Although we are already heading into our second Valentines Day during the COVID-19 pandemic, it can still be difficult to determine the safest way to celebrate. While remaining socially distanced, the Moose Jaw Public Library has created a way to continue keeping the holidays special for young residents.
Aislinn Lawreniuk, who works in the library’s children department, explains the Take ’N’ Make crafting kits the library has been handing out.
“It’s just kind of a card to make for somebody special. It’s not really ‘love you’ or anything like that, which was kind of on purpose. Because not everybody necessarily appreciates that,” says Lawreniuk.
“It’s a little caterpillar craft. In the end, when it’s all put together, it’s a little Valentines card that you can give to somebody special.”
Lawreniuk also describes what’s inside the kit. “It comes with the little pom-poms, the card, a heart shaped leaf, the googly eyes and the instructions on how to do it.
We’ve also got some Valentines Day book suggestions on there, as well as some extension activities that are Valentines related that you can do as well. The only things you’ll need to supply are your own glue and scissors. But other than that, everything else is provided.”
The Moose Jaw Public Library website describes the extension activities in addition to this Valentines Day kit, which include watching the sunset or sunrise to describe what you see and to make hearts out of the things you’re able to find outside.
Each craft kit, which is typically recommended for children ages four and up, are free and easy to access through the front desk of the public library.
“We started doing this [Take ’N’ Make] about a year ago now. We’ve been doing it bi-weekly, and it kind of started out because of COVID. We weren’t offering as many in-person programs, so we decided to do the Take ’N’ Makes. It’s been quite a hit.”
The Take ’N’ Make crafts have received positive feedback from the individuals who have utilized it.
“My daughter loves the kits. She often makes her own thing, versus the instructed craft, but always has fun and reuses the supplies later,” says local mother Kaila Montgomerie.
“We love them. We also sometimes just freehand with the supplies,” Ashly Otaal also shares.
The Discover Moose Jaw website has quoted Glenda Green, a clerk in the children’s department at the library, who said “Every two weeks we do a new one. So, the next one is a button tree and then the one after that will be rainbow shamrock.
It’s just for them to enjoy. Something for them to take home and a craft to do.”
The next Take ’N’ Make activity will be available Feb. 16, 2022 and the craft involves creating a tree made out of buttons. The Moose Jaw Public Library website also mentions the extension activities that will go along with the crafting kit, which include taking a walk to observe different types of trees and a scavenger hunt to find a pinecone, a twig, and a rock.
