Imagination Station - Vet Clinic

In an effort to increase early childhood program attendance, I decided to try adding a couple of new monthly programs in addition to the regular weekly family storytime. I have found that while regular storytime attendance has been extremely low, people will come to our branch for programs that (1) are on days that most branches don't offer anything, and/or (2) are unique programs that other locations don't have. 

The first of these would be a once-monthly "Imagination Station" program inspired by the dramatic play areas I had set up at previous libraries (but sadly didn't have room for at my current library), geared for ages 3-6 (but open to ages 2-8 to accommodate older/younger siblings and homeschoolers). This would be a play-based program, but more structured than a "play & stay" program, with activities around a central dramatic play theme designed to encourage and develop imagination, creativity, expressive language, motor skills, socio-emotional skills, and early literacy. I scheduled it on a day that most of the other branches in this system do not have children's programs.

I decided to design the inaugural "Imagination Station" program with a 'Veterinary Clinic' theme because (1) that had been the most popular theme for the dramatic play area at a previous library, and (2) my current library system already had "health professional" and "pet" themed programming kits with materials and activities to supplement supplies I or my branch already had.

Program: Imagination Station - Vet Clinic

Ages: 3-6 (open to 2-8, actual participants ranged from age 2 to 5)

Number: Could accommodate up to 25, (actual attendance was 6 kids and 5 adults)

Budget: Negligible, as used mostly non-consumable items, and all items we already had or had access to.

Stations:

1. Reception
   
   
   
   
   I set up a small waiting room area with our market stand as the front desk, complete with signage, a laminated sign-in sheet on the patient side, clipboards with laminated patient charts on the staff side, and dry erase markers. The shelves on the staff side were also stocked with bandages, medicine, food, and food/water bowls. [Dramatic play, imagination, functional print, writing]
   
   
2. Exam Area
   
   
   
   
   The table directly behind reception was the exam area, and had all the medical instruments with easy access to the charts, bandages, medications, and syringes. [dramatic play, imagination, fine motor skills]
   
   
3. Grooming Area
   
   

   

   
   I set up another table with a dishpan for a bathtub, a play grooming kit with wooden hair dryer, brush, scissors, clippers, and shampoo (though I would've preferred the set from Melissa & Doug), along with a few empty travel sized spray and shampoo bottles. [imagination, fine motor, dramatic play]
   
   
4. Laboratory
   
   
   
   
   I brought in an old toy microscope that was my daughter's and set out a couple of graduated cylinders, pipettes, small clear dixie cups (a stand-in for test tubes) with water, vinegar, and baking soda (only put out a small amount at a time to minimize waste and mess!).  [exploration, curiosity, wonder, cause & effect, fine motor skills]
   
   
5. Radiology
   
   
   
   
   I cut two of the flaps off a medium-sized cardboard box, then painted the bottom (which would become the front) white and the rest silver to serve as a pretend x-ray machine/light box, and printed out and laminated several different animal x-rays. I hot-glued clothespins to the 'lightbox' to hold the x-rays, but one popped off right away, so I would recommend using a stronger, more permanent adhesive. I also had several smaller pictures of animal x-rays on pieces of folded cardstock taped to the table with photos of the animal underneath, with instructions to try to identify the animal from its x-ray, and lift the flap to see if they were right. [exploration, curiosity, dramatic play, background knowledge]
   
   
6. Sutures
   
   
   
   
   One of the programming kits I borrowed happened to have these animal lacing cards, which are a great fine motor activity that not only practices a life-skill, but also develops fine motor skills that will help with writing later. Relating lacing to sewing and thus to sutures was the perfect way to incorporate it into the veterinary clinic theme. [fine motor skills, eye-hand coordination, life skills]
   
   
7. Book Display
   
   
   
   
   I pulled a variety of reading levels and both fiction and non-fiction, on veterinarians and pets for reading and/or checking out. [print awareness, print motivation, vocabulary, background knowledge]
   
   
8. Costumes, Patients, and Signage
   One of the kits I borrowed had two lab/dr coats, plain scrubs, and scrubs with an animal print, which I put out for anyone who wanted to put them on [only one child did, so don't feel like you really need to have these]. I had quite a few different stuffed/plastic animal patients; some I owned (Kohl's Cares or Goodwill), some my branch had, some came with the kits. We had several dogs/puppies, several cats/kittens, a couple of rabbits, a guinea pig, a rat, a chameleon, a turtle, two fish, a pigeon, a parrot, and a unicorn (for whimsy). I put a couple at each station, a few in kennels (carriers I brought from home), and the rest in a large basket. [Imagination, dramatic play, life skills (getting dressed)]
   
   I included a lot of labels and signage with both text and pictographs (1) so the adults and kids would know what each station was supposed to be, and (2) to provide lots of functional print in the environment.

How It Went

I have mixed feelings about how this program turned out. I was really excited about it and had high hopes that it didn't quite live up to, but I think a lot of it is me just needing to manage my expectations and re-define success. My supervisor thought it was a success, and those they came were engaged and seemed to enjoy it, and that's what really matters.

I really was hoping for maybe 10-15 kids, but ended up with 6. However, my supervisor, who has worked at this branch much longer than I have, felt it was a good turnout for that age group at this location (I was used to having anywhere from 15-30 kids for programs at my last library, and sometimes more). 

I was a little disappointed that they didn't really use all of the activities or use them in the way I had imagined to get the most out of them. The adults didn't really facilitate exploration and play like I'd hoped, even when I tried to model, and I didn't see as much imaginative and dramatic play as I'd envisioned. I know in my head the fact that they came, were engaged in any way, had fun, and left happy is enough, but my heart still wants bigger, busier programs with people not only fully engaged, but doing things the 'right' way. I totally realize this is my issue, though, and I'm working on it.

Those that attended did really seem to enjoy it overall. I'd expected the exam station, with all the medical instruments and treatments, to be the biggest draw, but surprisingly the grooming area was by far the most used, with the laboratory a close second. All the kids wanted to bathe, brush, and trim the animals, and as we already know, kids can't get enough of baking soda and vinegar experiments! One kid did get into putting bandages on several animals, but I really didn't see much "doctoring" going on. The x-rays and lacing cards were pretty much ignored, only one child filled out a chart, and I don't think anyone, child or adult, really paid any attention to any of the signs or labels. 

My biggest disappointment was that not one single person that attended checked out or even looked at any of the related books I had pulled and put on display, which seems to be true here no matter what the age, program, or topic is. Maybe I shouldn't bother as it doesn't seem to be worth the time, but at the same time I just feel like I should. I guess I just won't pull nearly as many next time.

What I Would Do Differently

Going forward, I will know not to put quite as much time and work into the planning and set-up, nor plan as many stations. I will still include some functional print, but I won't go as overboard with so many signs and labels, and I just need to not expect quite so much. Overall, just make it more simple and not quite so elaborate, especially for a one-hour, one-time program that I'm only allotted 30 minutes of set-up time for.

I am still adjusting to being at a much smaller library in a neighborhood that primarily uses the library for technology access and assistance, rather than books and programs, and having much lower attendance than I'm used to at previous libraries.  At some point in the future I may consider trying it on a Saturday instead of Friday, to see if I can get more people, or more people from our immediate area.

The "Laboratory" station was such a hit I've decided that I will have to make that a whole theme sometime later this year. Next month will have a "Bakery" theme, with play food, sales counter, kitchen, dough-making station [making salt dough], and dough kneading, rolling, shaping, and cutting station. [I will also have play-doh for anyone with wheat/gluten allergies.]