The Pewaukee Public Library is launching a new initiative called the Helping Library, designed to support parents and young children through challenging times.
This thoughtful resource, set to debut in late August or early September, offers pre-made kits aimed at helping kids navigate tough topics like “big feelings,” divorce, and the loss of a pet. The Waukesha Freeman reports that these kits are specifically tailored for children in pre-K through third grade.
Youth Services Manager Peter Blenski was inspired to create these kits after a poignant experience early in his career at the Greenfield Public Library. A mother once approached him, desperately seeking age-appropriate books to help her son feel safe after experiencing abuse. Although Blenski was able to find the necessary resources, the encounter left a lasting impression on him, emphasizing the importance of having such tools readily available.
The Helping Library kits will each include two fiction books, one nonfiction book, a feelings chart, finger mazes, and a stuffed animal, all aimed at helping children understand and express their emotions in a safe way.
Blenski hopes that these kits will make it easier for both staff and patrons to access crucial resources without any embarrassment or hesitation.
Looking ahead, the library may expand this collection to cover other sensitive topics, but for now, the focus is on getting these initial kits into the hands of families who need them. As Blenski puts it, “It’s a Helping Library. Here to help, wherever we can. No questions, no judgment at all.”
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