Ready for Kindergarten
You are your child’s first teacher.
Looking for something fun to do with your kids? Check out Northern Lights Branch.
Watch previous Branch Buzz and Skill Builder videos here.
Great Books for Kids
Sometimes the most fun adventures are the simplest. Through this highly interactive story, you and your baby can delight in learning about familiar activities and choosing your own fun.
What emotion are you feeling today? Happy, sad, shy, mad; this book works through the many emotions that someone can feel. Through bright illustrations and simple language, your toddler will love to learn to express how they’re feeling!
What does home mean to you? Is it making a delicious meal to share or giggling with your cousins at a sleepover? In this book, you and your child can find out that home is more than just a place to live – it’s the fun and memories you make with the people you love.
Great Websites for Kids
Funology is the ultimate parenting toolbox! We offer ideas you can use to inspire and entertain your kids offline. Simply put, we offer the cure to boredom!
The Sesame Street website has everything a preschooler might need! From games and coloring to short videos and songs your child will be engaged and practicing many important Ready for Kindergarten skills.
Programs for Kids and Caregivers
Stories, songs and fun activities to build reading skills. Ages 0-5.
Hours vary by location; choose your location below.
115 Franklin St.
Family Storytime
Wednesday: 10:30 a.m.
1422 E. Livingston Ave.
Family Storytime
Saturday: 11 a.m.
75 N. High St.
Baby Laptime
Thursday: 10 a.m. & 11 a.m.
Toddler Storytime
Monday: 10 a.m. & 11a.m.
Tuesday: 10 a.m.
Wednesday: 10 a.m.
Preschool Storytime:
Tuesday: 2 p.m.
Wednesday: 11 a.m.
Family Storytime
Tuesday: 11 a.m.
310 Granville St.
Baby Laptime
Monday: 10:30 a.m.
Tuesday: 11:30 a.m.
Wednesday: 9:30 a.m. & 10:30 a.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m.
Summer Storytime
Monday - Wednesday: 9:30 a.m. & 10:30 a.m.
Saturday: 11 a.m.
4500 Hickory Chase Way
Summer Storytime
Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday: 9:30 a.m. & 10:30 a.m.
Baby Laptime
Thursday: 9:30 a.m. & 10:30 a.m.
Family Storytime
Thursday: 7 p.m.
Saturday: 10:30 a.m.
511 S. Hague Ave.
Toddler Storytime
Wednesday: 10:30 a.m.
Preschool Storytime
Thursday: 10:30 a.m.
5590 Karl Rd.
Baby Laptime
Thursday: 11 a.m.
Toddler Storytime
Wednesday: 11 a.m.
Family Storytime
Saturday: 11 a.m.
Preschool Storytime
Tuesday: 11 a.m.
96 S. Grant Ave.
Baby Laptime
Monday: 10:30 a.m.
Thursday: 1:30 p.m.
Toddler Storytime
Tuesday: 10:30 a.m.
Family Storytime
Wednesday, Thursday & Friday: 10:30 a.m.
Saturday: 11 a.m.
Sunday: 1:30 p.m.
200 Market St.
Baby Laptime
Monday: 9:30
Toddler Storytime
Wednesday: 10:30 a.m.
Thursday: 9:30 a.m.
Preschool Storytime
Thursday: 11 a.m.
Family Storytime
Saturday: 11 a.m.
4093 Cleveland Ave.
Preschool Storytime
Wednesday: 11 a.m.
Saturday: 3 p.m.
1423 N. High St.
Baby Laptime
Wednesday: 4:30 p.m.
Family Storytime
Monday: 4:30 p.m.
1113 Parsons Ave.
Baby Laptime
Tuesday: 5 p.m.
1402 Brice Rd.
Baby Laptime
Wednesday: 11 a.m.
Toddler Storytime
Monday: 11 a.m.
Family Storytime
Saturday: 11 a.m.
Preschool Storytime
Tuesday: 11 a.m.
3540 S. High St.
Family Storytime
Tuesday: 10:30 a.m.
3980 S. Hamilton Rd.
Family Storytime
Tuesday & Thursday: 11 a.m.
3909 N. High St.
Baby Laptime
Monday: 10 a.m. & 11 a.m.
Toddler Storytime
Tuesday: 10 a.m. & 11 a.m.
Preschool Storytime
Wednesday: 10 a.m.
Family Storytime
Wednesday: 7 p.m.
Thursday: 10 a.m. & 11 a.m.
Saturday: 10 & 11 a.m.
Sensory Storytime
Friday: 11 a.m. (Registration Only)
4445 E. Broad St.
Family Storytime
Monday: 11 a.m.
Wednesday: 11 a.m.
Virtual Storytime
Join us for books, songs and activities to get your child ready for kindergarten.
Live Storytime at 10 a.m. on YouTube
Thursday: Live Storytime
Hands-on practice of kindergarten readiness skills. Ages 3-5.
Hours vary by location; choose your location below.
75 N. High St.
Wednesday & Thursday:
2 p.m. & 3 p.m.
4500 Hickory Chase Way
Monday:
1 p.m., 2 p.m. & 7 p.m.
Tuesday:
1 p.m. & 2 p.m.
511 S. Hague Ave.
Tuesday:
10:30 a.m.
5590 Karl Rd.
Tuesday:
1 p.m.
96 S. Grant Ave.
Wednesday & Thursday:
11 a.m.
4093 Cleveland Ave.
Monday:
4:30 p.m. & 5:15 p.m.
1402 Brice Rd.
Thursday:
11 a.m. & 2 p.m.
3980 S. Hamilton Rd.
Wednesday:
11 a.m.
Thursday:
5 p.m.
3909 N. High St.
Wednesday:
11 a.m.
4445 E. Broad St.
Tuesday:
11 a.m.
Stop by the children’s area to play and work on fun activities with your child. Ages 0-5.
Hours vary by location; choose your location below.
3227 E. Livingston Ave.
Tuesday & Thursday:
1 - 3 p.m.
1422 E. Livingston Ave.
Wednesday:
10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
1061 W. Town St.
Thursday:
10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
511 S. Hague Ave.
Monday:
10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
1990 Jefferson Ave.
Monday:
10-11 a.m.
1467 E. Long St.
Monday - Thursday:
10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
4093 Cleveland Ave.
Monday & Wednesday:
10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
1423 N. High St.
Tuesday:
10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
1113 Parsons Ave.
Monday:
10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
850 N. Nelson Rd.
Tuesday:
10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
3980 S. Hamilton Rd.
Monday:
11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
4445 E. Broad St.
Monday & Wednesday:
9:30 - 11 a.m.
EVERY MOMENT COUNTS
You have big plans for your child, but it’s the little moments that count. Here are some ideas to help your child succeed.
In partnership with
- Talk
- Read
- Sing
- Play
- Take a “word walk” by naming everything you see. This helps with learning new words.
- As they get dressed, talk about the steps. “First you put on your red shirt, next, you put on your blue pants.”
- Ask your child to tell you a story about anything in their world. Ask questions like, “And then what happened?” to keep your child talking.
- Read or tell stories. Point out pictures, shapes and colors in the book. Ask them what they think will happen next.
- In the car, see if they can find a sign with the letter “s” in it. Point out different shapes and words.
- Ask your child to retell their favorite story or a TV show they watch. Retelling a story will help them remember what they read later on.
- Start a sing-along. Get creative by leaving out words and having them choose the animals or people to insert into songs like, “The Wheels on the Bus” or “Old MacDonald.”
- In the bathtub, sing “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” and have them splash to the rhythm of the song.
- Sing a song from memory with your child. Singing will help your child learn and remember words.
- Blow bubbles and see how many your child can count. Ask your child if the bubbles are big or small.
- Play the game, “I Spy.” Have them pick an item that they can see and you guess what it is.
- Pick a word and create as many rhymes as you can.