Early Childhood Education
The libraries in Washington County are working to prepare area children for a lifetime of success as part of our mission to inspire lifelong learning and strengthen our communities.
Children who participate in programs at their local library start to learn the skills they will need to be successful in school in an environment where they are comfortable and familiar. Parents are present while they learn social skills such as interacting with other kids, listening to a teacher and how to form a line. In addition, these programs are designed and presented by trained staff to meet Early Educational Standards, the same type that they will be meeting when they start formal school. Kids who are successful in school, make better community members.
Story Times
Story Times in many libraries start with babies through toddlers and go through pre-K. These students are taught skills at an age appropriate level at weekly programs. For an exact schedule, contact your local library.
Summer Quest
Summer Quest is the new name for what used to be called the Summer Reading Program to better reflect the total learning that is taking place. There are often extra programs offered for kids from Story Time age through teens, in addition to having special presenters come into the library. For more information, contact your local library.
Book Flix and Science Flix
Even when your kids cannot come into the library, there are still resources to help them learn from home. Book Flix is a website that is paid for through the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania that reads alound a story word by word, while showing you the pages. It comes with fiction and fact stories in pairs so that kids can hear a story, then learn more about it. To access Book Flix, please go to your local libraries resources page.
Science Flix is a website that gives slightly older kids the ability to read articles and view videos about a wide range of scientific topics. Science Flix is paid for through funding provided by Budd Baer Subaru as a part of their Share the Love campaign. Click here to visit Science Flix.