Ready for Kindergarten

You are your child’s first teacher.

Branch Buzz
Hilliard Branch

Looking for something fun to do with your kids? Check out Hilliard Branch.

Skill Builder
Repetition​
Check out this fun at-home activity to help get your child ready for kindergarten.

Watch previous Branch Buzz and Skill Builder videos here.

Great Books for Kids

Leo, Rise and Shine
by Anna McQuinn

Have some fun with McQuinn’s beloved character, Leo! Alongside bright illustrations and engaging language, this title goes through the fun and familiar routine of getting baby ready for the day.

This Little Kitty in the Garden
by Karen Obuhanych

Ever wonder what kinds of trouble a group of cats would get into in a garden? In her second installment of this series, Obuhanych shows us their playfulness and mischievousness through rhymes and hilarious illustrations that will have you and your toddler giggling together!

Eyes that Weave the World’s Wonders
by Joanna Ho

Do you have something that makes you different from others in your family? Through melodic and inspiring language, the narrator describes how being adopted has shaped her outlook on what separates us and, more importantly, what brings us together.

Great Websites for Kids

Science Bob

Science Bob is a great website for those that love science and want to learn more. It has science experiments that can be conducted as well as numerous science experiment videos showcasing experiments others have done. My hypothesis is that you will want to check this website out!

Sesame Street

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

Ready for Kindergarten programs will not be held Dec. 18-Jan. 7.
Check out our Events page for programs during the break.
Ready for Kindergarten Storytimes

Stories, songs and fun activities to build reading skills.​ Ages 0-5.

Hours vary by location; choose your location below.

Programming is currently on break and will restart the week of August 21st.
Address

3434 E. Livingston Ave.

Hours

Family Storytime
Thursday: 10 a.m.

Address

115 Franklin St.

Hours

Family Storytime
Tuesday: 10:30 a.m.
Wednesday: 1 p.m.

Toddler Storytime:
Wednesday: 10:30 a.m.

Address

75 N. High St.

Hours

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
Monday: 2 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m.

Address

4500 Hickory Chase Way

Hours

Baby Laptime
Thursday: 9:30 a.m. & 10:30 a.m.

Toddler Storytime
Monday & Tuesday: 9:30 a.m. & 10:30 a.m.

Preschool Storytime:
Wednesday: 9:30 a.m. & 10:30 a.m.

Family Storytime
Thursday: 7 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m. & 11 a.m.

Address

310 Granville St.

Hours

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.

Toddler Storytime
Monday & Tuesday: 9:30 a.m. & 10:30 a.m.

Preschool Storytime
Wednesday: 9:30 a.m. & 10:30 a.m.

Family Storytime
Saturday: 11 a.m.

Address

4500 Hickory Chase Way

Hours

Baby Laptime
Thursday: 9:30 a.m. & 10:30 a.m.

Toddler Storytime
Monday & Tuesday: 9:30 a.m. & 10:30a.m.

Preschool Storytime:
Wednesday: 9:30 a.m. & 10:30 a.m.

Family Storytime
Thursday: 7 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m. & 11 a.m.

Address

511 S. Hague Ave.

Hours

Toddler Storytime
Wednesday: 10:30 a.m.

Preschool Storytime
Thursday: 10:30 a.m.

Address

5590 Karl Rd.

Hours

Baby Laptime
Thursday: 11 a.m.

Toddler Storytime
Wednesday: 11 a.m.

Family Storytime
Saturday: 11 a.m.

Preschool Storytime
Tuesday: 11 a.m.

Address

96 S. Grant Ave.

Hours

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.

Address

200 Market St.

Hours

Baby Laptime
Monday: 9:30 & 10:30 a.m.

Toddler Storytime
Wednesday: 9:30 & 10:30 a.m.
Thursday: 9:30 a.m.

Preschool Storytime
Wednesday: 1:30 p.m.
Thursday: 11 a.m.

Family Storytime
Saturday: 11 a.m.

Address

4093 Cleveland Ave.

Hours

Preschool Storytime
Wednesday: 11 a.m.

Address

1423 N. High St.

Hours

Baby Laptime
Wednesday: 4:30 p.m.

Address

1113 Parsons Ave.

Hours

Baby Laptime
Tuesday: 5 p.m.

Preschool Storytime
Monday: 11 a.m.

Address

Temporary Location
1308 Brice Rd.

Hours

Family Storytime
Wednesday: 11 a.m.

Address

3540 S. High St.

Hours

Family Storytime
Tuesday: 10:30 a.m.

Family Storytimes on select Saturdays:
1/20, 2/3, 2/17, 3/2, 3/16, 3/30, 4/13, 4/27, and 5/11

Address

3980 S. Hamilton Rd.

Hours

Family Storytime
Tuesday & Thursday: 11 a.m. Family Storytime
Tuesday & Thursday: 11 a.m.

Address

3909 N. High St.

Hours

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: 11 a.m.

Address

4445 E. Broad St.

Hours

Family Storytime
Wednesday: 11 a.m.
Thursday: 7 p.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 

Ready for Kindergarten Classes

Hands-on practice of kindergarten readiness skills. Ages 3-5.

Hours vary by location; choose your location below.

Programming is currently on break and will restart the week of August 21st.
Address

75 N. High St.

Hours

Wednesday & Thursday:
2 p.m.

Thursday:
7 p.m.

Address

310 Granville St.

Hours

Tuesday:
1:30 p.m. & 7 p.m.

Thursday:
10:30 a.m. & 1:30 p.m.

Address

4500 Hickory Chase Way

Hours

Monday:
1 p.m., 2 p.m. & 7 p.m.

Tuesday:
1 p.m. & 2 p.m.

Address

511 S. Hague Ave.

Hours

Tuesday:
10:30 a.m.

Address

5590 Karl Rd.

Hours

Tuesday:
1 p.m.

Address

2223 Cleveland Ave.

Hours

Monday:
11 a.m. & 1 p.m.

Address

96 S. Grant Ave.

Hours

Wednesday & Thursday:
11 a.m.

Address

4093 Cleveland Ave.

Hours

Monday:
4:30 p.m. & 5:15 p.m.

Address

1423 N. High St.

Hours

Monday:
4:30 p.m.

Address

3540 S. High St.

Hours

Saturday:
11 a.m.

Address

3980 S. Hamilton Rd.

Hours

Wednesday:
11 a.m.

Thursday:
5 p.m.

Address

3909 N. High St.

Hours

Wednesday:
11 a.m.

Address

4445 E. Broad St.

Hours

Tuesday & Thursday:
11 a.m.

Play to Learn

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.

Programming is currently on break and will restart the week of August 21st.
Address

3434 E. Livingston Ave.

Hours

Monday & Wednesday:
1 p.m. - 3 p.m.

Address

1422 E. Livingston Ave.

Hours

Wednesday:
10 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Address

1061 W. Town St.

Hours

Thursday:
10 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Address

511 S. Hague Ave.

Hours

Monday:
10 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Address

2223 Cleveland Ave.

Hours

Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday:
10 a.m. - 12 p.m. & 1-3 p.m.

Address

1467 E. Long St.

Hours

Monday - Thursday:
10 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Address

4093 Cleveland Ave.

Hours

Monday & Wednesday:
10 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Address

850 N. Nelson Rd.

Hours

Tuesday & Wednesday:
10 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Address

3980 S. Hamilton Rd.

Hours

Monday:
11 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Address

4445 E. Broad St.

Hours

Monday:
10 a.m. - 12 p.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.

  • 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.

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