• Service Alert All Wichita Public Library locations will be closed Monday, October 14 for a staff in-service training day.

Family Place

At the Advanced Learning Library
Family Place Libraries logo

Come play with us! We've joined the Family Place Libraries network. Families and caregivers of children age six and under will enjoy new experiences at Wichita Public Library. While people know and love our storytimes, we're adding new programs and services specifically for babies, toddlers, preschoolers, parents and caregivers.

The first three years of life are the most important. They build connections and skills that set the stage for learning when children enter school. We're providing special space, new resources, and educational opportunities to help parents and caregivers connect, discover, learn and thrive with their child.

Located inside the Children's Pavilion at the Advanced Learning Library, Wichita Public Library's Family Place is a community destination providing:

  • A specially designed welcoming space for families with young children to explore, play, share books and learn together
  • Collections of books, toys, music and multimedia materials for babies, toddlers, parents and service providers
  • Library staff specially trained in early literacy, child development and family support

Parent Child Workshops

The signature program of the Family Place initiative is a multi-week workshop for toddlers and their parents/caregivers. 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 concerning their child's development each week. You can find a schedule of upcoming workshops and sign up for them in our online calendar.

A parent sits next to a child who is playing with a doll house
Numerous toys including puzzles, puppets, and a bucket of shapes with a lid that the shapes are meant to fit through
A child stands next to a child-sized table and chairs with a colorful stacking toy put together atop the table

Parent TV for Libraries logo

New: ParentTV

With your Wichita Public Library card, you now have access to ParentTV for Libraries! ParentTV offers thousands of on-demand vdeos and courses with content designed to support those who care for children, from infancy to teenage years. More than 40 experts provide research-based advice that is easy to understand via short, smart videos for busy teachers, parents, grandparents, and caregivers.

Log in to ParentTV

Resources for Families and Caregivers

When you talk, read, and sing with your child – even before she can use words – you're building her brain and helping to prepare her for success in school and in life.

But it may not always be easy to talk to babies, especially when they can't talk back. To help, we've pulled fun tips and resources grounded in the best science, to help you talk, read, and sing with your child every day.

Resources from Talking is Teaching

Additional Resources

  
  
EYI Free Play HandoutThe Early Years Institute: Free Play Handout
Milestone Moments bookletMilestone Moments
Tips for FamiliesTalk, Read and Sing Together Every Day: Tips for Families
Fostering Healthy Social and Emotional Development in Young ChildrenFostering Healthy Social and Emotional Development in Young Children: Tips for Families
MilestonesMilestones: Understanding Your Child's Social and Emotional Development from Birth to Age 5
Dual Language Learners - Five Tips for ParentsToo Small to Fail: Dual Language Learners: Five Tips for Parents
Playtime Activities SheetToo Small to Fail: Playtime Activities Sheet

Recursos para Familias y Cuidadores

Cuando habla, lee y canta con su niño, hasta antes de que pueda usar las palabras, usted desarrolla su cerebro y ayuda a prepararlo para el éxito en la escuela y la vida.

Sin embargo, no siempre es fácil hablar con los bebés, en especial cuando ellos no pueden responder. Como ayuda, hemos reunido algunos consejos divertidos y recursos basados en la mejor ciencia, para ayudarle a hablar, leer y cantar con su niño cada día.

Recursos de Hablar es Enseñar

Recursos adicionales PDF

  
  
EYI en españolThe Early Years Institute: Actividades
Indicadores del desarrolloIndicadores del desarrollo
Consejos para las familiasHablen, lean y canten juntos todos los días: Consejos para las familias
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