Talk

Children listen to and learn the language they hear around them. Talk with your child using interesting words, and encourage your child to talk by asking open-ended questions.

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 bubbles after reading 200 books. Blowing bubbles develop visual tracking skills in small babies, eye-hand coordination in older babies, and helps toddlers’ lips and mouths to form words. 

Events at Your Library: 

Ask your storyteller for more information about these special events. 

Book Walk with Storyland Theatre

Walk a path lined by the pages of a story at McKennan Park. Enjoy a Storyland Theatre performance based on skits familiar and not so familiar. These shows focus on children’s stories, beliefs, and everyday happenings. All ages welcome.

Puppet Show

Bring to life and spark imagination in children through creative drama. Join Siouxland Libraries puppeteers as they use puppet characters to narrate a story. Recommended for ages 3 years and older and their caregivers.

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.

Zoo Mobile

Children of all ages can meet four ambassador animals in this presentation from the Great Plains Zoo.

Services at Your Library: 

Stories to Go

These themed kits include everything needed for storytime at home: books, puppets, DVDs, and an activity guide.

WonderBooks and Vox Books

These are children’s picture books with a ready-to-play audiobook already inside. It’s never been more fun to read along!

Learning at Home:

• Tell stories. Talk about where you live and the people you care about. Tell your child about what happened at work, what you heard on the radio, or what you saw on the news. Encourage your child to tell stories, too.
• Play a listening game. Go outside and notice the sounds around you. Describe what you hear using a variety of words.
• Practice following directions. Tell your child two things to complete in one sentence. Ex: “Hop to the closet and grab your shoes.” Try to tell them three things to complete. Ex: “Run up the stairs, jump three times, and then give me a high five.”
• Ask your child questions about the pictures in a book, the objects in a room, or what you see outside on a road trip.
• Build on what your child says. If he says “ball,” you can say, “That’s your big, red ball.”