Fun Fridays - Sensory-Based Programming

Jamie Mercer is the Head of Youth Services at W.J. Niederkorn (Port Washington) Library and shares some extra fun with easy and/or FREE programming ideas/tips.

Happy Friday! 

Today I am here to give my short soap-box speech on sensory programming and to encourage you (if you aren’t already) to create sensory based programs at your library.  

If you haven’t ever held a sensory program at your library, it may be intimidating and it may sound like it requires an immense amount of work.  I have also heard of many librarians getting discouraged because it can be messy… let me assure you…it definitely can be…but it is what YOU make it…and… IT’S TOTALLY WORTH IT AND NEEDED! 

Let me put you at ease, after doing sensory programming for seven years now, I can tell you, it doesn’t have to be time intensive and it doesn’t have to be expensive.  Again, it is what YOU make it. 

Before I go any further into the how of sensory programming, I will give a brief synopsis of why it is so important and needed- 

As a librarian, you will really want to make sure you consistently include a sensory based program in your youth programming.  Not only does sensory play and sensory activities help children by supporting healthy brain development through different modes of sensory input, sensory play and sensory activities also engage children in problem solving, as well as aids in language development, building fine and gross motor skills, and finally helps children with social-emotional growth as they learn from one another by observing, imitating, and modeling as they play.  Because of the plethora of benefits, sensory programming is a wonderful option to offer ALL children and families.  It is also key to note that sensory programming is an excellent vehicle and opportunity to make your library more accessible to underserved populations such as the autistic community.  It is a chance to develop great community partnerships that just help the library and library staff grow in many different ways. 

Over the past year, due to time and staff constraints, my sensory programs have shifted from Sensory Storytime to Sensory Playtime.  I will talk briefly about both.  

When I planned for my sensory storytime, I would choose a theme.  I created a visual schedule that I would attach to the flannel board for storytime so participants could follow along and know what to expect (the visual schedule pieces stayed consistent for each storytime).  I choose one or two stories for each storytime to go with the theme (one of the stories would always be a flannel board story.  I usually made the pieces for the story myself with cheap felt from a craft store). I encouraged storytime friends to hold pieces so they could be active participants in the story…but understood if and when that didn’t work out.  And that was okay.  With any sensory programming you do, my best advice, just go with the flow. 

As far as finger plays, songs, etc., I also would choose one or two songs for the storytime.  I included props during the storytime and songs including shakers, bean bags/textured bean bags, bouncy bands, the bubble machine, etc.  Aside from the bubble machine, I have at one point or another in the past several years made all the props for my sensory programming including egg shakers with rice, tape, and plastic eggs.  I also remember sewing bean bags together after I had found really neat textured fabric on a craft store trip.  The props get used and lost along the way.  And that is also okay.  

It is definitely nice if you have funds in place to buy sensory programming supplies, but you can also have an excellent program with materials you find around home and/or make yourself.  Sometimes families appreciate this even more because they know it will be easy and affordable to replicate when they get home. 

As far as sensory playtime, I also generally plan around a theme for these programs as well.  After a theme is chosen, I plan 5-6 activities trying to focus on different senses, fine motor skills, gross motor skills, and play activities that encourage interaction.  Big fan favorites include- water beads… anytime I take out a bin with water beads in it, that is where 70% of the children gravitate.  Playdough is also a favorite (I try to add different scents to this… based on season or theme…with essential oils).  I often use playdough recipes from Pinterest that our quick and with items that can be brought in from home…. there is an excellent two ingredient recipe that is cornstarch and hand lotion or conditioner that works great in a pinch.  

I’ve had success with several food related activities during sensory playtime (without issue or complaint, but realize that this will vary by library).  This past fall, I was able to bring in my apple corer for an apple themed sensory playtime where kids cored, peeled, and sliced their own apples.  Then they used it to make apple sauce in a crock pot.  They had a delectable time! 

I hope you found this brief post helpful, please pick my brain if you’d like more examples of activities or want feedback, etc.  If you aren’t doing sensory programming now…I hope you will try it.  And after you try it, I would LOVE to hear about it. It is hard to try something new, especially if you are nervous, and I would love to celebrate you and congratulate you. 

I am happy to answer further questions or help in any way I can.  If I don’t have the answer, I am happy to point you to a person or resource that may be of better assistance. 

Feel free to contact me at jmercer@monarchlibraries.org  

Mornings with YSS at WAPL 2016

Attending WAPL? Hooray! Not sure yet? Below are three great reasons to attend the 2016 conference in Oshkosh. See the full slate of programs put together by your Wisconsin library colleagues here on the WLA website. The blog will be featuring WAPL YSS programs over the next several days. These sessions are sure to be informative, inspiring, and even better - implementable at your library. 

Sensory Programs That Make Sense

10:30 - 11:30 am on Thursday, May 12

Abby Bussen, Muskego Public Library

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Want to start offering scheduled sensory opportunities at your library, but aren't sure where to start? Let Abby Bussen, Children's Librarian, help build your confidence and know-how in this informative, hands-on presentation. She'll focus on planning sensory programs for babies, toddlers and preschoolers as well as for special needs children, giving you actionable information you can put to use in planning your own one-off or continuing program, and encouraging you to get your hands a little dirty with some sensory experiences to enjoy as a group. A veteran sensory program planner, Bussen has been running monthly sensory playdates for over a year.

If You're Appy and You Know It…

8:30 – 9:30 am on Friday, May 13

Ann Cooksey and Kristi Helmkamp, Appleton Public Library; Denise Chojnacki, Rhinelander District Library, Kerry Pinkner, Waukesha Public Library

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Think Storytime Underground meets New Media. Strengthen your Media Mentor skills with tips from the field such as digital flannel boards for outreach, networking through Google Drive for collection development and troubleshooting technical difficulties. Have an app or new media experience to share? Come and join the fun! No new media? No problem! Walk away prepared to make a case for Media Mentorship as a vital part of librarianship in the 21st century.

Tackling the Tough Stuff: SLP & Beyond!

11:00 am – 12:00 pm on Friday, May 13

Katherine Elchert, Rice Lake Public Library; Georgia Jones, Friday Memorial Library, New Richmond

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Does SLP have your coworkers rolling their eyes and heading towards the door? Stressed out over drop- off daycare invasions? Or, worse yet, worn out from worry over kids left at the library without access to food? Never fear, Georgia and Katherine are here to help! Let's discuss positive, proactive solutions for these sticky SLP challenges. Feel free to bring your own tricky topics for discussion and we can all triage them together!

Storytime for the Spectrum

Across the United States, the number of kids diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder is rising, from 1 in 80 kids in 2010 to 1 in 45 kids in 2015, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In response, parents and librarians are working together through programming and awareness to help make the library a space where children on the autism spectrum are welcome.

In particular, there has been a rise of "sensory storytimes" at various libraries across the country.  Storytimes specifically tailored to the sensory, audio, and visual needs of children with autism.  “Autism is a brain disorder. Their brains work differently. There are lots of reasons for this, but one main reason is that kids on the spectrum process information in a different part of the brain than a typical child does. So the information needs to be presented differently in order for kids to be engaged."

Read the rest of this inspiring article HERE, to discover how children with autism experience storytimes differently and how you can create a successful storytime experience for them.