Above: The Library’s invitation to help teens decompress is a good time to remind that the Library is one of the departments that teamed up with SYFS to put on special Mental Health Awareness events this month. (images cropped from event flyers)
The Southborough Library is inviting 12-18 year olds to chill in the Teen Room a week from tomorrow.
The invite for the “Decompression Session” promotes:
need to destress for for a bit? Stop by the Teen Room for a chill atmosphere, relaxing activities, and a hangout with a therapy dog.
That takes place on May 20th from 3:30 – 4:30 pm.
Though not billed as part of the series, it ties in perfectly with Mental Health Awareness month.
Speaking of, it’s not too late to take part in the Town’s MHAM series – including the very relevant “Managing Teen and Tween Stress” zoom for parents.
Below are reminders about that and other details, including the Community Read, Forest Bathing, and special movie “Community Watch” events.
Community Walk/Forest Bathing
Sunday, May 15, 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm
Space is limited for the Trails Committee’s special Community Walks. So if you want to participate, you need to pre-register. The events are promotes as “Family-Friendly Forest Bathing Walks at Beals Preserve”
Take a walk, literally, towards better Mental Health. Forest Therapy, or Forest Bathing, is a wellness and complementary-health practice. Time in nature helps us reduce stress, improve creativity, helps us sleep better, and improves physical health. During each guided walk you will be encouraged to use your imagination and senses to connect with nature through sensory experiences.
We will be hosting two separate walks:
Painted Turtle Family Walk #1, 1:00-2:30 PM, Families w/kids under 12 yrs welcome
Buttercup Spring Walk #2, 3:00-4:30 PM, Ages 12+ welcome
These are casual, slow-paced walks appropriate for children and families but not strollers. We will end our walks with a Forest Tea Party, serving an allergy-sensitive snack, while we gather to share our experiences in nature.
Click here for more details and to sign up.
Managing Teen and Tween Stress
Wednesday, May 18, 12:00 pm
Space is also limited for this special zoom session. Parents are invited to a virtual workshop:
Teens and Tweens experience big emotions. Adding pressures of a pandemic and world events, is a recipe for stress. Join us for a one-hour discussion on reframing your child’s emotions and behavior and how to support them while maintaining healthy boundaries.
Click here to register.
Community Read Discussion
Thursday, May 19, 7:00 pm
The “virtual Community Read” doesn’t state that participants are required to read the book in advance. But the discussion will certainly be more fruitful if participants have at least started the book.
The book is Brené Brown’s Braving the Wilderness: The Quest for True Belonging and the Courage to Stand Alone. Brown’s website describes:
Belonging so fully to yourself that you’re willing to stand alone is a wilderness—an untamed, unpredictable place of solitude and searching. It is a place as dangerous as it is breathtaking, a place as sought after as it is feared. The wilderness can often feel unholy because we can’t control it, or what people think about our choice of whether to venture into that vastness or not. But it turns out to be the place of true belonging, and it’s the bravest and most sacred place you will ever stand.
Anyone interested is encouraged to reach out to the Library if they need a copy. To register for the zoom session, click here.
Below are the other upcoming Mental Health Awareness Month events still coming up. The only advance action they require from you is marking them in your calendar:
Preschool Story Time with Miss Kim
Monday, May 16 and Tuesday, May 17, 10:30 am
The books and and crafts for this week’s theme of the preschool story time will be consistent with Mental Health Awareness Month. The events take place in the Southborough Library’s Children’s Room. No registration is required.
Southborough Rotary Club
Wednesday, May 18, 7:00 pm
This meeting of the Rotary Club will feature SYFS Director Sarah Cassell to speak about the department’s mission and services.
Baby & Toddler Story Time with Miss Kim
Thursday, May 19, 11:00 am
This story time with puppets, stories, and music is for children age 0-2 years and their parents or caregivers. This session’s selections will be consistent with Mental Health Awareness Month. The event takes place in the Southborough Library’s Children’s Room. No registration is required.
Community Watch: Resilience
Saturday, May 21, 12:00 – 1:00 pm
The Southborough Library will be screening the documentary Resilience: the Biology of Stress & the Science of Hope.
Community Watch: Paper Tigers
Saturday, May 21, 1:30 – 3:00 pm
The Southborough Library will be screening the documentary Paper Tigers: One High School’s Unlikely Success Story. A short discussion of the film will follow the screening.
Both Community Watch programs are sponsored by the Library with funding made possible through the Library Services & Technology Act distributed by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners.
Trauma Free Communities
Tuesday, May 24, 7:00 pm
Movie Discussion Group over zoom about the Community Watch movies screened on May 21st. (Registration will be offered to Community Watch attendees)
