Programming at Home: Parents and Caregivers with Rebecca Donnelly

To register for this webinar please follow this link: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1125100973945157643?source=Michigan. Sessions are free and available only to members of the Michigan library community. Registrants will receive instructions and a link to attend the session directly from PCI after they register.

With school closures, remote learning, and working from home, COVID has changed day-to-day reality for many families. While school-age children are becoming overwhelmed with work and screens, parents are often at a loss to find creative ways to engage younger children who are temporarily unable to attend daycare or preschool. Libraries have stepped in to offer virtual storytimes for their patrons, but what can we offer that directly supports parents’ and caregivers’ engagement with children?

Libraries have an opportunity to reach out to their families and give them a behind-the-scenes look at how we create dynamic and enjoyable programs for children, giving parents tools to adapt library crafts and activities to use with their children. Librarians can create streaming, recorded, and written content for parents, offer take-home activity kits, and more.

Participants will:

• Understand the principles of adult learning
• Build their toolkit of parent- and caregiver-oriented programming
• Learn ways to extend programs for parents beyond the current COVID reality

Instructor: Rebecca Donnelly holds a Master’s in Library and Information Science from San Jose State University. She has worked in public libraries in Florida, New Mexico, and New York since 2006, specializing in children’s services. Rebecca is also the author of several books for young readers, including the picture book Cats Are a Liquid and the Indies Introduce/Kids’ Indie Next pick How to Stage a Catastrophe.

PCI Webinars are recorded and available to members of the Michigan library community in the Library of Michigan's Niche Staff Skills Academy about a week after they air. New webinars will be in the New category for several weeks. You do not need to register for a webinar in order to view it later in the Staff Skills Academy.

This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the Library of Michigan.