Before You Ask “Where Are the Parents?”

by Karen Jensen, TLT | Blogs
Sep 28, 2016 | Filed in Blogs
Where are the parents? TeenLibrarianToolbox@TLT16 Before you start complaining, “where are the parents?”, I would like to remind you of a few things 1/? Tue, Sep 27 2016 18:32:47 ReplyRetweetFavorite TeenLibrarianToolbox@TLT16 Some parents work swing or night shift. This requires that they sleep during the day. They have no choice. 2/? Tue, Sep 27 2016 […]

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Where are the parents?

  1. TLT16
    TeenLibrarianToolbox@TLT16
    Before you start complaining, “where are the parents?”, I would like to remind you of a few things 1/?

    Tue, Sep 27 2016 18:32:47

  2. TLT16
    TeenLibrarianToolbox@TLT16
    Some parents work swing or night shift. This requires that they sleep during the day. They have no choice. 2/?

    Tue, Sep 27 2016 18:33:20

  3. TLT16
    TeenLibrarianToolbox@TLT16
    Some parents gets forced into mandatory overtime. They have no choice. 3/?

    Tue, Sep 27 2016 18:33:49

  4. TLT16
    TeenLibrarianToolbox@TLT16
    Some parents are juggling 2, 3 or more part-time jobs to barely make ends meet. They have no choice. 4/?

    Tue, Sep 27 2016 18:34:31

  5. TLT16
    TeenLibrarianToolbox@TLT16
    We have created a business friendly environment that offers low-wage, part-time, no benefit, family busing dynamic. 5/?

    Tue, Sep 27 2016 18:35:30

  6. TLT16
    TeenLibrarianToolbox@TLT16
    So where are the parents? Well, they are often at work. Or trying to find work. Trying to survive. 6/?

    Tue, Sep 27 2016 18:36:06

  7. TLT16
    TeenLibrarianToolbox@TLT16
    So before you start complaining about kids today or parents today, ask yourself, what are we doing as a culture to support families? 7/?

    Tue, Sep 27 2016 18:36:57

  8. TLT16
    TeenLibrarianToolbox@TLT16
    We don’t have livable wages for a large portion of our workforce.
    We don’t have benefits 4 a large portion.
    We don’t have work/life balance

    Tue, Sep 27 2016 18:38:00

  9. TLT16
    TeenLibrarianToolbox@TLT16
    And no, they can’t often just go and get a better job.
    And no, they can’t often just move and get a better job.
    There are no better jobs.

    Tue, Sep 27 2016 18:38:43

  10. TLT16
    TeenLibrarianToolbox@TLT16
    Or there are no good support systems.
    Or there is no good childcare.
    Or there are no good school systems.
    So they struggle & make do.

    Tue, Sep 27 2016 18:39:28

  11. TLT16
    TeenLibrarianToolbox@TLT16
    And you think it won’t effect you, but it does.
    It effects us all.
    Because when a part of the body is sick, the whole body is sick.

    Tue, Sep 27 2016 18:40:25

  12. TLT16
    TeenLibrarianToolbox@TLT16
    They are bone weary tired and stressed out and even sometimes depressed and fighting anxiety. They feel shame, fear…  https://twitter.com/i/web/status/780840344648880128 …

    Tue, Sep 27 2016 18:43:40

  13. TLT16
    TeenLibrarianToolbox@TLT16
    What are some things that public libraries can do to help families?
    Offer a variety of programs a variety of different days and times.

    Tue, Sep 27 2016 18:46:38

  14. TLT16
    TeenLibrarianToolbox@TLT16
    If you only have Storytime on weekday mornings, that means a lot of the kids who need it most can’t come, their parents are working.

    Tue, Sep 27 2016 18:47:27

  15. TLT16
    TeenLibrarianToolbox@TLT16
    Try setting up rotating activities in the open spaces of your library as drop in activities. Puzzles, hands on STEM, etc.

    Tue, Sep 27 2016 18:48:12

  16. TLT16
    TeenLibrarianToolbox@TLT16
    If you can find the $ and space, set up a small Maker or Craft center. Anyone can come & do hands on when it works for them.

    Tue, Sep 27 2016 18:48:52

  17. TLT16
    TeenLibrarianToolbox@TLT16
    Consider circulating maker kits & book bundles on specific themes. Again, allows people to engage and explore on their own time.

    Tue, Sep 27 2016 18:49:36

  18. TLT16
    TeenLibrarianToolbox@TLT16
    Repeat programs. If someone can’t come the first time, then maybe they can catch it on another day or at a different time.

    Tue, Sep 27 2016 18:50:30

  19. TLT16
    TeenLibrarianToolbox@TLT16
    Consider dropping fines for overdue materials. Many people don’t have reliable transportation. As long as you get the materials back, why?

    Tue, Sep 27 2016 18:51:29

  20. TLT16
    TeenLibrarianToolbox@TLT16
    Let’s just all think before we judge parents & kids. There are a lot of forces working against them.

    Tue, Sep 27 2016 18:53:32

  21. TLT16
    TeenLibrarianToolbox@TLT16
    Excellent point!  https://twitter.com/emkokie/status/780843511738490880 …

    Tue, Sep 27 2016 18:56:53

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