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Read more about "Business & Investing"Many children struggle with learning how to read. Some kids can read well but choose not to read. For others, learning disabilities can make reading more challenging.In today's world, kids have the option of many other activities that may keep them busy and distracted from reading. From after school activities and sports to the pull of devices, TV, and video games, reading for fun is often forgotten or avoided. Older kids might think reading is boring since they associate it with technical reading, like worksheets and textbooks in school.There are plenty of things to try that can make reading more interesting and exciting to kids. Here are ten tips to try that might help motivate your infrequent reader:1. Reconsider what counts as reading.There are lots of ways to read, including listening! Audiobooks, radio shows, podcasts, oral stories — including sharing stories of your family and family history — are all great ways to explore literacy outside of written materials.2. Let them choose what they want to read.All reading is good reading. Be open to comics, manga, blogs, graphic novels, short stories, magazines, screenplays, picture books (even for big kids), song lyrics, books of world records and fun facts, profiles of musicians, artists and sports heroes, or gross-out science books. Visit your public library in person and online for a huge selection of reading material. Our expert staff would also be happy to help make recommendations based on your child’s reading preferences.3. Avoid banning what they love to read.From comic books with adult themes to serial tween romances, it’s natural for caregivers to be concerned about the content of their child’s books. But banning what they love can discourage reading. Instead, talk about why you think certain books are offensive and invite them to ask questions. Let your child recommend a book to you so you can read it and discuss the book together. Everyone has different tastes, which is part of the joy of being a reader.Concerned about age-appropriate content? Look for an online booklist curated for your child’s age or interests. You can use the “advanced search” function in your library’s online catalogue to search by collection (i.e. Hindi, Biography), format (i.e. Graphic Novel) and Audience (i.e. teen).4. Let your kids see you enjoy reading.Nearly 60% of kids who are frequent readers have parents who read five to seven days per week, compared to only 15% of kids who are infrequent readers (Kids and Family Reading Report – Scholastic, 2017).5. Read together as a family.Make reading a memorable family event. Set aside regular time for reading, whether as a family or each person reading independently near each other. Children whose parents are involved with them in family literacy activities score ten points higher on standardized reading tests.6. Read in your home language. Children who learn to read in their first language have an easier time learning to read in a second language because they better understand the process of reading.7. Try reading something funny!Read dramatically, use costumes and accents, or read joke books to each other. Have fun when reading aloud together! Try not to focus on their mistakes and simply enjoy the book. These staff-recommended books will help you get your giggle on.8. Relax.When we enjoy something, we want to keep doing it — the same applies to reading. Try to make reading as relaxing as possible at home, especially if reading at school is stressful. Have a special snack or read in a special spot. If there’s a movie adaptation of the book, watch the movie together after you’ve finished the book and decide which you liked better.9. Keep reading sessions short and simple.Research shows that when students believe they can achieve a task, they are much more likely to persevere and overcome challenges. Parents can help build their child’s reading confidence by praising their effort rather than their outcomes. Use affirming language throughout the process to show that you enjoy seeing their efforts. Another strategy is to break reading into smaller parts, even just one paragraph at a time, so that success comes quickly and can be celebrated.10. Find a role model for your reader.Research shows that older boys read less than their female peers. Men that model reading to boys can have a positive influence, especially around a shared interest. Sports statistics, LEGO instructions, musician biographies, etc., all count as reading too!
Read more about "Stories 10 Tips for Motivating Your Infrequent Reader The Kitchen Table Classroom: A Series to Support Learning from Home"Stories come to life with animated pictures that help young children learn to read.
Read more about "Bookflix"Interactive education and career planning tools, including information about career options and resume help.
Read more about "Job Search & Careers"This 60-minute interactive program introduces students to the concepts of misinformation and disinformation in online media. Students are guided to evaluate, identify, and verify information sources using lateral reading and reverse image searching.
Read more about "Help your students learn the difference between fact and fiction."Use your free Library card to take an online course such as Microsoft Office, or take practice tests to help you prepare for professional exams.
Read more about "Learning Tools"Come Discover What's New and Wonderful at Calgary Public Library on Love Your Library Day MEDIA RELEASEFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEJuly 17, 2018Calgary, AB — Everybody is invited to Calgary Public Library’s Love Your Library Day, a one-day event at all 20 libraries across the city on Saturday, August 18. This free event is for all, from avid Library users to those curious about what the Library can offer.“As we near November 1, all eyes are on New Central Library,” says Bill Ptacek, CEO for Calgary Public Library. “Love Your Library Day is an exciting opportunity to celebrate our incredible members and highlight our entire Library system that reaches so many people each day. We’ve never held a city-wide open house like this before, and we’re especially delighted at the chance to introduce more Calgarians to Calgary Public Library.”Love Your Library Day will run from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm at each location. Staff have a jam-packed schedule of activities planned, including a city-wide storytime featuring special guests at 11:00 am, family programming, behind-the-scenes Library tours, musical performances, collaborative art and story walls, scavenger hunts, and face painting.On the day, people can celebrate how the Library has made a difference in their life, learn about new services and programs, enjoy refreshments, and enter to win one of 20 door prizes. The Calgary Public Library Foundation will also be selling special limited-edition commemorative community library tote bags on Love Your Library Day for $10 (regular $15). All sales proceeds will support the essential work of the Calgary Public Library.Love Your Library Day is also a perfect time to introduce someone you know to the Library. Whether it’s been a few years since they last checked out a book, or are visiting for the first time — bring a friend to your local Library, sign up for a free Library membership on August 18 and you will both be entered to win our Refer a Friend Grand Prize, valued at nearly $1,000, which includes:Calgary Public Library late fine forgiveness $100 gift certificate and other prizes from Lukes Drug Mart A six-month membership and other prizes from YMCA Four guest passes and other prizes from Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre Literary swag from the Library Store For more details on special programs related to Love Your Library, please visit calgarylibrary.ca/Love-Your-Library.Community Libraries Get Freshened UpDuring the construction of the new Central Library, the entire system has received a facelift, with all community Library locations being renovated before the November 1 opening. These renovations include new furniture, fresh paint, enhanced technology, more meeting spaces, and 10 Early Learning Centres. Stay tuned for refreshed spaces at Village Square Library and Country Hills Library this fall!Your Library Membership BenefitsYour free Calgary Public Library card gives you access to books, eBooks, programs, online resource, printing, plus much more. Free membership benefits include:Browse and borrow print and digital books, audiobooks, music, movies, magazines, newspapers, and more. E-Library access to more than 100 Digital Resources. Read digital books with OverDrive, learn a language with Rosetta Stone, take online courses with Lynda.com, watch movies with Kanopy, and listen to music with Freegal. Online resource for kids, including animated read-along story books with TumbleBook Library and tutoring with Brainfuse. Access to Early Learning Centres, where children can learn through play. Book free meeting rooms around the city. Free WiFi and three hours of computer use per day. Borrow Chromebook laptops for in-Library use. Up to $5 of free printing per month. Hundreds of free in-person programs for everybody. Calgary Public Library Calgary Public Library, with 650,000+ members and 20 locations, has been inspiring the life stories of Calgarians for more than 100 years. It is currently the second largest library system in Canada and the sixth largest municipal library system in North America, with Calgarians borrowing more than 14.6 million physical and digital items and with 6.8 million in-person visits last year. The awe-inspiring 240,000 sq. ft. Central Library — the newest gathering place for our city — opens November 1, 2018.- 30 -Media Contact:Mary KapustaDirector, CommunicationsCalgary Public Library403-774-7256mary.kapusta@calgarylibrary.ca
Read more about "Stories"When Susan Calder’s husband was transferred to Calgary for work in 1996, she was happy to make the move with her young family. But, unfamiliar with her new city, she struggled to find reasons to get out of the house.“I wasn’t working when we first moved here — I was just writing, and spending time with the kids. So I really needed something to keep me active, keep me social,” she says.Her solution came during a trip to Fish Creek Library, when she picked up a copy of the Library’s program guide and noticed a listing for a book club. “I’d never been in a book club before, but I’d always been interested in the concept. It seemed the logical thing to do as a book lover,” she says.Susan fell in love with the club immediately. Not only did it give her a way to make new friends in Calgary, but she discovered that the group was full of people who shared her interest in and love of stories. They offered her a different way of looking at the written word, which helped her to improve her craft as an aspiring author.“It’s been incredibly useful to me as a writer,” she says, “because it’s a look at writing from the reader’s perspective. I can see how almost no book is loved by everybody — no matter how well written. You start to understand that it's really all a matter of taste, and you feel a lot better when people don’t like your work.”At 23 years, Susan is one of the longest-attending members of the book club. While her book club has since become too popular to accept new members, the Library offers other book discussion groups. “What’s really nice about the group is that we often disagree heartily, but there’s never any ill-will about it,” she says of her tight-knit reading community. “We respect each other, and the divergence of opinions is quite lovely. People come away with a bit more of an appreciation for the book, and each other's point of view. You feel like you’ve stretched a bit, and grown, for having read outside of your comfort zone."A New Book Club MemberLittle did Susan realize that her passion for the club wasn’t going unnoticed. Although her husband was an avid reader, she never would have imagined him wanting to join a book club. It came as a total shock when, shortly after he retired in 2007, he asked her if he could tag along to a meeting. “I’d go out on book club day, come home and tell him about some of the discussions — the people, what they had to say. I didn’t really realize that all these years I had basically been selling the book club to him.” Unsure if her husband, who mostly read murder-mystery novels, would be on the same page as her literary-loving friends, Susan was hesitant to allow him to join her, but eventually, she gave in. Luckily for both Susan and her husband, her fears never materialized. Her husband has been a member of the club for over a decade now, even volunteering to lead discussions on the occasion that the group pursues a murder-mystery.“We don’t often talk about the books before the club meets, because we don’t want to influence each other’s opinions,” she says, “We’re able to approach it as individuals. But we do sometimes like to talk about them after, and it’s a social event as well, so it gives us something extra in common that we can do together.”More PossibilitiesThe Library is about much more than books for Susan and her family. “When we moved to Calgary, the opportunities just opened up. There were more possibilities for me to engage with the Library. There was more offered to me,” she says.Aside from attending her monthly book club, she also sharpens her writing skills with workshops and writing programs, attending several each month. She and her husband frequently borrow DVDs and CDs to watch movies and listen to music, and once attended Tech Mentors for three weeks in a row to get help fixing their computer.“Right now, we’re planning a trip to Italy,” she says, “so I’ve just taken out a series of audiobooks and things to try to learn a few essential words of Italian before we go.”Susan also likes to give back to the Library, and frequently shares her talents through panel discussions and readings of her work. Now an accomplished local author, Susan discussed her latest book, To Catch a Fox, in May at the Writing as Medicine program, and will discuss her contributions to the literary art exhibit Print(ed) Word: The Salon Series, which is displayed in the Central Library's TD Great Reading Room, in August.We want to know how the Library has made a difference in your life. Submit your own Library Story online.
Read more about "Stories 'The Opportunities Just Opened Up' A book club at the Library was the beginning of Susan Calder's Library Story"Come Discover What's New and Wonderful at Calgary Public Library on Love Your Library Day MEDIA RELEASEFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEJuly 17, 2018Calgary, AB — Everybody is invited to Calgary Public Library’s Love Your Library Day, a one-day event at all 20 libraries across the city on Saturday, August 18. This free event is for all, from avid Library users to those curious about what the Library can offer.“As we near November 1, all eyes are on New Central Library,” says Bill Ptacek, CEO for Calgary Public Library. “Love Your Library Day is an exciting opportunity to celebrate our incredible members and highlight our entire Library system that reaches so many people each day. We’ve never held a city-wide open house like this before, and we’re especially delighted at the chance to introduce more Calgarians to Calgary Public Library.”Love Your Library Day will run from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm at each location. Staff have a jam-packed schedule of activities planned, including a city-wide storytime featuring special guests at 11:00 am, family programming, behind-the-scenes Library tours, musical performances, collaborative art and story walls, scavenger hunts, and face painting.On the day, people can celebrate how the Library has made a difference in their life, learn about new services and programs, enjoy refreshments, and enter to win one of 20 door prizes. The Calgary Public Library Foundation will also be selling special limited-edition commemorative community library tote bags on Love Your Library Day for $10 (regular $15). All sales proceeds will support the essential work of the Calgary Public Library.Love Your Library Day is also a perfect time to introduce someone you know to the Library. Whether it’s been a few years since they last checked out a book, or are visiting for the first time — bring a friend to your local Library, sign up for a free Library membership on August 18 and you will both be entered to win our Refer a Friend Grand Prize, valued at nearly $1,000, which includes:Calgary Public Library late fine forgiveness $100 gift certificate and other prizes from Lukes Drug Mart A six-month membership and other prizes from YMCA Four guest passes and other prizes from Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre Literary swag from the Library Store For more details on special programs related to Love Your Library, please visit calgarylibrary.ca/Love-Your-Library.Community Libraries Get Freshened UpDuring the construction of the new Central Library, the entire system has received a facelift, with all community Library locations being renovated before the November 1 opening. These renovations include new furniture, fresh paint, enhanced technology, more meeting spaces, and 10 Early Learning Centres. Stay tuned for refreshed spaces at Village Square Library and Country Hills Library this fall!Your Library Membership BenefitsYour free Calgary Public Library card gives you access to books, eBooks, programs, online resource, printing, plus much more. Free membership benefits include:Browse and borrow print and digital books, audiobooks, music, movies, magazines, newspapers, and more. E-Library access to more than 100 Digital Resources. Read digital books with OverDrive, learn a language with Rosetta Stone, take online courses with Lynda.com, watch movies with Kanopy, and listen to music with Freegal. Online resource for kids, including animated read-along story books with TumbleBook Library and tutoring with Brainfuse. Access to Early Learning Centres, where children can learn through play. Book free meeting rooms around the city. Free WiFi and three hours of computer use per day. Borrow Chromebook laptops for in-Library use. Up to $5 of free printing per month. Hundreds of free in-person programs for everybody. Calgary Public Library Calgary Public Library, with 650,000+ members and 20 locations, has been inspiring the life stories of Calgarians for more than 100 years. It is currently the second largest library system in Canada and the sixth largest municipal library system in North America, with Calgarians borrowing more than 14.6 million physical and digital items and with 6.8 million in-person visits last year. The awe-inspiring 240,000 sq. ft. Central Library — the newest gathering place for our city — opens November 1, 2018.- 30 -Media Contact:Mary KapustaDirector, CommunicationsCalgary Public Library403-774-7256mary.kapusta@calgarylibrary.ca
Read more about "Stories"Conversations with kids about complicated or upsetting topics like residential schools, racism, injustice, or changes in your family can be hard. As a parent or caregiver, you might feel unsure or hesitant.These tips from Dr. Nicole Racine, postdoctoral fellow and clinical psychologist in the Department of Psychology at the University of Calgary, and Kate Schutz, Service Design Lead at Calgary Public Library, use books and other resources to help parents and caregivers approach tough topics in a meaningful and age-appropriate way.Initiate the conversationAlthough it is not easy to bring a tough subject up, kids can often tell when things are scary or sad. They may hear bits and pieces of information on the news, in class, or from friends or other adults. Instead of letting your child’s mind wander, be proactive and initiate hard conversations in an age-appropriate way. It helps kids feel safe and secure. Invite them to come to you with questions.Consider the time and placeEnsure everyone is fed, hydrated, and able to focus before diving into tough topics. Turn screens off. Some children are more inclined to talk while their hands are busy or if they are physically active. Go for a walk. Choose an informative audiobook and colour while listening to it together. Teens may focus better in the passenger seat while you drive.Use books to start the conversationStaff at your local Library can help you find age-appropriate books on the topic you are discussing.Look at the book cover or an illustration with your child. Read the title and sub-title. Before anything else, ask them “What do you already know?” Starting where your child is at currently is a great way to find out what more they need to know from there.Leave the books in an easily accessible place in your home, like on a coffee table or on a shelf, and let your child browse them.Learn with your childMake sure you are informed and grounded in facts before you have the conversation. If the conversation comes up and you do not feel informed, try learning alongside your child. It is OK to say, “I don’t know.” Your child will appreciate your honesty.Visit your Library together to find more information on the subject. When you don’t have personal experience to rely on, look for books written by authors who have lived experience, particularly around cultural and social topics.Aim for age-appropriate contentThe Library’s catalogue categorizes books by age and reading level. Use that as a guide to choose books with language that is appropriate for your family and your child’s age. Universal concepts such as friendship, justice, kindness, self-care, and love can be applied to almost all topics and are psychologically safe entry points.Keep conversations shortMost kids and teens can focus for one to two minutes for every year of age. For example, keep a conversation with a five-year-old to ten minutes or less. You can always revisit the topic in a later conversation at another time.Invite curiosityChildren are naturally curious. Leave room for them to ask you questions. Ask them directly “What are you wondering about?” Illustrations, dialogue between two characters, and new vocabulary words can all provide insight into what a child already understands. Use questions like “Tell me about what is happening in this picture” or “What do you think that word means?”Name and validate feelingsIf children see characters in books, or the adults in their lives, feeling sad or frustrated, it can be an opportunity to model talking openly about our emotions. Here are some phrases for beginning conversations about feelings:This is not an easy conversation to have and I feel sad too, but it is important that we talk about this. When you heard that story, how did you feel? It is sad because people’s feelings were hurt and they were not respected. We know that’s not how we treat people. Have you ever felt like the character feels? Normalize their feelings and give physical comfortReassurance can sometimes come across as dismissive. Avoid saying it’s OK when it isn’t. Instead, let children and teens know that their feelings and questions are normal. Young children may need to be reminded that they and their family are safe. Hug them. Thank them for talking with you. Tell them they can come to you anytime if they think of more questions or ideas. Tell them they are loved.Call to actionChildren and teens have an innate sense of justice and can naturally feel what is right and wrong. They can feel empowered even by taking smaller actions, like painting a rock to put in a garden. Older children and teens often express their emotions through art-making, activism, or music. Encourage self-expression and use their creativity to further the conversation. Children of all ages need to know their own actions and words are one of the most powerful tools they have.Take care of yourselfBreathe. Discuss your challenges with other parents. Difficult conversations are not easy to have, and sometimes overcoming our own discomfort with the subject matter can be the biggest barrier to educating kids meaningfully.Seek help when you need itIf you, your family, or someone you know is experiencing trauma or re-traumatization, professional support is recommended. Begin with resources from the Library’s Wellness Desk. Recommended resources and tips for talking about: Residential SchoolsWhen talking to your kids about residential schools, it can help to focus on experiences that were common to all residential school children, like the cutting of hair, removal of clothes and the use of mandatory uniforms, separation from their families, separation by gender, loss of language and cultural practices, and assimilation.Talk about Orange Shirt Day. Many students and teachers wear orange on this day that is dedicated to commemorating the residential school experience, honouring the healing process, and committing to the ongoing process of reconciliation. Wearing an orange shirt on this day, or any day, allows children to feel like they are taking immediate, measurable action for change. Orange Shirt Day is on September 30 and is now also the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.As a family, learn more about the Indigenous communities in the area where you live. Older kids can work with you to make their personal plan for reconciliation.When We Were Alone by David A. Robertson. For kindergarten to grade 3.A guide for parents and teachers while reading “When We Were Alone.” We Sang You Home by Richard Van Camp. For kindergarten to grade 3.I Am Not a Number by Jenny Kay Dupuis and Cathy Kacer. For grades 3–5.Speaking Our Truth by Monique Gray Smith. For ages 9–13.The Orange Shirt Story by Phyllis Webstad. For grades 1–6.Sugar Falls by David A .Robertson. For teens.Inconvenient Indian by Thomas King. For adults.Broken Circle by Theodore Fontaine. For adults.IslamophobiaLailah’s Lunchbox by Reem Faruqi. For grades 1–3.Once Upon An Eid by S.K. Ali. For grades 1–6.The Proudest Blue by Ibtihaj Muhammad. For grades 1–6.Mommy's Khimar by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow. For ages 3–7.This Is your Brain on Stereotypes by Tanya Lloyd Kyi. For ages 3–7.Malala a Brave Girl from Pakistan/Iqbal a Brave Boy from Pakistan by Jeanette Winter. For grades 4–7.Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga. For grades 4–8When Stars are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson. For grades 4–9.Amina's Voice by Hena Khan. For grades 5–8.Many Windows: Six Kids, 5 Faiths, 1 Community by Rukhasana Khan. For grades 5–9.Saints and Misfits by S.K. Ali. For teens.Love From A to Z by S.K. Ali. For teens.Gender DiversityRed: A Crayon's Story by Michael Hall. For preschool to grade 1.It Feels Good to Be Yourself by Theresa Thorn. For preschool to grade 3.George by Alex Gino. For grade 3–6.Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson. For grades 4–7.The Black Flamingo by Dean Atta. For grades 9 and up.LGBTQ+ definitions for elementary school kids. This blog post is published as part of The Kitchen Table Classroom: A Series to Support Learning from Home, a partnership with Edmonton Public Library. Visit our website for information on the next live, online workshop in the series and for more tips and tools to support learning from home.
Read more about "Stories How to Use Children’s Books to Talk to Your Kids About Tough Topics"When Susan Calder’s husband was transferred to Calgary for work in 1996, she was happy to make the move with her young family. But, unfamiliar with her new city, she struggled to find reasons to get out of the house.“I wasn’t working when we first moved here — I was just writing, and spending time with the kids. So I really needed something to keep me active, keep me social,” she says.Her solution came during a trip to Fish Creek Library, when she picked up a copy of the Library’s program guide and noticed a listing for a book club. “I’d never been in a book club before, but I’d always been interested in the concept. It seemed the logical thing to do as a book lover,” she says.Susan fell in love with the club immediately. Not only did it give her a way to make new friends in Calgary, but she discovered that the group was full of people who shared her interest in and love of stories. They offered her a different way of looking at the written word, which helped her to improve her craft as an aspiring author.“It’s been incredibly useful to me as a writer,” she says, “because it’s a look at writing from the reader’s perspective. I can see how almost no book is loved by everybody — no matter how well written. You start to understand that it's really all a matter of taste, and you feel a lot better when people don’t like your work.”At 23 years, Susan is one of the longest-attending members of the book club. While her book club has since become too popular to accept new members, the Library offers other book discussion groups. “What’s really nice about the group is that we often disagree heartily, but there’s never any ill-will about it,” she says of her tight-knit reading community. “We respect each other, and the divergence of opinions is quite lovely. People come away with a bit more of an appreciation for the book, and each other's point of view. You feel like you’ve stretched a bit, and grown, for having read outside of your comfort zone."A New Book Club MemberLittle did Susan realize that her passion for the club wasn’t going unnoticed. Although her husband was an avid reader, she never would have imagined him wanting to join a book club. It came as a total shock when, shortly after he retired in 2007, he asked her if he could tag along to a meeting. “I’d go out on book club day, come home and tell him about some of the discussions — the people, what they had to say. I didn’t really realize that all these years I had basically been selling the book club to him.” Unsure if her husband, who mostly read murder-mystery novels, would be on the same page as her literary-loving friends, Susan was hesitant to allow him to join her, but eventually, she gave in. Luckily for both Susan and her husband, her fears never materialized. Her husband has been a member of the club for over a decade now, even volunteering to lead discussions on the occasion that the group pursues a murder-mystery.“We don’t often talk about the books before the club meets, because we don’t want to influence each other’s opinions,” she says, “We’re able to approach it as individuals. But we do sometimes like to talk about them after, and it’s a social event as well, so it gives us something extra in common that we can do together.”More PossibilitiesThe Library is about much more than books for Susan and her family. “When we moved to Calgary, the opportunities just opened up. There were more possibilities for me to engage with the Library. There was more offered to me,” she says.Aside from attending her monthly book club, she also sharpens her writing skills with workshops and writing programs, attending several each month. She and her husband frequently borrow DVDs and CDs to watch movies and listen to music, and once attended Tech Mentors for three weeks in a row to get help fixing their computer.“Right now, we’re planning a trip to Italy,” she says, “so I’ve just taken out a series of audiobooks and things to try to learn a few essential words of Italian before we go.”Susan also likes to give back to the Library, and frequently shares her talents through panel discussions and readings of her work. Now an accomplished local author, Susan discussed her latest book, To Catch a Fox, in May at the Writing as Medicine program, and will discuss her contributions to the literary art exhibit Print(ed) Word: The Salon Series, which is displayed in the Central Library's TD Great Reading Room, in August.We want to know how the Library has made a difference in your life. Submit your own Library Story online.
Read more about "Stories 'The Opportunities Just Opened Up' A book club at the Library was the beginning of Susan Calder's Library Story"Conversations with kids about complicated or upsetting topics like residential schools, racism, injustice, or changes in your family can be hard. As a parent or caregiver, you might feel unsure or hesitant.These tips from Dr. Nicole Racine, postdoctoral fellow and clinical psychologist in the Department of Psychology at the University of Calgary, and Kate Schutz, Service Design Lead at Calgary Public Library, use books and other resources to help parents and caregivers approach tough topics in a meaningful and age-appropriate way.Initiate the conversationAlthough it is not easy to bring a tough subject up, kids can often tell when things are scary or sad. They may hear bits and pieces of information on the news, in class, or from friends or other adults. Instead of letting your child’s mind wander, be proactive and initiate hard conversations in an age-appropriate way. It helps kids feel safe and secure. Invite them to come to you with questions.Consider the time and placeEnsure everyone is fed, hydrated, and able to focus before diving into tough topics. Turn screens off. Some children are more inclined to talk while their hands are busy or if they are physically active. Go for a walk. Choose an informative audiobook and colour while listening to it together. Teens may focus better in the passenger seat while you drive.Use books to start the conversationStaff at your local Library can help you find age-appropriate books on the topic you are discussing.Look at the book cover or an illustration with your child. Read the title and sub-title. Before anything else, ask them “What do you already know?” Starting where your child is at currently is a great way to find out what more they need to know from there.Leave the books in an easily accessible place in your home, like on a coffee table or on a shelf, and let your child browse them.Learn with your childMake sure you are informed and grounded in facts before you have the conversation. If the conversation comes up and you do not feel informed, try learning alongside your child. It is OK to say, “I don’t know.” Your child will appreciate your honesty.Visit your Library together to find more information on the subject. When you don’t have personal experience to rely on, look for books written by authors who have lived experience, particularly around cultural and social topics.Aim for age-appropriate contentThe Library’s catalogue categorizes books by age and reading level. Use that as a guide to choose books with language that is appropriate for your family and your child’s age. Universal concepts such as friendship, justice, kindness, self-care, and love can be applied to almost all topics and are psychologically safe entry points.Keep conversations shortMost kids and teens can focus for one to two minutes for every year of age. For example, keep a conversation with a five-year-old to ten minutes or less. You can always revisit the topic in a later conversation at another time.Invite curiosityChildren are naturally curious. Leave room for them to ask you questions. Ask them directly “What are you wondering about?” Illustrations, dialogue between two characters, and new vocabulary words can all provide insight into what a child already understands. Use questions like “Tell me about what is happening in this picture” or “What do you think that word means?”Name and validate feelingsIf children see characters in books, or the adults in their lives, feeling sad or frustrated, it can be an opportunity to model talking openly about our emotions. Here are some phrases for beginning conversations about feelings:This is not an easy conversation to have and I feel sad too, but it is important that we talk about this. When you heard that story, how did you feel? It is sad because people’s feelings were hurt and they were not respected. We know that’s not how we treat people. Have you ever felt like the character feels? Normalize their feelings and give physical comfortReassurance can sometimes come across as dismissive. Avoid saying it’s OK when it isn’t. Instead, let children and teens know that their feelings and questions are normal. Young children may need to be reminded that they and their family are safe. Hug them. Thank them for talking with you. Tell them they can come to you anytime if they think of more questions or ideas. Tell them they are loved.Call to actionChildren and teens have an innate sense of justice and can naturally feel what is right and wrong. They can feel empowered even by taking smaller actions, like painting a rock to put in a garden. Older children and teens often express their emotions through art-making, activism, or music. Encourage self-expression and use their creativity to further the conversation. Children of all ages need to know their own actions and words are one of the most powerful tools they have.Take care of yourselfBreathe. Discuss your challenges with other parents. Difficult conversations are not easy to have, and sometimes overcoming our own discomfort with the subject matter can be the biggest barrier to educating kids meaningfully.Seek help when you need itIf you, your family, or someone you know is experiencing trauma or re-traumatization, professional support is recommended. Begin with resources from the Library’s Wellness Desk. Recommended resources and tips for talking about: Residential SchoolsWhen talking to your kids about residential schools, it can help to focus on experiences that were common to all residential school children, like the cutting of hair, removal of clothes and the use of mandatory uniforms, separation from their families, separation by gender, loss of language and cultural practices, and assimilation.Talk about Orange Shirt Day. Many students and teachers wear orange on this day that is dedicated to commemorating the residential school experience, honouring the healing process, and committing to the ongoing process of reconciliation. Wearing an orange shirt on this day, or any day, allows children to feel like they are taking immediate, measurable action for change. Orange Shirt Day is on September 30 and is now also the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.As a family, learn more about the Indigenous communities in the area where you live. Older kids can work with you to make their personal plan for reconciliation.When We Were Alone by David A. Robertson. For kindergarten to grade 3.A guide for parents and teachers while reading “When We Were Alone.” We Sang You Home by Richard Van Camp. For kindergarten to grade 3.I Am Not a Number by Jenny Kay Dupuis and Cathy Kacer. For grades 3–5.Speaking Our Truth by Monique Gray Smith. For ages 9–13.The Orange Shirt Story by Phyllis Webstad. For grades 1–6.Sugar Falls by David A .Robertson. For teens.Inconvenient Indian by Thomas King. For adults.Broken Circle by Theodore Fontaine. For adults.IslamophobiaLailah’s Lunchbox by Reem Faruqi. For grades 1–3.Once Upon An Eid by S.K. Ali. For grades 1–6.The Proudest Blue by Ibtihaj Muhammad. For grades 1–6.Mommy's Khimar by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow. For ages 3–7.This Is your Brain on Stereotypes by Tanya Lloyd Kyi. For ages 3–7.Malala a Brave Girl from Pakistan/Iqbal a Brave Boy from Pakistan by Jeanette Winter. For grades 4–7.Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga. For grades 4–8When Stars are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson. For grades 4–9.Amina's Voice by Hena Khan. For grades 5–8.Many Windows: Six Kids, 5 Faiths, 1 Community by Rukhasana Khan. For grades 5–9.Saints and Misfits by S.K. Ali. For teens.Love From A to Z by S.K. Ali. For teens.Gender DiversityRed: A Crayon's Story by Michael Hall. For preschool to grade 1.It Feels Good to Be Yourself by Theresa Thorn. For preschool to grade 3.George by Alex Gino. For grade 3–6.Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson. For grades 4–7.The Black Flamingo by Dean Atta. For grades 9 and up.LGBTQ+ definitions for elementary school kids. This blog post is published as part of The Kitchen Table Classroom: A Series to Support Learning from Home, a partnership with Edmonton Public Library. Visit our website for information on the next live, online workshop in the series and for more tips and tools to support learning from home.
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