'Tweens Try It!

Photo from Middleton Public Library

In 2024 I was lucky enough to be part of the PBS Kids Learning Cohort, which introduced me to the wealth of resources that PBS offers for free for teachers, librarians, and kids of all ages. As part of that group I was assigned the task of creating a program using PBS resources. I came across a video about eating bugs and I knew that I had found my program! 

But, I didn't want to just do one random program for 'tweens where they ate bugs. Instead, I used this idea to create a series of programs that I call 'Tweens Try It. We've done all kinds of fun things from sharpie painting, stop motion animation, messy art, baking, ice candles and so much more! This week we're trying sewing both on machines and hand sewing to create small stuffed animals. 

While the projects we've done have been fun, the best part of this series is the relationships of the kids. 'Tweens are in that, dare I say it, in between stage where they're still kids, but are also expected to be more responsible. These projects allow them to be creative, be silly, try something new in a safe environment, and so much more. I specifically plan these events to be more hands-on "try it" type things to encourage the kids to chat while they work. 

What are your favorite events to do with the 'tween crowd?

For a fun video of the kids eating bugs check out Middleton Public Library's Facebook Post.