space for children who find it difficult to establish boundaries.”
If you wanted to do a special program, here’s an idea from the Des Plaines Public Library:
A special program for children with autism
Family Times provide parents or caregivers the opportunity to leave their child with autism Friends Room C, where they will interact with specially trained dogs from Rainbow Animal Assisted Therapy. During that time, parents and caregivers may attend a variety of library programs or explore other library resources. The third Saturday of each month, October-May
The bottom line is this is new in public libraries. Your ideas which turn into programs will become resources for other libraries. Please feel free to share your program ideas on this blog!
February 17th, 2010
Susan Babb
