Tune In To Your Community and Tune Out TV!

Thanks River Forest Firefighters!

rfsmc — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 23:16:14 +0000

We had a great time touring the fire station yesterday – check out some of the pictures! (It’s hard to take photos of reflective gear!)

Look for more pictures here.

Parent pundits

rfsmc — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 13:23:23 +0000

Kids learn everything through relationships.

Did you know relationships teach children the critical basics they need for creating successful lives? Through relationships kids learn problem solving, communicating, eye-contact, patience, social and emotional skills, language, self-control and more. Instead of keeping the peace with screens – take that valuable time and connect with your child.

Limit screen times.

The teachers at First United Church Nursery School offer these tips to help you raise your child in a screen machine world:

Take time to talk with your child and listen.
Make transitions going to and from school special. Greet your child with your full attention. Put your phones down and connect with your child.
Build your child’s vocabulary and language with one-on-one time.
Children learn eye contact through relationships so when you are conversing with your child, put your phone down and connect.
Pay attention to your own screen usage – you are your child’s role model.
Around town – turn off your car’s DVD and interact. For family trips, limit your DVD time. Make your trip special by creating a trip box filled with library books, games, crayons, coloring books.
Turn off the TV before school and during meal time. Bring topics of conversation to the table and engage.
TV and other screens can be enjoyed together. Know what internet sites your child is on. Watch TV together and discuss what you view.

see more:

_Limit_Your_Screens_and_Connect

Puzzle Day at River Forest Library

rfsmc — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 00:48:11 +0000

Families had fun doing puzzles today in the children’s room! The Puzzle Day was one of our activities for “Tune In to Your Community & Tune Out TV.”

Working on a challenging geometric block puzzle:

Drawing a picture on a puzzle to take home:

Food for Fines

rfsmc — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 13:20:10 +0000

Who: River Forest Library Patrons

What: Bring in non-perishable food (non-glass containers only) to pay your library fines!

During National Library Week (April 11-17) the River Forest Library is offering to waive overdue fines* up to $5.

One food item = $1
Each patron may participate in this once during National Library Week.

*Amnesty does not apply to lost items or DVD rental fees. Fines must be pre-existing.

The donated food will be given to the Oak Park River Forest Food Pantry.

Toiletries are especially needed (full-size shampoo, conditioner, bar soap, deodorant, razors, shaving cream, toothbrushes, toothpaste). Other items needed include pasta, pasta sauce, peanut butter and jelly,cereal, oatmeal, pancake mix and syrup,canned meals like ravioli and Spaghetti-os, crackers and snacks, coffee, tea, juice, boxed dinners like Hamburger Helper, and paper products.

Thank you!

Screen-Free Experiment…

rfsmc — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 21:16:14 +0000

Melissa Black Ford of Empowered Parenting Solutions and a blogger for OakPark.com says:

Turning off screens provides endless learning opportunities. Tuning into community helps grow our connections with our family, friends and neighbors.

Read about two high school girls turning off screens for a day.

http://www.oakpark.com/Community/Blogs/03-29-2011/Double_Dare_Ya

http://www.oakpark.com/Community/Blogs/04-03-2011/Anna’s_Day_Without_Technology