Kids painted S’mores-shaped trinket boxes at the Haddonfield library on July 10, part of an effort to engage kids during summer.
The Haddonfield library is doing its part to keep kids engaged this summer with various activities and programs.
This year’s summer reading theme is “Color Our World,” part of the library’s initiative to sponsor more programming that involves art, whether in exploring famous artists or in events where residents produce their own creations
The library hosted a children’s ceramics painting event on July 10 that had participants paint trinket boxes in the shape of smiling S’mores. The boxes were provided by the Haddon Heights Paint-a-Treasure Art Studio and its owner, Sharon Sayers, who also provided the paint and other tools.
“Every year, we always try to have a ceramic class, and especially with the summer theme of being color our world,” explained children’s librarian Jordan Bilodeau. “So we wanted to (have) a fun ceramic idea …”
Paper plates and disposable cups enabled the kids to lay out colors they wanted on the plates and wash off their brushes when switching between paint colors. They also were provided with reference images of what colors were supposed to go on each spot of the box, but were free to paint the S’more differently if they wished.
Sayers emphasized that the method of painting used on the boxes enabled participants to take home their crafts that same day.
“The best part is, we always paint with acrylic paints,” she pointed out. “We don’t have to fire them, so they get to take them home the same day. They’re not using glazes that would need to be fired in a kiln, so they paint them and they can take them home.”
