Early Childhood Services for Pennsylvania Libraries

Play & Grow is a Pennsylvania Libraries initiative designed to enhance the capacity of small and rural libraries to support families with young children, from birth to age five. The program emphasizes the importance of early learning, family engagement, and the creation of community spaces that promote play and development.

Program Objectives:

• Early Childhood Development: Equip library staff with knowledge about early brain development and stages of play, enabling them to offer programs that support holistic growth in infants and toddlers.
• Family Engagement: Promote active family involvement by providing resources and training that highlight the critical role of families in early literacy and learning.
• Supportive Community Spaces: Help libraries design welcoming environments that encourage play and learning, making libraries vibrant destinations for families with young children.

Key Components:

• Professional Development: Deliver training on topics such as early brain development, trauma-informed practices, social-emotional learning, and mindfulness.
• Resource Allocation: Supply libraries with curated materials and financial support to develop engaging spaces and programs for early childhood.
• Community Collaboration: Build partnerships between libraries and families to create a unified support system for early learning and development.
• Developmentally Appropriate Collections: Guide library staff in selecting and organizing materials that are aligned with developmental milestones, ensuring that resources support early learning and growth at every stage.
• Station-Based Learning Opportunities: Provide library staff with insights on the developmental benefits of station-based learning activities, helping them design engaging, hands-on experiences for young children.
• Professional Networking and Collaboration: Facilitate opportunities for library staff to connect with colleagues across the state, fostering a collaborative environment where best practices in early childhood programming are shared and discussed.

Impact:

Since its inception, Play & Grow has empowered libraries to transform their services and spaces, leading to greater family engagement and enriched early learning opportunities. Participating libraries have created more welcoming environments and have developed a deeper understanding of the needs of young children and their families.

Future Prospects:

Play & Grow continues to grow, with plans to include additional libraries in future cohorts. This expansion aims to ensure that more communities can benefit from enhanced early learning resources and supportive library spaces. Please watch the Compendium for updates on Play & Grow opportunities.

Play & Grow is supported by federal funds from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA).