January 2019 Volume 12 Issue 1

Creative Corner

Cut circles for the mouth from black con-struction paper.

Cut a triangle from the orange construction paper.

Glue to the bag along with the googly eyes. Squirt a little shaving cream into the bag

and zip shut. My bag had a zipper closer and seemed to hold in the shaving cream well!

Money Tips

January is finally here. Time to make resolutions and set goals! Begin the

New Year by setting financial goals. Follow the guidelines below to create your own SMART financial goals.

S - Specific- clear and concise goals.

M- Measurable- how will you measure your progress?

A- Achievable- make goals challenging yet achievable.

R- Realistic- what is the likelihood of accomplishing this goal?

T- Time-based- when will you start and finish the goal?

Example of SMART financial goal: By 6-30-19, I will have $2,000 saved for a down payment on my new car.

**Break the amount down to make it easier to accomplish- $335/month or $167/bi-weekly.

January Children’s Books to Read Together

Fun Fact

Clouds are actually EXTREMELY heavy. The expression “Light as a cloud” couldn’t be further from the truth.. At ½ gram per cubic meter, the

Parenting Tip of the Month!

Pick a couple of New Years Resolutions together. Sit down as a family and discuss different ideas and pick a couple of resolution to bring into the new year!

Here are some ideas;

1. Take a family vacation.

2. Have a weekly family game night.

3. Do a family movie night the second Saturday of every month.

4. We will get out each weekend of nice weather.

5. Have less junk food in the house.

Let the kids make some suggestions and include their ideas!

Animals in the Winter- Henrietta Bancroft

Winter Dance- Marion Dane Bauer

A Loud Winter’s Nap- Katy Hudson

The Itsy Bitsy Snowman- Jefferey Burton

Walking in a Winter Wonderland- Richard B. Smith

FIFO Musical Animals ABC- Hayley Rose

Freeda the Cheetah- JTK Belle

The Winter Train- Susanna Isern

Let’s Eat Together- Reid Kaplan

I Love You!- Calee M. Lee

Food Fun

Easy Peppermint Bark

INGREDIENTS

Vegetable-oil cooking spray

1 package (7.5 ounces) hard peppermint candies, unwrapped

1 pound white chocolate, chopped (do not use chips)

2 cups puffed rice cereal

DIRECTIONS

1. Spray a 10-by-15-inch rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray; line with a piece of waxed paper. Place candy in a doubled resealable plastic bag (one inside the other); seal, and wrap in a kitchen towel (to prevent candy from piercing the bag). Use a rolling pin or skillet to crush candy into tiny pieces. Pass through a large sieve to separate crushed candy from fine powder. 2. Place white chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over (not in) a saucepan of simmering water. Heat, stir-ring occasionally, until smooth, 4 to 6 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in rice cereal. 3. Transfer mixture to prepared baking sheet; with a spatula, spread to edges of pan. Sprinkle with crushed candy. Cover entire surface with a piece of waxed paper (to prevent hands from sticking), and press candy gently into chocolate mixture. Chill until firm, 20 to 30 minutes (but no longer, as candy will begin to soften). 4. Peel off waxed paper. Break bark into 3-inch pieces. Bark can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature up to 1 week.

COOK’S NOTE Save the crushed peppermint candy powder to stir into hot chocolate or sprinkle on ice cream.

Health and Safety

10 Tips for Keeping Children Safe in Winter After a large snowstorm or blizzard, most children beg to go outside and build a snowman or go sledding. But low temps can lead to dangerous conditions for kids – and injuries too. These tips from our emergency response experts can ensure that kids stay safe and warm when temperatures drop. Layer up! Bitter cold and snow can cause frostbite. Dress your child in several layers, and make sure their head, neck and hands are covered. Dress babies and young children in one more layer than an adult would wear. Play it safe. Even when roads are closed to traffic, it’s not safe to play or sled in the street. Visibility may be limited due to snow banks and ice on the roads makes braking difficult. Beware of clothing hazards. Scarves and hood str ings can strangle smaller children so use other clothing to keep them warm. Check in on warmth. Before kids head outside, tell them to come inside if they get wet or if they’re cold. Then keep watching them and checking in. They may want to continue playing outside even if they are wet or cold. Use sunscreen. Children and adults can still get sunburned in the winter . Sun can reflect off the snow, so apply sunscreen to exposed areas. Use caution around fires. Wood-burning stoves, fireplaces and outdoor fire-pits are cozy but can present danger – especially to small children. Use caution and put up protective gates when possible. If you’ve lost power or heat and are alternative heating methods like kerosene or electric heaters, be sure smoke detectors and carbon monox-ide detectors are working. Get trained and equipped. Children should wear helmets when snowboarding, skiing, sledding or playing ice hockey. And to avoid injuries, teach children how to do the activity safely. Prevent nosebleeds. If your child suffers from minor winter nosebleeds, use a cold -air humidifier in their room. Saline nose drops can help keep their nose moist. Keep them hydrated. In dr ier winter air kids lose more water through their breath. Offer plenty of water , and try giving them warm drinks and soup for extra appeal. Watch for danger signs. Signs of frostbite are pale, grey or blistered skin on the fingers, ears, nose, and toes. If you think your child has frostbite bring the child indoors and put the affected area in warm (not hot) wa-ter. Signs of hypothermia are shivering, slurred speech, and unusual clumsiness. If you think your child has hypo-thermia call 9-1-1 immediately.

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Self Care

No matter how indulgent or fancy the term may sound, self-care is crucial for our physical, emotional and mental well-being.

Know your worth: Self-care is important to maintain a healthy relationship with yourself as it produces positive feelings and boosts your confidence and self-esteem. Also, self-care is necessary to remind yourself and others that you and your needs are important too.

A healthy work-life balance: Contrary to common belief, workaholism is not a virtue. Overwork, and the accompa-nying stress and exhaustion can make you less productive, disorganized and emotionally depleted. It can also lead to all sorts of health problems, from anxiety and depression to insomnia and heart diseases.

Stress management: While a little dose of stress is a healthy way to give us a nudge that we need to meet the dead-lines or finish that overdue task, constant stress and anxiety can have an adverse effect on your mental and physical health. Smart self-care habits like eating healthy, connecting with a loved one or, practicing meditation cuts down the toxic effects of stress by improving your mood and boosting your energy and confidence levels.

Start living, stop existing: Life is a precious gift. Little things like sipping tea while looking at the raindrops racing down the window glass, enjoying a bubble bath, or reading a book are essential for your daily happiness. While things like taking up a new hobby or learning a new language can make your life more purposeful by giving you a new reason to get up in the morning.

Better physical health: Self-care is not just about your mental health. It’s also about caring for your physical self, by eating healthy, taking adequate sleep, caring about your hygiene, exercising regularly, etc.

Here are ten small, simple self-care habits that anyone can get into:

1. Go for a run or a light jog.

2. Meditate or do deep breathing for five minutes.

3. Take a break when you need it.

4. Choose who you spend time with.

5. Laugh heartily at least once a day.

6. Eat green daily.

7. Avoid emotional eating.

8. Start a journal.

9. Learn to say ‘No.’

10. Stop overthinking.

Another Craft to try!

Little Explorers January 9 | 10am to 11:30am

Four Rivers Environmental Education Center - 25055 West Walnut Lane, Channahon

Children and their parent or guardian are invited to come out and play! A new nature theme is chosen every month with

hands-on activities that may include a story, games, dancing, art, a hike, other outdoor activities and more! The theme for

January is owls.. A variety of group and free play activities will be available. We encourage experiencing all types of weather, rain or shine, so please dress accordingly. While activities are designed for ages 3-5, younger children are welcome. This is a great opportunity for parents and children to meet in a natural

setting to exchange ideas and get to know each other.

Family Movie Night: The LEGO Movie January 7 | 4:30 PM - 6:00 PM

White Oak Library District - Crest Hill Branch: 20670 Len Kubinski Drive

We are breaking out the popcorn! Bring the whole family to enjoy a movie tonight!

Emmet (Chris Pratt), an ordinary LEGO figurine who always follows the rules, is mistakenly identified as the Special -- an extraordinary being and the key to saving the world. He finds

himself drafted into a fellowship of strangers who are on a mission to stop an evil tyrant's (Will Ferrell) plans to conquer the world. Unfortunately for Emmet, he is hopelessly -- and

hilariously -- unprepared for such a task, but he'll give it his all nonetheless.

Winter Break Make and Take January 2 | All day | All Ages

Joliet Public Library-Black Rd. Branch | 3395 Black Rd., Joliet Need to get out of the house? Stop by the youth department to do an awesome craft. This will be available during hours of op-

eration January 2 - January 6. No registration is required.

Family Fun With LEGOS® January 5 | 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM

White Oak Library District - Lockport Branch: 121 E. 8th Street, Lockport

A Saturday drop-in program for families! Bring all the kids! You'll each make a creation and we'll put it on dis-play! Stop by anytime between 11:00 am and 2:00 pm.

Eagle Watch on the River January 4th & 5th | 9am- 3pm |FREE - All ages

Four Rivers Environmental Education Center ·25055 S Wal-nut Ln Channahon

Take a walk on the paved paths along the Des Plaines River while watching for American bald eagles and other birds

wintering around the preserve. Then stop in at Four Rivers Environmental Education Center for a complimentary hot

beverage to warm up. Take time to view informative displays about eagles and check out the interactive exhibit, “Wings on the River.” Watch the PBS film “American Eagle,” shown

each day at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m

Family Fun Night: Sparkles and Snowflakes January 8 | 6:00 PM - 6:45 PM

White Oak Library District - Romeoville Branch: 201 W. Nor-mantown Road

Let's explore snowflakes. Create a beautiful snowflake that can be displayed in your window at home.

Family Fun Night: Mary Poppins Sing Along January 29 | 6:00 PM - 6:45 PM

White Oak Library District - Romeoville Branch: 201 W. Normantown Road

Sing Along with some of your favorite Mary Poppins songs, make a Mary Poppins craft, and listen to a Mary

Poppins story!

Indoor Snow Fun! January 29 | 6:30pm - 7:30pm | All ages with adult

Joliet Public Library-Black Rd. Branch | 3395 Black Rd., Joliet

Come enjoy some great snow related activities such as making snowflakes and have an indoor snowball fight

with friends! Registration opens January 7, 2019.

Dance Party January 11 | 10:30 AM - 11:15 AM

White Oak Library District - Lockport Branch: 121 E. 8th Street, Lockport

Come groove and move with us in the library! We will dance, sing, play and have some rockin' fun. For ages 6 and under

with a caregiver.

Unbirthday Party January 11 | 6:30-8pm | C.W. Avery YMCA - 15120

Wallin Dr, Plainfield It’s not your birthday…. But we’re going to celebrate

like it is anyway! Festivities will include games, crafts, goodies and more! FREE and open to all with pre-

registration (815) 267-8600.

Cookbook Swap January 19 | 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM

White Oak Library District - Crest Hill Branch: 20670 Len Kubinski Drive

Freshen up your table and your bookshelves for 2019! Bring unwanted cookbooks to the Cookbook Swap, and

take home new-to-you cookbooks that others have brought. You must bring at least one item to swap in

order to join. All cookbooks must be in usable condition. Cookbooks may be dropped off at Crest Hill Branch in

advance in exchange for a voucher, which can be used on the day of the swap to redeem a new-to-you cookbook.

No registration is necessary. Just drop in anytime during the swap to make your trades!

Northern Illinois Food Bank's Mobile Pantry January 14 | 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM

White Oak Library District - Romeoville Branch: 201 W. Nor-mantown Road

Are you hungry? If you don't have enough to eat, Northern Illi-nois Food Bank's Mobile Pantry can help. Nutritious food is distributed for free to low-income neighbors in need, and it is

distributed on a first come, first serve basis while supplies last. Please bring your own bags and boxes. Items will be distributed

in the Library parking lot.

Family Fun Night: Hawaiian Luau Night January 15 | 6:00 PM - 6:45 PM

White Oak Library District - Romeoville Branch: 201 W. Normantown Road

Enjoy making a Hawaiian craft, listening to tropical music, and eating a tropical treat.

Crafternoon January 20 | 1:30pm - 4:30pm | ADULTS

Minooka Branch Library 109 N. Wabena Ave, Minooka Drop by the library on Sunday afternoons for open crafting!

Bring your own project supplies to paint, knit, color, crochet, or whatever you like. Light snacks and beverages will be

provided to keep your creative spirits churning. Registration is requested but not required.

Canvas Bag Art January 17 | 6:30pm - 7:30pm | All ages with adult

Joliet Public Library-Black Rd. Branch | 3395 Black Rd., Joliet

We will supply the canvas bag and supplies-- you design the bag. Registration opens December 31, 2018.

Family Fun Night: Grooving to Pete the Cat! January 22 | 6:00 PM - 6:45 PM

White Oak Library District - Romeoville Branch: 201 W. Normantown Road

Do you love Pete the Cat? Listen to a story, create a craft and groove to one of his songs!

Taste Fest 2019 1/19/19 6-9pm

Northfield Square Mall 1600 N State Rt 50, Bourbonnais, IL

Enjoy a food tour through Kankakee County one bite at a time. Taste Fest includes several local restaurants, bars and breweries

for all to enjoy. Be sure to get your ticket today for this tasty event.

Free Movies for Kids January 2nd from 1:00-3:00pm

Open to all ages, children under 6 years old must be accompa-nied by an adult. Attendance is limited to the first 80 people. Free snacks and drinks will be served. The movie shown will

be The Incredibles 2 Plano Public Library, 15 W. North St., Plano, IL

All-Day Craft Buffet January 3rd-5th

All ages: Stop in to make a craft. Pick from a variety of craft themes each day. While supplies last.

Montgomery & Oswego Campuses, Oswego Public Li-brary 1111 Reading Dr., Oswego, IL

Winter Carnival January 18th from 6:00-8:00pm

Get the kiddos out of the house for a fun filled time! We’ll have inflatables, carnival games, prizes, hot dogs, popcorn and much more! Fee includes 25 tickets & entrance to the carnival. Additional tickets may be purchased at the event.

Ages 2-12 years (accompanied by an adult). $5 per child, if registered & paid by January 17th -or- $7 per

child, day of or at the door. Godley Park District, 500 S. Kankakee St., Godley, IL

Baby Book Club January 9 @ 10:00 am Watseka Public Library

204 S Fourth St Watseka, IL 60970

Movie Matinee January 14th from 1:00-3:00pm

The ensemble comedy, mixing adorable canines and hu-mans who need as much rescuing as the animals they adopt

is a shaggy charmer itself. Rated PG.

Hines Veterans Mobile Medical Unit January 7th from 9:00am-2:00pm

Veterans who wish to receive care through the Veterans Mobile Medical Unit (MMU) from Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital must bring a copy of their DD Form 214 or their VA medical ID card

with them. Morris American Legion, 212 West Washington St., Morris, IL

For questions contact Ken Buck 815-941-3152

Open House at the Library January 5th from 2:00-4:00pm

Come meet the new director at the Morris Area Public Li-brary and celebrate a fresh start for the new year!

Morris Library, 604 Liberty St., Morris, IL

Winter Funland Dec 18-Jan 5th

70 Ken Hayes Dr, Bourbonnais, IL Looking for something to do with the kids this winter break? Head to Adventure Commons where you can

have an indoor winter funland! Inflatables, indoor mini golf, games, movies and Holiday crafts!

Baby Book Club January 18th – 10:00 AM

Central Citizens Library District 1134 E 3100 N Road

Clifton, IL

Joliet Public Library-Main Toddler Time (18m-3yrs) Thursdays at 9:45am Curious Little Monkeys Playgroup (birth-36m) Thursdays at 10:15am Family Storytime in Spanish (all ages) Tuesdays at 6:30pm Family Storytime (birth-6yrs) Wednesdays at 6:30pm Joliet Public Library-Black Road Toddler Time (18m-3yrs) Mondays & Wednesdays at 9:45, 10:45, and 11:45am Lapsit (birth-24m) Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at 9:15, 10:15, and 11:15am Family Storytime (birth-6yrs) Tuesdays at 6:30pm and Saturdays at 10:15am Shorewood Library Sensory Storytime (birth-1yrs) Select Fr idays at 10am (check website for dates) Itty Bitty Storytime (birth-3yrs) Select Mondays & Tuesdays at 10am (check website for dates) White Oak Library-Romeoville Preschool Playtime (2-7yrs) Thursdays at 10:30am White Oak Library-Crest Hill Toddler Time (3m-3yrs) Wednesdays at 10:30am Stay & Play (3m-3yrs) Wednesdays at 11am STEAM Storytime (2-4yrs) Mondays at 4pm White Oak Library-Lockport Music In Motion (2-4yrs) Mondays at 10:30am Toddler Time (3m-3yrs) Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10:30am Stay & Play (3m-3yrs) Tuesdays and Thursdays at 11am Evening Toddler Time (3m-3yrs) Thursdays at 6pm Three Rivers Public Library Minooka, IL Open Play: Mondays, 10:00am-12:00pm, Minooka Branch. Drop-in program for all ages with caregiver. Baby & Me: Tuesdays, 10:30am-11:15am, Minooka Branch. A story time for ages birth-20 months with caregiver. Register through the web-site—www.trpld.com Toddler Time: Thursdays, 10:30am-11:15am, Minooka Branch. A story time for ages 20 months-3 years old with caregiver. Registration re-quired. Three Rivers Public Library-Channahon Family Story Time (all ages) Wednesdays at 7pm Bookies & Milk (all ages) Thursdays at 7pm Morris Public Library – Morris, IL Story Time: Tuesdays, 9:30-10am and Wednesdays, 10:30-11:00am. Come enjoy hearing a story and participating in songs and fingerplays with your little one. Wiggle Worm: Tuesdays, 10:00-11:00am and Wednesdays, 11:00am-12:00pm. Following storytime, the child and caregiver will participate in stories, songs, and activities together. Afterwards children can engage in free play in the basement with a variety of toys.

Library Playgroups

Library Playgroups

Oswego Public Library, Oswego, IL Baby Goose Storytime: Mondays from 10:00-10:20am. Ages 3-18 months with an adult: Share stories, rhymes, and music with your baby. Location: Montgomery Youth Program Room. Make & Take Mondays: Mondays, all day. All ages: Come to make a simple craft. Craft will take approximately 10 minutes to finish. Location: Both Montgomery Campus and Oswego Campus. Crafts will be holiday-themed and will take approximately 15 minutes to finish. Each week will be a different craft! Read & Play Baby: Tuesdays, 10:00-11:00am. Ages 6-23 months with an adult. Drop in for stories, music, and some fun free-play. Location: Montgomery Youth Program Room. Totally Twos: Tuesday, 10:00-10:45am. Ages 24-35 months: Bring your two year old to the library for some free play mixed with stories and songs. Location: Oswego Youth Program Room. Tiny Tot Art: Thursdays, 9:15-9:45am. Ages 16-23 months with an adult--Hear a story, sing, make a process-oriented art pro-ject, and dance, too! Aprons are provided. Location: Montgomery Youth Room. Must register for class and must give 24 hour cancellation notice to allow others on the waiting list to attend. Toddler Art: Thursdays, 10:00-10:30am & 10:45-11:15am. Montgomery--Ages 2-3 years old with an adult--Hear a story, sing, make a process-oriented art project, and dance, too! Aprons will be provided. Please sign up for only 1 session per week. Read & Play Everyone: Saturdays, 10:00-11:00am. Oswego Campus--Ages 2-7 years old with an adult--Drop in for fun with stories, songs, & free-play. Location: Oswego Youth Program Room. Plano Community Library District, Plano, IL Yorkville Public Library, Yorkville, IL Drop-In Story Time: Fridays, 10:30-11:00am. Coal City Public Library District Family Lapsit: Mondays, 6:00pm-6:30pm OR Wednesdays, 10:00am-10:30am. Family Lapsit is designed to introduce your child to a love of books. The child and caregiver will participate together in songs, activities, and stories. The child must be a Coal City Public Library District resident with a library card held by his/her caregiver. If you are not a resident, please see the children’s department. Contact Tricia Meyer, 815-634-4552 ext. 105, tricia@ccpld.org Terrific Tots: Mondays, 10:00-10:30am, Thursdays, 10:00-10:30am & 6:00-6:30pm. Terrific Tots is a class where your 2 to 3 year old and a caregiver can enjoy listening to books, singing and dancing to songs, and creating a craft. The child must be a Coal City Public Library District resident. Contact Rene Norris, 815-634-4552 ext. 110, rene@ccpld.org Wilmington Public Library Storytime (all ages) Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 10:30am Sensory Storytime (all ages) Mondays at 12pm PJ Storytime (all ages) Thursdays at 6pm Manhattan-Elwood Public Library District Baby Time (newborn-18 mons) Tuesdays at 10:30 am Tot Time (18 mons-3yrs) Wednesdays at 10:00 or 10:30 am