Ames Free Library

"Where the Community Connects"

Kids

Program Updates: DinoMan show TONIGHT!

Watch DinoMan’s DINOSAURS show on Zoom tonight, Monday, July 6, at 6:00 PM!

Fossils, magic, and science are blended into a fun 35- to 40-minute program. You’ll be taken on a trip through the Mesozoic era to learn about which dinosaurs lived at that time, and what kind of fossil record they left behind. What is a fossil anyway, and how were they made? This is a fun and informative program for all ages. 

Family Fun: Imagine Your... Escape Room?

Looking for a different kind of family activity? Check out our virtual quizzes and escape rooms based on our summer Imagine Your Story theme! 

Every other Monday, there will be a new quiz focused on some imaginative theme, and the following week there will be a virtual escape room to explore based on the same subject. Throughout the summer, you’ll explore space, gain superpowers, conjure up some magic, commandeer a pirate ship, and tame mythical creatures. 

Early Literacy Activities: PLAY

When a child is engaging in dramatic play, she is also learning how to tell a story. The older she gets, the more elaborate her stories become - but even toddlers who start to create make-believe with their toys are telling stories! When a stuffed animal gets tucked into bed - there’s a story behind it. When the truck rolls over a cardboard box - there’s a story behind it. When he tells you what happened first, what came next, and how it all ended, he’s just told a story! 

Program Updates: ReadSquared Missions

Have you signed up for summer reading yet? Do it now! It’s all online, so you can sign up, record your reading, and select your prize beads (kids up to age 12) or raffle tickets (teens and adults) right from your device!

Once you’re logged in, check out all fun extras! Follow your reading progress on the game board, play mini-games, enter codes to earn fun badges (you’ll find those with some program links), and look for your personal secret missions!

Program Updates: Mr. Wayne kicks off Family Fun Events!

Although our summer events look different this year, we are still hosting a variety of family and children’s activities and events. The Family Fun events that are usually held in our garden will instead be held in YOUR garden (or living room)! Our traditional season opener, Mr. Wayne Potash, will host a Zoom concert tonight, Monday, June 22 at 6:00 PM. If you miss the live event, you can watch the recording for two weeks following the event (through Monday, July 6).

Early Literacy Activities: READ

Lazy days of summer are perfect for spreading out a blanket in the shade and sharing some books with your baby. Picture books – even those written for very young children – are perfect for building your little one’s vocabulary, which in turn expands their entire world view. You might not use the word gigantic in everyday speech – but it’s in that story you just read about a dragon! Your little ones are hearing words from books that they won’t hear anyplace else at this age.

Pages

Subscribe to RSS - Kids