THE BIG PLAY DATE

A program that can be scheduled for your library as often as you are comfortable with crowds of very young children!    

• Every child or family unit of baby/toddler with siblings MUST have parent or caregiver accompany the youngest participant. 

• Set up an entire area with “stations” for play – from a sensory corner to a “grocery store.” 
• In each station, have instructions and prompts for parents and caregivers.  Also, stress safety issues for each activity. 
• Here are some other ideas for “stations:” four zones: baby, active, blocks, and activity tables, each zone will have about 4-5 different activities. An example of each includes sensory crawl in the baby zone, a sticky wall in the active zone, cardboard boxes in the block zone, and pipe cleaner/colander sculptures on the activity tables. 
• Still more ideas:  sensory bins filled with rice, beans, or cooked spaghetti; as well as the messy and HUGELY popular “Un-Sand Box” a shredded paper-filled blow up pool. 
• Sensory floor mats: tape together rug pieces with different textures from soft to rough; bubble wrap; shiny silver mailing envelopes. 

• Activity center: drawing paper on the wall with crayons, markers, stickers all on the eye level of babies and toddlers. 
• Sticky wall – tape contact paper with the sticky side out for kids to put items up on the “board” and see all the things that stick from cardboard shapes to paper towel rollers, egg cartons (cut-up), buttons (large ones!), pom-poms, lots of leftover craft supplies. 
• Have a group of board books easily accessible to everyone.  You might have large pillows in a corner for the board book corner. 

The ideas are limitless – it is space and imagination.   

• Start small, and let it grow by how it is received in your community.  If it is all positive (including from staff and janitorial staff), think about scheduling it more often.  There is nothing wrong with making it only an annual or quarterly program.   
• Use some of your regular storytimes to include one or two of the activities, depending on what activities you include each week.  The hand-out “recipe” cards are perfect for people who want more.  The “recipes” are very simple for parents to do at home. 

Learn how to implement Big Play @ MVLS here.

Here are many resources that were used for MVLS’ “Baby Steps” program. 

https://www.alsc.ala.org/blog/2019/02/big-play-big-fun/ 

http://readplaygrow.pbworks.com/w/file/fetch/129763347/Read%20Play%20Grow%20SLJ%20July%202013.pdf 

http://readplaygrow.pbworks.com/w/browse/#view=ViewFolder&param=Play%20STEM%20Recipes 

https://jbrary.com/babytime-beginners-guide/# 

https://storytimekatie.com/songs-rhymes/babies/ 

BIG PLAY BIN RESOURCES

Each bin includes some bubbles: use them when you want to move your family units to a new activity: “Follow the Bubbles!”

Big Play: Grocery Encourages imaginative play

In this bin:

• Board books
• Cash register (includes instuctions)
• 2 grocery carts (pink, blue)
• Assorted food items
• Market basket
• Let’s Talk: Conversation Starters and Good Words to Use on display board

Big Play: Senses Encourages sensory skill development

In this bin:

• Sequin fabric
• Crinkle tails book
• Yellow bag of fabric squares
• 2 multicolored slugs
• Fabric tissue box with colored scarves and crinkle fabric
• Box of stack and nest sensory toys
• Box of see-inside sensory blocks
• Touch & feel puzzle box
• Sensory Fish Box
• 2 pop-its, 4 pop-it balls
• Hair curlers
• Board books
• 5 sight and sound tubes
• Let’s Talk: Conversation Starters and Good Words to Use on display board

Big Play: Motor Skills Practicing Motor Skills encourages motor skill development

In this bin:

• Button Size Sorting Box
• Colander Sculpture: (2 colanders, pipe cleaners, and straws)
• Hammering Drum
• Lacing Keys activity box
• Ocean wonders Build & Spin
• Simple Shapes Puzzle Board
• Sort-a-shape activity board
• Tugging box
• Lots of dots activity (you supply paper)
• Lacing Animals
• Board Books
• Let’s Talk: Conversation Starters and Good Words to Use on display board

Big Play: UnSandbox A unique indoor sandbox

In this bin:

• Shredded paper
• Inflatable pool
• Air pump
• Blue foam pieces
• Cardboard trays
• Let’s Talk: Conversation Starters and Good Words to Use on display board

Big Play: Build Encourages construction and building

In this bin:

• Alphabet foam mat
• Baby board books
• Bristle builder blocks
• Jumbo nuts and bolts
• Rainbow stacker (12 pieces)
• Soft and Safe Mirror Blocks
• Let’s Talk: Conversation Starters and Good Words to Use on display board

Big Play: Blocks Encourages building with several kinds of blocks

In this bin:

• Wooden Blocks and bag
• Stacking Rocks and bag
• Blockaroo Builders
• 6 Board Books
• Let’s Talk: Conversation Starters and Good Words to Use on display board

Big Play: Colors Learn and play with color! Offers activities to build color knowledge

In this bin:

• Box of liquid floor tiles
• Box of Colorpillar sorting mats
• Jar of snap-together dinosaurs
• Roll of white paper
• Bag of large stamp pads (for hands or feet!)
• Bag of colored scarves
• bag of colored cellophane
• Bag of squishy colored shapes
• Assorted board books
• Let’s Talk: Conversation Starters and Good Words to Use on display board

More Resources and Play Recipes are available at:
The Brooklyn Public Library Playdate:

http://readplaygrow.pbworks.com/w/page/84901624/Read%2C%20Play%2C%20Grow%21%20Curriculum

Check the Equipment Calendar  for availability.

LENDING POLICY

The below guidelines are just that – guidelines. We offer you all the flexibility possible. Call us with your needs!

• BIG PLAY Kits check out for seven (7) days including delivery and return.  Let us know if you want for a longer time period! There are four kits included in the total BIG PLAY Package; depending on your available play space, you may borrow all four, or one (or more). Plan to schedule two days for the BIG PLAY Kits to arrive as the bins themselves are very large.

BIG PLAY Kit Bins are: 

Let’s Go Shopping: The Grocery Store

Touch See Hear Feel Smell: The Sensory Corner

What Can We Build Today?

Look What I Can Do: Practicing Motor Skills

• BIG PLAY Kits may be renewed if no one is waiting.
• Items in BIG PLAY Kits are to be used collaboratively by babies, toddlers, and their caregivers as a family unit. There are pieces in the kits which must be handled with care. Safety concerns are listed in each kit that should be stressed to caregivers. Vocabulary is important; one objective of BIG PLAY is for caregivers to talk with their babies and toddlers, using BIG WORDS. Possible words and questions are listed on the accompanying display boards.
• Make sure you read THE BIG PLAY DATE instructions.
• For best program use and planning, attend MVLS’s Baby Steps: STEM for Babies and Toddlers, with trainer Joyce Laiosa. The next workshop will be held in the Fall, 2019. Check out the handouts at:(put handout link here)
• Damage and loss of kit materials will be assessed and charged with reason and according to impact on future use of kit.

Note: Each bin includes some bubbles: use them when you want to move your family units to a new activity: “Follow the Bubbles!” 

Feel free to add your own library equipment and resources. More Resources and Play Recipes are available at:  The Brooklyn Public Library Playdate:  

http://readplaygrow.pbworks.com/w/page/84901624/Read%2C%20Play%2C%20Grow%21%20Curriculum 

MVLS has three new professional books for more ideas for STEM activities with babies and toddlers. See:

• Loose Parts 2 : Inspiring Play with Infants and Toddlers by Lisa Daly & Miriam Beloglovsky
• STEM Play : Integrating Inquiry into Learning Centers by Deirdre Englehart et. al.
• Baby Steps to STEM : Infant and Toddler Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Activities by Jean G. Barbre

Contact MVLS (mvls@mvls.info) for more information regarding BIG PLAY @ MVLS