Alisha

Summer Shows for Kids and Families

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Our summer performer series is returning with TWO performances each week!  So many of our all-time favorite performers are returning this summer including a brand new comedic show from A Touch of Magic Entertainment, the brilliantly hilarious comedy of Kenny Ahern, live reptiles and amphibians, totally awesome “science-ing” with popular UWEC professor, Erik Hendrickson, a magic show with Glen Gerard, and an interactive musical program from Duke Otherwise!  Visit us Thursdays, June 15-July 20 for shows at 10 a.m. and repeated at 1 p.m.  FREE tickets are available one week prior to each program to reserve your spot.  Stop by the library to pick up your tickets, or give us a call at 715-839-5007.  All shows will be held in the beautiful new Riverview Room on the library’s third level.

 

June 15: A Touch of Magic: Treasure Beyond Measure

June 22: Kenny Ahern: To Laugh is to Live

June 29: Reptile and Amphibian Discovery Zoo

July 6: Science Theatre: Fun with Liquid Nitrogen

July 13: Magic and Comedy with Glen Gerard

July 20: Duke Otherwise

 

(Psst…Want a sneak peek?!  Check out this fun music video from Duke Otherwise!)

Alisha

Mondays = Fundays this Summer!

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Mondays at the library this summer are going to be SO. MUCH. FUN!  With programs for grades K-6 on seven consecutive Mondays, there is something that will suit everyone’s fancy.  Arts and crafts enthusiasts will like the Upcycled Art or Explore with Paint programs.  Are you a fan of comic books?  Check out the Comic Book Bash!  Have you ever secretly wanted to send something over the library’s bridge from the second story down to the first?  Then come to the Zip Line program where we’ll build a creation to send down the one-story zip line.  Are your interests rooted in gardening?  Visit the From Seed to Plant program.  A Grossology program will be held for the strong-stomached, and science (and/or candy) fans will love our Candy Science program.

“Do I need to bring anything,” you ask?  Nope!  All materials will be provided, while supplies last.  Come to one or all!

See all of out summer activities at www.ecpubliclibrary.info/kids/summer2023

Schedule

June 12: Upcycled Art

June 19: Zip Line

June 26: Comic Book Bash!

July 3: From Seed to Plant

July 10: Grossology

July 17: Explore with Paint

July 24: Candy Science

Jill

Hunt for fun @ the library!

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Does your kid love scavenger hunts? Come to the library! There is always a scavenger hunt in Youth Services which rotates every couple of months. All hunts are designed for both pre-readers and kids that read. These hunts are a fun family activity, and the prize at the end is usually a high five from the Youth Librarian. Come to the library anytime we are open and try a scavenger hunt today!

Bonus at-home scavenger hunt activity…

Find:

  • Something blue
  • Letter S
  • An animal (or photo of an animal)
  • Something outside that is growing
  • A new place to read a book

 

Kelly W

Give Your Kids Fun, Educational Content with the Library’s New Launchpad Tablets!

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Launchpad tablets are pre-loaded with content for kids, designed with a simple, easy-to-use interface, and 100% secure. Launchpad tablets are made to be passed from one set of hands to the next.

Going on a road trip, vacation, or spending some downtime at home? Launchpad tablets are the perfect device to keep your kiddos busy! There is no download time and no need for Wi-Fi. Furthermore, access to powerful content is as simple as turning on each device—anytime, anywhere!

With a range of topics from emotional wellbeing to learning about the environment and more, you are sure to find something that suits your kiddo now! For a list of Launchpad tablets available for checkout from the library, click here.

*Note: Launchpads cannot be returned in a drop box. Please return Launchpads to the customer service desk on the first floor.

 

Shannon

Hang Out in The Lookout!

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Have you been to The Lookout? It’s a space here at the Eau Claire Library meant just for our school age visitors! We were excited to add this area to Youth Services during our renovation, and we immediately filled it with all sorts of fun things to discover and do.
In The Lookout, you will find iPads loaded with tons of games, computers for kids and their grown-ups to use, a weekly Try-It Tray activity, art supplies, board games, a scavenger hunt, and various other special activities. And, since we are constantly thinking of new fun things to do, many of the activities change weekly—so you should find something new just about every time you are here. Make sure to check out The Lookout during your next visit to the library. It just might become your new favorite place to hang out!
Julia

Library Life Hack: Use the event calendar to remind you of upcoming programs!

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The library is a great place to gather with friends and family, and take part in a wide-range of exciting programs. From storytime to Lego Club to BINGO and more, there is always something fun to do. You can find our full line-up on the library’s Event Calendar.

One of my favorite features on the Event Calendar is the “Remind Me” icon. Just click on this icon and enter your email to receive a reminder 24 hours before the program!

 

Some programs do require registration. For these, you will receive automated reminders after you complete the registration on the Event Calendar.

See you at the library!

Jill

The Tale of the Valentine’s Day Juice Box Robot

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Valentine’s treats for your kid, but make it crafty… and kinda healthy. That was the challenge that I set myself in 2014 when my son was 4. I saw an idea online to make a robot out of various kid-snacks, so I got out my glue gun and made it happen.

At the time I was making videos at work to showcase the library’s die cut collection. The Juice Box Robot used the small heart die cut, so I decided to record a quick how-to video for the Valentine’s treat. And the Valentine’s Day Juice Box Robot video was born! 9 years and almost 62,000 views later, we still get several calls or emails every January from people looking for the free printables.

So, what is the die cut collection? The library has over 500 individual wooden die cuts that cut through paper or other thin material to make shapes. The shapes can be used for bulletin boards, teaching aids, party decorations, cards and scrapbooking, and much more. The collection and machine are free to use and available anytime the library is open, just bring your own paper to cut.

What else can you make with the die cut machine? The sky’s the limit!

Stop by the Youth Services desk on your next visit to the library and ask for a tour of the Resource Room. We would be happy to show you how the die cuts can make your next project easier!

Watch the Valentine’s Day Juice Box Robot video…

Download our free printable Juice Box Robot templates…

YS Librarian

VIDEO: Make a Valentine’s Day Juice Box Robot

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Check out this cute Valentine’s Day Juice Box Robot! You can make this project for a fun Valentine’s Day treat using mostly healthy snacks and die cut shapes from the L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library. Use the die cut machine any time the library is open. And it’s totally free, just being your own paper. Questions? Contact us at 715-839-5007 or ysstaff@eauclaire.lib.wi.us.

Download our free printable templates…

Color
www.ecpubliclibrary.info/kids/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/robot-labels-color.pdf

Black & White
www.ecpubliclibrary.info/kids/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/robot-labels-b-and-w.pdf

Shannon

Fold a One Page Book

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I love simple projects that lead to huge creative fun, and One Page Books fall firmly into that category. All you need for this project is a regular sheet of paper, a pair of scissors, and your imagination. The hardest part is deciding what to fill them with—you are bound to have tons of ideas. Luckily, they are so fast to make, there’s no need to choose: you can make a whole library of books in no time! Bonus: You can even make these books by repurposing paper from the recycling bin. Have fun!

 

Alex

Staff Picks for Family Video Game Night

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Growing up, my brother and I spent a lot of time bonding over our shared love of video games. Our parents mostly appreciated our hobby from a distance, but the times that they did join in were always tons of fun, and memories I treasure to this day. Playing video games as a family can be a great way to build stronger connections and to understand the media your children consume. It also gives you opportunities to model empathy and problem-solving skills, and learning to cope with losing in games can help kids build emotional resilience.

With that in mind, why not host a family video game night? Here are some video game suggestions to get the ball rolling:

Nintendo – King of family games

  • Mario Party offers a board game-like experience, dice and all.
  • Mario Kart has been a multiplayer kart-racing staple for decades.

Chaotic fun

  • In Overcooked! 1 or 2, four people can run a restaurant together (and put out kitchen fires in the process).

Minecraft fans

  • In Minecraft Dungeons your party can explore dungeons, slay monsters, and find loot, all set in the Minecraft world.

LEGO Fans

  • LEGO has many 2 player games, including crossovers with Harry Potter, Batman, Jurassic World, and many more.

Outside the box

  • In Untitled Goose Game you play as mischievous geese who solve puzzles and play pranks on unsuspecting humans.

Get your bodies moving

  • Check out the Just Dance series and dance along to a selection of popular music.

And many more!

The library has video games available for a variety of different consoles, including several generations of PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo systems. Video games in our children’s collection have a green sticker on the spine to make finding them easy, but if you ever have questions about whether a video game is appropriate for your child just check the ESRB rating on the back. Visit the ESRB website for more information on what these ratings mean: https://www.esrb.org/ratings-guide/

Most importantly, remember to have fun! Playing video games together can offer a window into your child’s world, and you may even find yourself feeling like a kid again.