Dear Librarians, Do you ever have parents bring their children to the children's room to play and they just visit with the adults and let the children tear apart the room and then leave. How can you suggest that it is a learning process to return the toys to their place. Stephanie Daniels, Director Vanderlyn Community Center & Hartford Public Library 12 Church Street Hartford, MI 49057(269)588-5103http://www.hartfordpl.michlibrary.org/
We handle these situations on a case by case basis, depending on the ages of children, recurrence of behavior from returning patrons, and whatever else is going on in the library. We try to head off chaotic situations by greeting people, by name if possible, when they enter the Children’s Library, and engaging them when we’re up and walking around. We also often have activities which encourage kids to interact with us at the circ desk (scavenger hunts with a small prize), with the hope that more personal interactions will lead families to more ownership of caretaking the space. Occasionally, that seems to work. Often we flat out bribe children, while describing the situation so that parents have an opportunity to reflect on how toy chaos impacts others, and maybe help as well. “Guess what – it’s what we call ‘Bribe Time’ in the library! Ms. Megan needs to go home soon, and we’d like to clean up before she leaves. If you’d like to help us, we’ll give everyone who cleans up X number of toys a bribe - some candy (as long as it’s okay with your grownup)/one of our 3D printed experiments/a squishy!” Something like that, depending on what we have lying around (usually left over from a program or summer reading or something). And sometimes there’s no hope, and we just pick up a lot of toys. When we have new staff, we just let them know that in the Children’s Library, we have to be okay with a certain amount of chaos. Good luck to us all. Jenna Reed Branch Lead, Children’s Library St. Clair County Library System 210 McMorran Blvd. Port Huron, MI 48060 (810) 987-7323 ext. 2515/2516 From: EMAIL TEAM via Michlib-l <michlib-l@liblists.org> Sent: Monday, April 6, 2026 1:22 PM To: Michlib Listserv <michlib-l@liblists.org> Subject: [Michlib-l] Children's room ORIGIN EXTERNAL: Use proper judgment and caution when opening attachments, clicking links, or responding to this email. Dear Librarians, Do you ever have parents bring their children to the children's room to play and they just visit with the adults and let the children tear apart the room and then leave. How can you suggest that it is a learning process to return the toys to their place. Stephanie Daniels, Director Vanderlyn Community Center & Hartford Public Library 12 Church Street Hartford, MI 49057 (269)588-5103 http://www.hartfordpl.michlibrary.org/
Another thought would be to only have toys that are attached to the wall, table, etc. For instance, wall panels like the one below. It also saves on floor space. You could also try getting one of the toy vacuums that plays a "pick up" song and ask them to use it when they're done (sign?). [image: image.png] On Mon, Apr 6, 2026 at 1:22 PM EMAIL TEAM via Michlib-l < michlib-l@liblists.org> wrote:
Dear Librarians,
Do you ever have parents bring their children to the children's room to play and they just visit with the adults and let the children tear apart the room and then leave. How can you suggest that it is a learning process to return the toys to their place.
Stephanie Daniels, Director
Vanderlyn Community Center & Hartford Public Library 12 Church Street Hartford, MI 49057 (269)588-5103 http://www.hartfordpl.michlibrary.org/ _______________________________________________ Michlib-l mailing list -- michlib-l@liblists.org To unsubscribe send an email to michlib-l-leave@liblists.org
-- *Linda A. Quiggle* Jonesville High School Library 460 Adrian Rd. Jonesville, MI 49250 (517)849-9934 lquiggle@jonesvilleschools.org
One way to look at this is... At least the disruption was contained , and the kids weren't running rampant in the magazines/bookstacks/main computer lab! Bradley A. Scott, MLS Electronic Resources Librarian Mott Community College 1401 East Court Street Flint, Michigan 48503 810-762-0405 On Tue, Apr 7, 2026, 9:08 AM Linda Quiggle via Michlib-l < michlib-l@liblists.org> wrote:
Another thought would be to only have toys that are attached to the wall, table, etc. For instance, wall panels like the one below. It also saves on floor space. You could also try getting one of the toy vacuums that plays a "pick up" song and ask them to use it when they're done (sign?).
[image: image.png]
On Mon, Apr 6, 2026 at 1:22 PM EMAIL TEAM via Michlib-l < michlib-l@liblists.org> wrote:
Dear Librarians,
Do you ever have parents bring their children to the children's room to play and they just visit with the adults and let the children tear apart the room and then leave. How can you suggest that it is a learning process to return the toys to their place.
Stephanie Daniels, Director
Vanderlyn Community Center & Hartford Public Library 12 Church Street <https://www.google.com/maps/search/12+Church+Street+%C2%A0+%0D%0A+Hartford,+MI+49057?entry=gmail&source=g>
<https://www.google.com/maps/search/12+Church+Street+%C2%A0+%0D%0A+Hartford,+MI+49057?entry=gmail&source=g> Hartford, MI 49057 <https://www.google.com/maps/search/12+Church+Street+%C2%A0+%0D%0A+Hartford,+MI+49057?entry=gmail&source=g> (269)588-5103 http://www.hartfordpl.michlibrary.org/ _______________________________________________ Michlib-l mailing list -- michlib-l@liblists.org To unsubscribe send an email to michlib-l-leave@liblists.org
-- *Linda A. Quiggle* Jonesville High School Library 460 Adrian Rd. <https://www.google.com/maps/search/460+Adrian+Rd.+Jonesville,+MI+%C2%A049250?entry=gmail&source=g> Jonesville, MI 49250 <https://www.google.com/maps/search/460+Adrian+Rd.+Jonesville,+MI+%C2%A049250?entry=gmail&source=g> (517)849-9934 lquiggle@jonesvilleschools.org _______________________________________________ Michlib-l mailing list -- michlib-l@liblists.org To unsubscribe send an email to michlib-l-leave@liblists.org
participants (4)
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Bradley Scott -
EMAIL TEAM -
Linda Quiggle -
Reed, Jenna