The importance of 'Play': theory, practical examples, and the future of children's programming in libraries and museums

This joint session examines three initiatives that emphasize the importance of Play:

Teddy Bear’s Journey: Small Children, Big Topics: As sites of education, museums, libraries and archives often encounter the difficult task of making abstract, complicated or difficult subject matter relevant and engaging for all visitors, including small children.  Pre-schools are a growing audience for group tour visits, but how do you create a group tour program that works for the under 7 crowd?  This workshop will feature a sample program, “Teddy Bear’s Journey,” that does just that.  Presenters will give you a behind the scenes look at this program, the theory behind it, how it was developed and why each activity is selected.  Presenters will discuss what works well and what is challenging as well as demonstrate some of the components of the program.

The Future of Children’s Programming: Eastern Counties Regional Library Staff (ECRL) will share insights and practical approaches gathered from our 3-year story of introducing cutting edge technology programming for kids at our Libraries. Participants will gain an overview of the latest technologies available for children’s programming, including Little Bits, 3D printing, MaKey-MaKey, LEGO Story Starter, Claymation, LEGO WeDo, LEGO Mindstorms, The Hour of Code and Minecraft. They will also gain an understanding of how books and reading can be connected to these activities. Finally they will also understand why it is essential that Library staff update their skills to be able to offer these programs without relying on student/youth workers.

Injecting “Play” Into Library or Museum Programming & Activities for Children: Why Play is Important: Research tells us that the experiences children have with “Play” at an early age have a life-long impact.   It is through play that children at a very early age engage and interact in the world around them. In fact, the Canadian Council on Learning tells us that “play nourishes every aspect of children’s development—it forms the foundation of intellectual, social, physical, and emotional skills necessary for success in school and in life. Play ‘paves the way for learning’” Positive experiences help children become capable, caring adults who contribute more effectively to the community in the future. Library and Museum programming often uses “play” to engage kids and get them moving, injecting it into literacy based programming and also by moving programs outside.  Learn more about injecting “Play” into your programming, and why it is important, learn more about activities that can be run both outdoors and indoors, the research, resources that are available, program planning and other issues.

Presenter Bios

Debbie Bauld:

Recreation Nova Scotia
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RecreationNovaScotia
Twitter: https://twitter.com/recreationns

Debbie is the HIGH FIVE Coordinator for Recreation Nova Scotia. She has served in this position since 2002 when Recreation Nova Scotia became the Authorized Provider of HIGH FIVE in this province. Formerly, she worked in municipal recreation as a  Regional Recreation Manager for  17 years. She is also the mother of three sons and has observed firsthand  how positive play experiences can have a lifelong impact on children. She is thrilled to share HIGH FIVE`s philosophy of play  and how the five HIGH FIVE principles of healthy child development can make a difference in the lives of the children you serve.

Elisabeth Tower:

Elisabeth Tower
Twitter: https://twitter.com/e_tower?lang=en

Pier 21
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Pier-21-Quai-21-210412625764977/timeline/?ref=ts
Twitter: https://twitter.com/pier21

Elisabeth Tower is the Education Manager of the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21.  Tower holds a BA in History and English and a BEd from Lakehead University, a diploma in Cultural Resources Management from the University of Victoria and a Masters in Educational Technology from UBC.  Tower was recently honoured with UBC’s Education’s 100 – Year of Alumni Award, acknowledging 100 alumni for their outstanding contributions, dedication, impact and expertise as community leaders in their professional area.  With more than 20 years’ experience in heritage education, Tower leads an evidence-based and community led approach to program development and through committees and programs supports the development of an inclusive community.  In her nearly 10 years with the museum, Tower has led initiatives, hosted events and developed programs to prevent and eliminate racial violence and ethnic bullying, to bring awareness to Canada’s immigration history and to enrich the cultural fabric of our community through dialogue and activity.

 Lena Hardiman

Pier 21
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Pier-21-Quai-21-210412625764977/timeline/?ref=ts
Twitter: https://twitter.com/pier21

 Laura Emery:

Laura Emery
Twitter: https://twitter.com/bookasphere 

Eastern Counties Regional Library
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ecrllibrary

Laura Emery is the Chief Librarian/CEO of Eastern Counties Regional Library. Before she got a proper job she studied Theatre and worked in the Film Industry - experience that informs her perspective on Public Library services. She believes a ‘comfort zone’ is a place where imagination goes to die. She thinks creativity and innovation should be applied generously and persistently to all aspects of the Library, especially the parts children use, because their experience will determine our future. She invites you to check out ECRL’s latest video “Knowledge Feeds Us” available at https://youtu.be/2i6JzrlwTGQ.

Kimberly Tilsley (Co-presenter with Laura Emery):

Eastern Counties Regional Library
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ecrllibrary

Kimberly Tilsley is the Branch Lead at the Drs. Coady & Tompkins Memorial Library, a branch of the Eastern Counties Regional Library, in Margaree Forks. In her other lives Kim has been an elementary teacher and a farmer.  She is passionate about food, gardening, seed saving and passing on these skills and knowledge to the next generation. She is fond of quoting Cicero, “If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need!”

Sharon Reid (Co-presenter with Laura Emery):

Eastern Counties Regional Library
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ecrllibrary

Sharon Reid is the Branch Lead at the Mulgrave Library “RSpace”, in Mulgrave. She is a paper-craft enthusiast and has offered card-making workshops at several ECRL locations. She has been involved in ECRL’s children’s programming since 2013. Sharon is also unique for being the only ECRL staff member to actually raise a Professional Librarian, Heather Reid.