Play

Children experience and understand the world through play. In addition to being fun, play helps children understand that spoken and written words can represent real objects and experiences.

Programs At Your Library:

1000 Books Before Kindergarten

A free program encouraging all parents and caregivers to read daily to their children, ensuring a solid foundation for when their child reaches kindergarten. Sign up at any Siouxland Libraries branch or online by visiting READsquared.

Your child will receive playdoh after reading 600 books. Sculpting with playdoh lets your child’s imagination run wild, while developing fine motor skills and stimulating conversation about what he/she is building.

Events at Your Library:

Tinker Tots

In this program, explore, create, and learn through STEAM activities. For children ages 3 to 5 and their caregivers. 

Tummy Time

Caregivers will bond with their babies and introduce them to a new environment, sensory experiences, and baby books. Babies will build muscles that prepare them to sit, crawl, walk, and develop muscle control. For ages newborn – 9 months. Registration required.

Wee Read & Explore

Engage your child in learning games and activities inspired by a different book. For children ages 4 to 6 and their caregivers.

Ask your storyteller for more information about these special events:

Parent & Child Workshop

Play, bond, and learn with your child at this five-week program for parents/caregivers and children ages 1 to 3. This fun, informal, play-based program provides a rich environment of toys books, and art activities. Families have the opportunity to spend time together, make new friends, and talk one-on-one with a different community resource professional each week.

The Downtown Library is a proud member of Family Place Libraries. For more information, click HERE. 

Ready, Set, Kindergarten

Starting Kindergarten is a significant transition in your child’s life. In this free six-week program, we will go over the six readiness skills that will help your child feel confident on their first day.

Seasonal Sensory Play

Enjoy the wonders of the season through touch, sight, hearing, and smell. For ages 1-5 and their caregivers.

Services at Your Library:

Toy Lending Library

Siouxland Libraries is a proud supporter of Toy Lending Library of South Dakota. Across all Siouxland Libraries locations, families can borrow toy boxes free of charge for children ages 0 to 5.

Stop by an Siouxland Libraries branch and check out a Toy Lending box. 

More information on the Toy Lending Library of South Dakota.

Play Spaces

Many Siouxland Libraries branches provide toddler rooms, puppet houses, toys, and specially designed play spaces. Free to use during regular business hours. Check out our locations and hours to plan your play date.

AWE Learning Stations

Touch-screen computers loaded with educational content for children ages 2 to 12. Available for in-house use at select Siouxland Libraries locations.

Take-Home Learning Tablets

Children's Learning Tablets feature games and activities that build your child’s early literacy skills. For ages 3 to 5.

Miss Humblebee’s Academy

Miss Humblebee's Academy brings education and fun together while providing parents with the tools to measure a child’s progress. For ages 3 to 6.

World Book Early Learning

Narrated stories, interactive games, original videos, and a visual interactive encyclopedia to help develop and strengthen vocabulary, reading, and other skills.

Learning at Home:

• Give your child unstructured free play. Provide simple, everyday items such as boxes, paper tubes, masking tape, string, markers, and blocks to inspire your child’s imagination and creativity.
• Make time for whole-body play to build gross motor skills. Set up an obstacle course, have a dance party, or play at a park.
• Limit screen time to encourage play. Children learn much more from being engaged in the real world.
• Schedule time for your child to play with others. Children develop an understanding of social expectations and rules through play.