Stay home scavenger hunts for Selwyn kids
While the COVID-19 pandemic continues, so does the effort of staff at Selwyn Public Library to move programs online for families and children.
Kathleen Charlton, children’s programming co-ordinator at the library, said that since the pandemic began, she’s had to make some different choices in regards to programming.
To encourage families to stay home at the beginning of the pandemic, she developed the Selwyn Stay Home Scavenger Hunt. A total of 288 individuals registered. They’ve also established a Harry Potter Family Trivia Night event that now runs once a month.
“We had so many adults wanting to take part without children, that we had to create a separate Adult Potter Online Trivia event,” Charlton said. Seniors in the township reached out to their children to ask them to participate with them, Charlton said.
“We had 23 adult-family teams. Some people were calling in with relatives in different provinces or in different parts of Ontario to participate with their children who are now older,” she said.
During the event, online programs Zoom and Kahoot are used. Trivia questions are displayed on the screen over Zoom.
The library’s Online Storytime has also been a hit, as well as their Lego Builds and Silver Birch and Blue Spruce online reading clubs, Charlton said.
Similar to their previous scavenger hunt, Charlton said they are creating a Canada Day scavenger hunt.
“I actually just got an email from a municipality in Jasper asking if they could also do it too, which is exciting. They saw it online and were excited about it,” she said.
According to Charlton, participants enjoy having something fun to do with their families.
“They appreciate all the effort and time that’s put into it. I think for us, it’s just been a way to support the community during this time,” she said.
Charlton thinks these online programs and events have made the pandemic more enjoyable.
“And I think it will continue to do so. When schools are closed and teachers aren’t offering activities for the children — because I know a lot of parents do rely on something from the teacher in the morning — I think it will fill that gap and it will also keep them involved and reading through the summer, and keep them engaged in activities that are fun, but also educational.”
Funded by the Government of Canada/Financé par le Gouvernement du Canada.