Harper Tempalski, 6, checks out the “Bugging Out on Books” bag she received at the South Butler Community Library with her mother, Nicole Tempalski, and her 4-year-old brother, Lachlan, Wednesday.

The Butler County Early Care & Education Council couldn't hold its usual Week of the Young Child event in person this year, but a modified program will allow the celebration to last the entire week.

Julie Thumma, Lifesteps coordinator for the county Early Care & Education Council, said 360 “Bugging Out on Books” bags were created and distributed to the county's nine libraries.

Children ages 8 and younger and their parents are invited to pick up a bag at their local library through Friday.

In addition to books and other items, the bags contain a large tweezer-like tool, and games and activities in which the children can use the tool.

Thumma explained that the idea is to improve the fine motor skills of the kids who receive the bags.

“As the use of technology increases, kindergarten teachers are reporting a decrease in fine motor skills, which impacts writing,” she said.

To communicate with the families who would have attended an in-person Week of the Young Child event, the county Early Care & Educational Council devised a plan to hold a 14-day virtual learning event that begins on Saturday.

Various community agencies created videos containing activities for children that correlate to items in the Bugging Out on Books bags, advice for parents on healthy snacks and each principal in the Butler Area School District reading a story to children.

Seven virtual playrooms related to early literacy will be available on springtime bugs, music and movement, speech and hearing, health and hygiene, nutrition and other areas of child development, Thumma said.

The virtual learning event is sponsored by the county Human Services Department and Butler Area Public Library.

On Wednesday afternoon, Nicole Tempalski of Penn Township brought her children Harper, 6, and Lachlan, 4, to the South Butler Community Library to collect a Bugging Out on Books bag.

“It's helping them to find their love for reading and learning,” Tempalski said.

She said she plans to participate in the virtual learning event with Harper and Lachlan as well.

“I think it's great that they implemented something for this time (during the pandemic),” Tempalski said. “It will keep them involved.”

Michelle Lesniak, library director, said the library celebrates the Week of the Young Child each year.

“It's an opportunity to reach into the community even more than normal,” Lesniak said.

She is thrilled that instead of one day, the virtual learning event will last for two weeks.

Lesniak said the Bugging Out on Books bags have been a hit.

“It's something (children) can have at home and use over and over,” she said. “We find the parents really enjoy that.”

Established in 1971, Week of the Young Child promotes the needs of young children, their families and the early childhood programs that serve them.

The county Early Care & Education Council is a community collaboration focused on supporting school readiness. It is coordinated through Lifesteps of Butler County.

For more information on the county's Week of the Young Child events, call 724-283-1010, ext. 310 or visit lifesteps.net/ecec.