At Johnson County Public Library, one of our core values is supporting life-long learning for our community.
This includes traditional learning — picking up a book or taking an online class offered through JCPL’s digital resources — but what does it look like for our youngest residents? If you visit our libraries today, you can expect to see small children enjoying interactive, hands-on learning in our Play and Learn Spaces.
Our children’s spaces are designed to incorporate the five practices of Every Child Ready to Read: reading, singing, talking, writing, and playing. These five easy practices are activities we can do each day to help our little ones gain the skills they need to learn to read. We include play spaces in our libraries to provide families with new opportunities for play-based learning. Plus, JCPL’s Play and Learn Spaces are a great place to gather together and meet new friends!
Play is a vital part of a child’s development. It helps build literacy skills, supports social and emotional development, and increases vocabulary. You may not realize it, but as you play with your child, you are not only helping them learn how the world works, you’re also getting them ready for success in the kindergarten classroom.
Our newest Play and Learn Space recently opened at the Trafalgar Branch at the beginning of August. Designed to honor the rural nature of southern Johnson County, we’ve included elements of the beautiful natural surroundings, including the native prairie and honey bees on the property. Children can explore a barn, pick fruits and vegetables on the farm, make purchases at the farmers market, and cook something delicious to serve at the café. According to one of our recent visitors, this space “sparks creativity and curiosity and is a must-visit for every family.”
Head to the Clark Pleasant Branch’s Exploration Walk if you want more outdoor play before summer ends. This space, funded by the Rotary Clubs of Johnson County, is outside the Library along the trail. Kids can make music with musical flowers, practice gross motor skills by walking on a balance beam, or learn how plants grow in the imagination greenhouse. During the summer months, stop by the water table, but don’t forget your towels.
If the weather isn’t cooperating, head on inside to visit the Play, Learn, and Grow space in the children’s department. The giant Everbright board is especially popular.
Play is an important component in all our branches. In these spaces, families gather, sometimes for hours, while they read together, imagine, build, create, and learn. We have embraced the importance of play in building literacy skills, inspiring curiosity, and fostering the confidence needed to navigate the world.
Fred Rogers, the creator and star of the children’s television show “Mr. Rogers Neighborhood,” once said, “Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children, play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood.”
At JCPL, we’re proud to provide these joyful places for children to play, learn and grow.
Sarah Taylor, is the Assistant Director of Johnson County Public Library. JCPL staff members share in writing this twice-monthly column for the Daily Journal. Send comments to [email protected].
