If you have not viewed the video about programming for parents with infants, please return to the Ready to Hatch page and do so now!

Here is a brief video I made last year of a sample Session 1 from Hatchlings in the Nest.

Click here to hear songs / watch videos of the songs and rhymes for In the Nest

2024 Reproducibles for In the Nest

Below are all of the items needed to plan and run the Hatchlings: In the Nest sessions. Each item has a link which leads to a downloadable document that can be printed.

If you prefer to buy reasonably-priced professional printed copies of the materials, feel free to visit the MGOL Store and use the links to order directly from there.

Knowing What is Ahead

Instructional Guide

Similar to Ready to Hatch (Baby on the Way), the Hatchlings: In the Nest (New Baby and Me) Instruction Guide has all the information that you will need to plan and present Hatchlings sessions. It is recommended to download, print, and read the entire guide, keeping it on site as a handy reference tool.

In the Nest (New Baby and Me) Instruction Guide 2024

Preparing for In the Nest

Organizing Checklist/Timeline

The Organizing Checklist / Timeline details all of the steps that need to be taken regarding preparation, publicity, distribution, printing, etc. from 3-6 months before your first session. The checklist is available as an editable Word Document for customization and or as a PDF for a prewritten checklist.

Program Considerations / Questions about Logistics

The logistics Questionnaire contains a list of considerations for local librarians to discuss with their directors and partners before planning the program about room accessibility and capacity building policies, etc.

Program Considerations / Logistics Questionnaire (Contains a list of services and items the library can offer)

Logistics Checklist & Information to Share

Once you have answered all the questions from the Logistics Questionnaires, enter them into the Logistics Checklist. That will remind you to mention materials and services that your library can offer to registering participants, while the Blurb includes information and questions, such as asking if special accommodations will be needed.

Registration Form

Although many places ask people to sign up online, some partners may not have access to computers in this way. The paper registration form makes it easy for anyone to sign up anywhere; this information can later be entered and consolidated with another relevant online list, if needed.

Registration List

Advertising Your Session

Flyer for advertising

The flyer below is a template which can be used for advertising your session. The Google Slide can be edited, allowing you to customize the date, time, and location. Add your logo as well! Flyers can be posted in the library, in supermarkets, in obstetrician’s offices, and given to your community partners for distribution. Scan the flyer and post it on social media such as the library website, listservs, electronic newsletters, blogs, Instagram, etc.

A gallery of flyers from other In the Nest programs are also included, to give an idea of what is possible, design-wide. If you create a new flyer design, feel free to share it with Betsy so she can post it here to share with others!

Advertising Flyer (original flyer as a PDF with blank spaces for adding information)
Editable PDF Flyer
Advertising Flyer as a PowerPoint slide for easy editing
Sample In the Nest flyers from different Maryland Counties
More sample flyers

Social Media Posts

Use social media to promote your workshops. Post on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and any electronic newsletters, library blogs or other media. This Webpage gives text that you can use and examples by other librarians. (original flyer as a PDF with blank spaces for adding information)

PowerPoint Presentation for Publicity Purposes

If you are asked to give a presentation to an organization that is considering offering Hatchlings, feel free to use this presentation by children’s librarian Sylvia Hennessie, Howard County Library System. It can be accessed as Google Slides for easy editing.

–”About Hatchlings” PowerPoint presentation (Google Slides)

Making Changes

Design Your Own Session

As mentioned in the Instructional Guide, although there are 4 Hatchlings: In the Nest scripts, no one is supposed to memorize it. In order for you to present your best session, it is important for you to “make it your own” so you will feel comfortable delivering it. Enthusiasm breeds enthusiasm; if you are enjoying yourself, everyone at your session will enjoy themselves too.

We recommend that you first read over one complete script in the Instructional Guide a few times to become fully familiar with the material.
The Cheat Sheet gives an outline of the basic program, topics, and songs if you want to follow the script.
If you prefer to make changes or will not have time to present everything, the list of topics In the Nest Script Topics and Songs will enable you to pick and choose what you wish to cover.
- In the Nest Script Topics – word doc for editing
- In the Nest Topics – PDF
If you would be more comfortable rearranging the program, use the Design Your Own Session Template to keep the natural flow of the session.
- Design Your Own Session Template

Creating a Session for a Mixed Group of Expectant and New Parents

Librarian Emily Trovato, Howard County Library System, created a Shortened In the Nest Script that works with both expectant parents AND parents with newborns which she has graciously shared with us.
- Script for a session with a combined group – PDF
Emily’s script is also available as a Word Document for easy editing.
- Script for a session with a combined group – Word
Librarian Sylvia Hennessie, also from Howard County Library System, advises to change the tense of the information being shared (e.g. “when baby was in the womb”) and ask parents to share more examples of things they have been doing with baby thus far. “Try to elicit more from the group so that the session is even more relatable and reinforces the work they are doing.”
- “Baby Beginnings” Script – as an editable Word document

Materials Checklist for Gathering Your Materials

The Materials Checklist will help you remember to bring everything you need when it’s time to set the room up for your session. It consists of 1) items for the in-house Hatchlings kits; 2) suggested materials (by week) for on-site and virtual programs; and 3) items needed to set up and present the Hatchlings sessions.

Online sessions are not only useful during a pandemic; they can bring together families living far apart in rural areas, families with medical issues, busy parents who cannot take time to physically attend a program at the library or at a partner site, and families who have no means of transportation. Additionally, when used with a translator or in translation, In the Nest can unite new parents who speak the same language (other than English), even if they live in different locations.

Virtual Session Preparation Checklist

During the Session

Consent Form

As participants arrive, ask them to fill out a Consent Form. The best way to do this is by having
them scan the QR Code and complete the form online. A handout that can make this
process easier is available below as a pdf document to use as is, or a Word document if you
want to add your logo or that of your community partner. In case you’ll want to take photos
and videos for documentation and reporting purposes, it is imperative that each attendee
completes a consent form. If you want to use paper copies, you can print the PDF of the form.

QR Codes Linking to Consent Forms and Surveys:

Consent Form Templates:

Consent Form Flyer with QR Codes in English and Spanish
Printed Consent Forms
Online forms are located at: https://forms.gle/weG7dq5hjMWPESd58 but these must be copied onto a Google Form that you create in order for the submitted to be sent to you instead of someone else!

Sign-In Sheet

To keep track of your program, everyone should sign in AT EACH SESSION. If two parents attend, both parents should sign in. The printable PDF for the Sign-In Sheet is below.

Sign -in Shee t (To keep track of who actually attended the program)
Sign-in Sheet as a Google Slide (with editable location and date)

Panels

The In the Nest Panels should be printed out in full color on 11X17 tagboard. The panels were saved at 300dpi which means that they should print out clearly. For the best results:

Check your printer settings. When printing a PDF, beside the print box, there should be a box to check off for “Advanced Printing”. Check it.
Under that, make sure your preset is set to “High Resolution.” You may want to check the other settings on your printer, but that’s what most probably is causing the problem.
If you don’t see a place for checking of 11×17, check out the size of “Tabloid.”

NOTE: It is best to download the files and print them rather than printing them directly from the web, because when you print from the website, it may not be at the resolution of the absolute file. So please download it first, and then check to make sure it is not set to “Down Sampling” and follow the instructions above.

If you do not have a color printer and need to have the panels printed for you, there is an option to purchase them from the MGOL store, here .

To prepare for the session, put the panels in numerical order with the first one at the front of the pile. There is an unnumbered panel to use if you are looking for some questions to spur conversation. Other unnumbered panels have lyrics for songs and rhymes, and can be placed wherever you want to use them. You may or may not choose to use these. If you have a large crowd and the lyrics on the panels are too small for everyone to see, try picking up a panel and walking around the circle with it.

Google Slides Presentation for Virtual Sessions

If you plan on presenting virtual In the Nest programs, use these Google Slides Presentation! The slides are made directly from the panels, but the information from the script has been translated into the notes part below each slide. Downloading the Google Slides version will enable you to edit the script to best fit your presentation style. (I am currently working on making the slides themselves editable, so you can adapt the visuals as well as the text).

Songbook and Audio Files

During the session, ask parents to use their Songbook to sing a song along with you. Give time for them to scan in the QR code with the link to recordings of Hatchlings songs while you are in the room together. That way, there is more likelihood of them actually using the recordings when they are at home! The songbook also has a QR code with a direct link to the Webpage with the songs and rhymes.

In the Nest (New Baby and Me) Songbook with full pages
In the Nest Songbook with printed pages that can be folded in half, to save paper
Recordings of In the Nest songs and rhymes
Videos of some In the Nest songs and rhymes

Here is a 2024 video of Emily Trovato from the Elksridge Public Library in Maryland, running session 2 of their 4 week Hatchlings: In the Nest program (called “New Baby and Me”). A short written introduction precedes each clip, in order to show how each part fits in with the sections of a program.

Video of a February 13, 2024 Hatchlings: In the Nest program

Workshop Evaluation – Surveys

For your convenience, there is an Evaluation Survey whose results can be compiled and publicized. As with the consent form, the easier way for participants to fill out survey is to ask them to
scan the QR Code and complete the survey online. The handout below may make this
process easier. It is available below as a pdf document to use as is, or a Word document if you
want to add your logo or that of your community partner. If you want to use paper copies, you
can print the PDF of the survey. A survey should be filled out after each person’s first program and final program.

Flyer with QRs Codes in English and Spanish linking to the Survey
A copy of the flyer in Word for easy editing (pending)
Printed Surveys PDFs for printing
Online Surveys are at: https://bit.ly/RTH-Session-Eval

“Hatchlings Highlights”

As you begin each session, tell parents that they don’t need to take notes because they will be getting a “Hatchlings Highlights” hand-out with pictures of all panels or slides used during the session to take home with them. This PDF reinforces new information and encourages singing even more!

Hatchlings Highlights: In the Nest (panels in PPT form as a parent hand-out)
“Hatchlings Highlights” for Session 1 (panels in PPT form as a parent hand-out)
“Hatchlings Highlights” for Session 2 (panels in PPT form as a parent hand-out)
“Hatchlings Highlights” for Session 3 (panels in PPT form as a parent hand-out)
“Hatchlings Highlights” for Session 4 (panels in PPT form as a parent hand-out)

After the session:

Self Reflection

Once everything has been put away from your session, spend a few minutes thinking over what you liked the best and what you may have felt challenging. You may want to use this Self Reflection Form to take notes. Before presenting another session, look over your notes; what you read may help you to tweak your presentation to be even better than it was before!

Self-Reflection Sheet

Follow-Up Surveys

If you want to administer follow-up surveys, here are some questions that can be used during her follow-up phone-calls after the program has finished.

Follow-Up Surveys
- A copy of the flyer with QR codes in Word, for easy editing
- The Follow-Up Survey, in print
- Online follow-up surveys are at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/itnfollowupp3

This is a song which can be sung to the tune of “The Wheels on the Bus” or “Mary Had a Little Lamb” which can be used if you are having community partners talking about car seats!

(feel free to substitute “bus”, or “train” or any other type of vehicle.) This song was written by Betsy Diamant-Cohen and Emily Trovato.

Printing Option

Due to a request from a community partner who did not have access to an color printer or photocopier, we are now using the services of BookLogix to print out all necessary materials. To find out more about this option, please visit the Kit section or our store, or click here.

La mamá gansa alza el vuelo con sus pollitos / listos para nacer – Spanish language materials

In the Nest

Original Available PowerPoints

Thank you to Kirsten Grunberg for converting the original English language slides (illustrations as well as text) into these wonderful PowerPoint and substituting new materials and information when needed.

Original Handouts of the PowerPoints

New Available PowerPoints in Spanish

Luz Flores, Children’s Librarian II at the Marilyn J. Praisner Library in Burtonsville, MD, worked with Febe Huezo, Amelia Alapati and Andrea Erickson to create a different set of four PowerPoints for Spanish speakers, that uses more original songs and rhymes without relying on YouTube. They have graciously shared the PowerPoints with us, and they can be downloaded below:

Here is a Spanish Version of the Songbook for Hatchlings: In the Nest.

The Spanish version of Hatchlings is still a work in progress, so if you have any materials that you wish you share, please send them to Betsy at betsydc@mgol.org.

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In the Nest: Materials