Northeast Regional Library Blog

Suggested Family Activity ☁️ Navajo Code Talkers Day

Today is National Navajo Code Talkers Day, a day to honor the contributions of the Native Americans during World War II.  During the war, Navajo speakers were recruited to create a code system based on their language, which had never been written down.  They created a secret code that they used to send and receive messages that the Axis powers were never able to break.  The program was classified until 1968, at which time the Read more…

By Library Staff, ago

Suggested Family Activity 🪄 Magic Wand Reading Pointer

To help young children learn how to follow along when they are reading a story, let them make magic wand reading pointers today.  To begin, you will need something to be the handle of the wand, such as a small dowel rod, a chopstick, a wooden skewer, or even a pencil or stick from outside.  For very young children, you can use a popsicle stick or craft stick to give them something wider to hold.  Read more…

By Library Staff, ago
Pickleball and paddle

Suggested Family Activity • Pickleball

Want to learn to play pickleball?  The library can help!  We have a new kit that you can check out that includes paddles, balls, a netted carry bag, and an instruction sheet.  For more information, we also have the book Pickleball for All: Everything but the “Kitchen” Sink by Rachel Simon.  In it, you will learn everything you need to know about America’s fastest-growing sport.

By Library Staff, ago

Suggested Family Activity 📝 School Supplies

Don’t let your school-age kids have all the fun – let everyone in your family pick out new school supplies this year.  Brand-new pencils, pens, markers, journals, notebooks, colored pencils, stickers, and crayons are fun for everyone.  They can use the items to work on their own craft projects, make a journal, or draw fun pictures.  Dollar stores are heavily stocked with inexpensive school supplies right now, so this treat doesn’t have to be expensive.

By Library Staff, ago

Suggested Family Activity 🏅 Summer Olympics

Take inspiration from the Summer Olympics to get your family moving around: Teach young children to do a flip, handstand, or a cartwheel like gymnasts or place a piece of painter’s tape on the floor to mimic a balance beam or tightrope and let them try to walk from one end to the other without ‘falling off’.  Tie lengths of ribbon or crepe paper tied to a stick to mimic the artistic swirls of rhythmic Read more…

By Library Staff, ago

Suggested Family Activity 💌 Message in a Bottle

Have your family make a Message in a Bottle today.  Grab an empty plastic water bottle and have each person write out a secret message to put inside.  They can write it in code, such as using a simple number substitution of 1=A, 2=B, and so on.  It is also very easy to make your own invisible ink.  You can find several simple recipes online that use baking soda mixtures and liquids such as milk, Read more…

By Library Staff, ago

Suggested Family Activity 🛟 Sink or Float 🦆

Play Sink or Float with your family today.  Grab anything that holds water, such as a bucket, a large bowl, or a large pot.  If you do the activity inside, you can also just use your kitchen sink or bathtub.  If you want to do the activity outdoors, you can take your water vessel outside or use a small kid’s pool.  After your container is filled with water, grab a variety of waterproof objects, and Read more…

By Library Staff, ago

Suggested Family Activity 👚 Experiment with Tie-Dye

Have some family fun experimenting with tie-dye today.  All you need are pieces of clothing, such as a t-shirt, and some tie dye solution.  Ritz is the most popular and can be found at most discount stores in a variety of colors for just a few dollars.  Some solutions require you to submerge the item in the dye, so you’ll need a large bucket or plastic container if you purchase that kind.  Other types are Read more…

By Library Staff, ago

Suggested Family Activity 🍦🍧🍨 Ice Cream Days

Several national ice cream days are celebrated this month, including National Vanilla Ice Cream Day on July 23 and National Hot Fudge Sundae Day on July 25.   Celebrate this fabulous treat by creating a picture of the tallest scoop of ice cream you can using pom poms or various sized circles in different colors to represent the ice cream flavors.   Draw or cut out from brown paper a larger triangle and then flip it with Read more…

By Library Staff, ago

Suggested Family Activity 🐶🐱 National Pet Fire Safety Day

Today is National Pet Fire Safety Day – a great time to talk with your family about ways to keep your pets safe during an emergency.  Some tips include never leaving open flames unattended, storing your pets’ leashes and collars near an exit to your home, and replacing outside water and food bowls with plastic containers.  For more tips, check out https://www.nationaldaycalendar.com/national-day/national-pet-fire-safety-day-july-15.

By Library Staff, ago