The Supper Club Presents: Apps that build relationships

Depending on how you use them, apps can put up barriers between people or foster connection.  This month, we looked at a few apps that help to build relationships by encouraging intergenerational interactions.

First, we read (gasp!) a BOOK!  The kind made with paper and ink! Tea with Grandpa by Barney Saltzberg is a totally charming book about a little girl who has tea with her grandpa every afternoon.  The twist at the end? They're visiting with each other on-screen!  This book is a great reminder about one of my very favorite ways to use digital devices to build relationships -- video calls.  Two of the most well-known video call apps are FaceTime (for iOS devices) and Skype (for Android or iOS).  They are both free to use and are just a fantastic way for kids to connect with faraway loved ones.  One of the parents at the Supper Club pointed out that their family struggled with these video calls at first because the grandparents wanted the kids to lead the conversation and the kids weren't sure what to talk about, so if you're finding the process awkward, suggest some sort of cooperative play (like a tea party) that everyone can engage in together.  (My son loves to "hide his grandma" (i.e. hide the phone which grandma is talking on) inside his toy ambulance while she either makes siren noises or exclaims about how dark it is inside the ambulance or pretends to be a patient being whisked to the hospital.)

A call for guest posts

photo credit: "Bokeh all over" by THOR

I have been thrilled to hear from a few of you, dear readers, about how this blog has inspired you to create similar programs at your library. Library Makers will be a bit quieter for awhile as we head into the holiday season and my library's programming schedule lightens up until January, so I thought it would be a good time to hear back from you.  If you have done a library program (or if you're a parent at home, what projects have you re-created) inspired by this blog, I want to share your successes (or "learning opportunities") here!  Send photos, a link to your own blog, a story about your program, or whatever you're willing to share with other readers of this blog to mplmakers@gmail.com.  I'd love to see what you've made!

Toddler Art Class: Scrape Paintings

Library cards get you access to lots of fun things, but did you know you could PAINT with them?

Art Project: Scrape Paintings (in black and white)
Supplies:
library cards (or other plastic cards--gift cards, those fake credit cards that come in junk mail...)
paint
paper
paper plates (to hold the paint)

Book:  
Black meets white / Fontes, Justine

Toddler Art Class: Sculpture

Textures galore and easy construction opportunities make these two materials ideal for toddler play.

Art Project: Styrofoam + Chenille Sculptures
Supplies:
--Styrofoam (Someone donated half-spheres to me, but you could use almost any chunky pieces of styrofoam.  I recommend cutting down one of those big chunky pieces that come with electronics or other large items shipped in boxes.  Or raid your local appliance store's dumpster...)

--Chenille stems or pipe cleaners (this is an excellent opportunity to use up any pieces that have been cut into awkwardly short lengths or twisted up and used so many times that they're hard to jam back into the bag.)


Book:  
A porcupine named Fluffy / Lester, Helen