Registration is required for most of our children’s programs. To sign up, call 515.222.3405, stop in, or visit our online calendar, where you can click on a storytime title for more information, handouts, resources, or the online registration form.
Lapsit Time
Rhymes, songs, puppets and a short story for children 1 month through 18 months old with an adult. Each week we will introduce early literacy skills through rhymes, songs and play ideas that are easy to incorporate in baby’s everyday activities. We will be focusing on sensory stimulation, animal sounds, fine and gross motor skills and of course FUN!
Mother Goose Time
Stories, rhymes, flannelboards, gentle tunes and puppets for children 6 months old through 2 years with an adult. Each week Betsy will incorporate rhymes and songs that emphasize and reinforce body part identification, counting, rhythm, sensory stimulation, fine and gross motor skills, and animal sounds.
Family Storytime
Picture books, action rhymes, flannelboards, puppets, and songs for the whole family! This program meets in the large Community Room at the front of the library, so there is plenty of room for strollers, parents, and siblings. Each week Nate will incorporate movement, rhyming, stories, and FUN! Classes are offered at two times – one includes a craft and requires registration; the ”drop-in” program does not include a craft and registration is not required. Although all ages (with an adult) are welcome at both classes, we ask that only ages 2 to 6 sign up for the registered program so that we may prepare for the appropriate number of crafts.
Preschool Storytime
Join Jenna and Oliver the sheep dog in our Storyroom for loads of stories, flannelboards, movement rhymes, and music! Each week we will focus on a specific early literacy skill and provide tips and tricks for parents and caregivers to try at home. Our ”drop-in” program is open to kids of all ages and registration is not required. The regular Preschool Storytimes are for ages 3-6 (including children not yet in preschool and any half-day kindergarteners!); registration is required to help us prepare our crafts for those sessions.
Nighty-Night Storytime
Nighty-Night Storytime follows the same format as our Family Storytime. This program is a drop-in session (no registration) for all ages and takes place Monday evenings in the Storyroom.
We also have a variety of monthly programs for school age children! Each of these programs meets at least once a month. Registration is required for all of these programs. To sign up, call 515.222.3405, stop in, or visit our online calendar, where you can click on a program title for more information and the online registration form. You can also check our calendar to see if there are any other programs for older kids happening!
Lego Club
What CAN’T you build with Legos??!!? Join Nate in the Community Room and put your best block building skills to the test! Nate will even have a building challenge for you if you think you can handle it. For ages 5 – 12. Please only register for one Lego Club each month. Thank you!
Kids Club Read
If you like to read and talk about books, this club is for you! Each month we will have a short discussion then do an activity related to the book. Some of the activities we have used in the past include: Jeopardy, Minute to Win It challenge, writing or drawing. Register at the children’s desk or call 515-222-3405.
Kids Knitting!
Are you interested in learning how to knit? Bring your needles and yarn and join us at the library! Together we will learn the basic skills of the craft and introduce beginning projects. For ages 8-12.
Tales with Tails
Strengthen your reading skills with a 4-legged friend! The West Des Moines Public Library invites your child to read to a certified therapy dog and build his/her confidence as a reader. For ages 6-12.
