AAP Screen Time Guidelines Update

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is updating theirscreen time guidelines in 2016. The updates are science-driven and come from work done by leading social science, neuroscience and media researchers, educators, pediatricians, and other partner organizations to evaluate the available data, identify research gaps, and provide practical advice to caregivers based on evidence.

Below are the key messages for parents that emerged from their work (copied and pasted from here). The updated AAP screen time guidelines will be available in 2016.

Digital life begins at a young age, and so must parental guidance. Children who are “growing up digital” should learn healthy concepts of digital citizenship.

*Media is just another environment. Children do the same things they have always done, only virtually. Like any environment, media can have positive and negative effects.

*Parenting has not changed. The same parenting rules apply to your children’s real and virtual environments. Play with them. Set limits; kids need and expect them. Teach kindness. Be involved. Know their friends and where they are going with them.

*Role modeling is critical. Limit your own media use, and model online etiquette. Attentive parenting requires face time away from screens.

*We learn from each other. Neuroscience research shows that very young children learn best via two-way communication. “Talk time” between caregiver and child remains critical for language development. Passive video presentations do not lead to language learning in infants and young toddlers. The more media engender live interactions, the more educational value they may hold (e.g., a toddler chatting by video with a parent who is traveling). Optimal educational media opportunities begin after age 2, when media may play a role in bridging the learning achievement gap.

*Content matters. The quality of content is more important than the platform or time spent with media. Prioritize how your child spends his time rather than just setting a timer.

*Curation helps. More than 80,000 apps are labeled as educational, but little research validates their quality (Hirsh-Pasek, K. Psych Science 2015; 16:3-34 Google Scholar). An interactive product requires more than “pushing and swiping” to teach. Look to organizations like Common Sense Media (www.commonsensemedia.org) that review age-appropriate apps, games and programs.

*Co-engagement counts. Family participation with media facilitates social interactions and learning. Play a video game with your kids. Your perspective influences how your children understand their media experience. For infants and toddlers, co-viewing is essential.

*Playtime is important. Unstructured playtime stimulates creativity. Prioritize daily unplugged playtime, especially for the very young.

*Set limits. Tech use, like all other activities, should have reasonable limits. Does your child’s technology use help or hinder participation in other activities?

*It’s OK for your teen to be online. Online relationships are integral to adolescent development. Social media can support identity formation. Teach your teen appropriate behaviors that apply in both the real and online worlds. Ask teens to demonstrate what they are doing online to help you understand both content and context.

*Create tech-free zones. Preserve family mealtime. Recharge devices overnight outside your child’s bedroom. These actions encourage family time, healthier eating habits and healthier sleep.

*Kids will be kids. Kids will make mistakes using media. These can be teachable moments if handled with empathy. Certain aberrations, however, such as sexting or posting self-harm images, signal a need to assess youths for other risk-taking behaviors.

Welcome Back to School!

Today, as I'm sure many of you are aware, is the first day of school for Tigard-Tualatin schools.  We want to remind you that the library has lots and lots of resources to help your students be successful with their homework endeavors.  We've got books to support state and country reports.  We've got biographies when they need to read about a real person, and of course, tons of fiction books for them to meet their reading assignments.  Youth librarians are available all hours we are open to the public to help students find exactly what they need to help them fulfill their homework needs.  We are more than happy to lead kids to the perfect book for them!




And while you are visiting the library, be sure to sign up for a library card if your child or yourself does not have one.  September is Library Card Sign-up Month and what a great way to celebrate!  Get yours today!  It's FREE!

Thinker Tinker Lab - Water!

The world of water fun is just a few days away. Join us in the courtyard off the Puett Room for all kinds of water play time.

Thinker Tinker Lab - Structures

Let's build bridges and other sturdy structures out of spaghetti and gumdrops. Will your bridge collapse or stay strong.
Monday, August 3 from 2-4pm. All ages!

Fall and Winter Semester Book Group Registration NOW OPEN!

Starting today, August 1st, children entering grades 1-6 can register for a Tigard Public Library Book Group.  Registration closes August 31st.

The Kids Book Club is for children in grades 1-3 where books will be read and discussed that are written at a second grade reading level.  The books chosen to read are from the 2015-16 Beverly Cleary Children's Choice Award nominee list and participants will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite book from the list while in the kids book club.  The 2015 fall meeting dates are September 22, October 20, and November 17.  2016 Winter meeting dates are January 19, February 16, and March 15th. 

Super Readers is for children in grades 4-6 where they will read longer books.  The 2015 fall meeting dates are September 15, October 13, November 10, and December 8.  The 2016 meeting dates are January 12, February 9, March 8, and April 12.

BeTween The Lines is a NEW book discussion group for grades 6-8.  This is a great opportunity for readers of this age to discover some fantastic reads from the 2015-16 Oregon Reader's Choice Award middle school/intermediate division nominee list while enjoying snacks, games, and crafts.  The fall 2015 dates are September 28, October 19, and November 16.

Please come to the children's desk at the library to register your child for one semester of their choice for their appropriate age group.  Children may only attend one semester in order to allow more children to participate in the program.  All books have been generously donated by the Friends of the Tigard Public Library for each participant to keep their book.

Thinker Tinker Lab - Kitchen Science

Let's get messy with stuff around the kitchen!
Join us Monday for this all ages program in the Puett Room. 
This messy fun begins at 2pm and lasts until 4pm.

Thinker Tinker Lab - Yarn

Thinker Tinker Lab This Monday is all about yarn. What can you do with yarn? 
Weave it, string things on it, cut it, finger-knit, and more!
Join us Monday for this all ages program, July 20 from 2-4pm in the Puett Room.

Thinker Tinker Lab - Tubes and Tape

It's our second Thinker Tinker Lab!
This time it's tubes and tape. What can you create? We'll have a variety of materials for you to think about and tinker with: paper tubes, tape and paper and tape to make paper tubes!
Join us for this all ages event, Monday, July 13 from 2-4pm in the Puett Room.

Thinker Tinker Lab - Bee A Superhero!

It's the first Thinker Tinker Lab! Honeybees, the superhero pollinators!

Monday July 6th from 2-4pm in the Puett Room, all ages.
We'll be learning about Honeybees and how you can "bee" a superhero to the bees.
Games, and activities, including the opportunity to plant a seed that will grow into a flower the bees will love.

Thinker Tinker Lab

Thinking by Tinkering!

Starting Monday July 6, and continuing through August 10, from 2-4pm we'll have an all ages drop in program offering process play activities in the Puett Room. Process play activities are ones where there is not set outcome. The idea is to give your kids a chance to use their own ideas with a variety of materials. Kids learn best when they have a chance to work with he familiar materials in new ways. Each week the materials will change, but the idea of tinkering with the materials will stay the same.

Join us!

I Like Frogs

Miss Holly really likes frogs.  In honor of her love of these little amphibians, there's been some books published books within the last few years about frogs that you are sure to enjoy.  Included here are picture books, chapter books, and graphic novels.

PICTURE BOOKS

999 Frogs Wake Up by Ken Kirmura
It's spring and 999 frogs wake up, they decide to awaken a still sleeping turtle, lizard, ladybugs, and a big snake.











Ah Ha! by Jeff Mac
With simple repeated text the story follows the ups and downs of a frog's day.  A perfect book for showing and explaining expressions.

The Croaky Pokey by Ethan Long
Frogs sing and do their own version of the Hokey Pokey.

Frog and Fly: Six Slurpy Stories by Jeff Mack
Through a series of easy-to-read scenes, Frog always gets the better of Fly but in the end, Fly has the last word.











The Frog Who Lost His Underpants by Juliette MacIver
A frog lost his underpants and he looks all over the jungle to locate them,

I Don't Want to be a Frog by Dev Pett
A frog who yearns to be any animal that's cute and warm discovers that being wet, slimy, and full of bugs has its advantages.  This also makes a good read for youngsters to learn about self acceptance.

The Night Riders by Matt Furie
A frog and a rat go on a bicycle ride through the forest at night, encountering a dragon and other creatures along the way.

Ribbit Rabbit by Candace Ryan
Frog and Bunny are the best of friends, even though sometimes they get into fights.

JUVENILE FICTION

An Army of Frogs by Trevor Pryce
While the Kulipari, the Amphibilands elite fighting group of poisonous frogs, is away, young Darel hopefully assembles a motley crew of friends to fend off an attack by the spell caster called the Spider Queen, and Lord Marmoo, leader of the scorpions.

Stink and the Freaky Frog Freakout by Megan McDonald
Stink has been in the Polliwog swim class for what seems like frog-ever, and still can't bear to put his face in the water. Then, one day, Stink has a close encounter with a freaky mutant frog. All of a sudden, his froggy senses are tingling!  (This is book #8 of the Stink Series)

Stop That Frog! by Henry Winkler
When the principal has to be away from school at a conference, Hank's class agrees to take care of the principal's special pet frog, and Hank is chosen to take the frog home for the weekend. (This is book #3 of the Here's Hank series)

JUVENILE GRAPHIC NOVELS

Anna and Froga: Thrills, Spills and Gooseberries  by Anouk Ricard
Join Anna, Froga, Ron, Bubu, and Christopher as they get stuck in the haunted house at the county fair with a truly terrifying ticket-taker; as Froga combats a scourge of snails in her garden; and as Bubu has ill-fated dreams of being a great painter.  (Part of the Anna and Froga series)

Pete Bogg: King of the Frogs by Scott Sonneborn
Pete Bogg is a twelve-year-old half-human, half-frog who has lived in the swamp with his frog father his whole life, but because of his human half he does not really fit in with the other frogs in school--so he sets out to experience the human world and find out if he can manage to live in both








Stinky Cecil in Pond Rescue by Paige Braddock
Cecil learns that the new highway will be coming right through his pond.  Cecil gets the attention of all his neighbors and friends to stop the construction.  Note: This book is currently on order and is unavailable to place on hold at this time.  We will place a link to the catalog once it is available.  We are sorry for the inconvenience.