St. Louis County offers 19 library branches around the area. They volunteer amenities such as interactive children’s areas, private study rooms, and comfortable seating and quiet reading areas.

Public Libraries are not what they used to be. Now these libraries are offering new and innovative programs like Sensory Story Time for families with children on the autism spectrum, Listen Up STL a collection of local music available to stream on the library’s website, and 1000 Books Before Kindergarten, a program designed to give kids a head start in school by encouraging them to read. 

Library Programs For Kids

Here is a short list of some of the many programs they offer for kids. With so many, you are sure to find a few that you and your children will find interesting and fun to check out.

Discovery Zones

Select SLCL branches now feature Discovery Zones for children. These spaces are designed to encourage children to explore, play and learn. The Discovery Zones have several unique features including pneumatic tube displays, interactive light walls and large format touch screens where kids can play games using educational apps.There’s also an area for younger explorers with features designed for small children such as reading nooks, magnetic walls and interactive literacy panels.

Discovery Zones are located at the following locations: 

• Daniel Boone Branch
• Florissant Valley Branch

FLIP Kits

FLIP (Family Literacy Involvement Program) kits are fun, interactive, free of charge and easy to use. Each kit contains a book and activities. FLIP Kits are available for checkout at all St. Louis County Library branches.

Browse the list of available kits. Each kit can be checked out for two weeks.

Kindergarten Prep

Get an overview of what is expected before your child enters the classroom. SLCL offers a Kindergarten Prep workshop for parents and children who will be 5-years-old by July 31, 2019. Families who participate will receive a free backpack, a book and school supplies. Space is limited. Registration required.

Launch Pad, Audio Books & Computers

You can check out Launch Pads, Books on CD, or play games and read on the child friendly computers. The libraries are set up to make learning and reading enjoyable at an early age.

Parent Packs

Parent Packs are designed to help young children and their caregivers have meaningful, age-appropriate conversations about important topics. Each includes books and a resource list on a specific theme, such as First Day of School, Death, Potty Training, Friendship and Where do Babies Come From. Adults are encouraged to read the books first, then share with their children.

The kits can be checked out for two weeks. Packs are geared towards families with children in second grade or younger.

These are available at the following locations: Bridgeton Trails, Cliff Cave, Daniel Boone, Florissant Valley, Grant’s View and Library Headquarters.

Sci-finder kits

Sci-finders kits contain everything parents and kids need to engage in hands-on activities at home. The kits can be checked out for a period of two weeks by anyone with a valid, adult SLCL library card. Each kit comes equipped with learning activities and experiments centered on a variety of science and technology topics.

You can find Sci-finders at:

• Bridgeton Trails
• Cliff Cave
• Daniel Boone
• Florissant Valley
• Grand Glaize
• Grant’s View
• Headquarters
• Indian Trails
• Jamestown Bluffs
• Lewis and Clark
• Prairie Commons
• Samuel C. Sachs
• Thornhill
• Weber Road 

Sensory Story Time

St. Louis County Library offers Sensory Story Time for families with children ages 3-9 who are on the autism spectrum or who have multi-sensory needs. The program provides a welcoming environment for children to enjoy a story and other fun activities.

Story Time

Stories, songs and other fun activities to help develop early literacy skills. Each branch offers different story times geared towards particular ages. There are even lap time story times for those between the ages of 0-36 months.

STEAM

St. Louis County Libraries offers a variety of art and science-related resources and activities for families. Explore all the great programming at your local branch.

• Borrow a Telescope
• Budding Artists
• Discovery Clubs
• Musical Instruments
• Sci-Finders Kits
• STArt @ your Library

We Stories

The We Stories collection at St. Louis County Library features culturally diverse children’s books and discussion kits to help parents initiate conversations about race.

The kits include 4-6 different books, suggested activities and a discussion guide. Each kit is centered on a different theme such as “Everybody Counts,” “Girl Power,” “Celebrating the Skin You’re In” and “Who are the People in Your Neighborhood.” The We Stories kits are designed for parents and children ages 3-8 and can be checked out for two weeks.

Learn more about the We Stories organization at www.westories.org.

1000 Books Before Kindergarten

1000 Books Before Kindergarten encourages families and caregivers to read 1000 books with their young children before they enter kindergarten.

Studies have shown that families who start reading aloud to their children at birth help strengthen language skills and build vocabulary–two important tools when children begin learning to read in kindergarten.

How does it work?

1. Register at any St. Louis County Library branch and take home a reading log.
2. Track your reading by marking a circle every time you read a book with your child.
3. Visit your local SLCL branch each time you read 100 books and receive a sticker. When you reach 500 books, your child will receive a free book and a small prize. When you complete 1000 books, your child will receive a free book, a drawstring bag and other fun items.

FAQs

Can we really read that many books before kindergarten? Yes! If you read one book a day you can complete the program within three years.

Can other people read to my child besides me? Stories read by parents, grandparents, siblings, etc. all count. You can also count books read at story times.

But my child wants to read the same book over and over! The good news is that repetition is important to learning and you can count that book multiple times.

Educator Bundles

Educators interested in requesting books to supplement their collection on a specific topic(s) can complete the form below.

• Requests should be made at least two weeks in advance of needing the material.
• The quantity requested may be altered by staff due to the availability of items in the system.
• Once the material has been gathered a notification will be sent.
• Pick-up and return of the material should be completed by the dates given.

If you have any questions, please contact the Youth Services Department at 314-994-3300 or kidzone@slcl.org.

There is something for everyone at your local public libraries these days. With so many great opportunities for kids, can you imagine what they have lined up for adults! Stop by and check out all that they have to offer. ~ Susie Pea

For more great ideas to do with kids, check out my post on Mud Kitchens. You can teach kids about how animals live with my post on Habitats to Make with Kids. My Christmas Camp post has even more fun packed in! Also read about my Snackle Boxes that I pack for my grandbabies when we are out playing all day.

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