For Parents
Library Resources for Parents and Caregivers
Parents and other adults play important roles in children’s development. Stable relationships and safe, age appropriate environments are essential to healthy human development.
These pages are designed to help parents and providers find information about important child development topics and resources including developmental milestones, social and emotional development, early learning, promoting cultural diversity and inclusion, health and safety, teaching materials and learning activities, curricula, and book distribution lists.
Resources
1,000 Books Before Kindergarten
Make a commitment to read 1,000 books with your child before he or she starts Kindergarten, and track their progress with this self-paced early literacy program. Learn more …
‘All In’ at Kalamazoo Public Library
The ‘All In’ collection at Kalamazoo Public Library provides parents and caregivers with tools to help children to resist bias, plus useful information about how to talk to young children about difference. Learn more …
KPL is a Family Place Library
Children’s librarians nationwide believe that literacy begins at birth, and that libraries can help build healthy communities by nourishing healthy families. Family Place Libraries are committed to developing a family-centered approach to library services. Learn more …
TALK
Sign up today by texting TALK to 75547. Parents of children aged five and under can sign up and receive 8-10 messages per month with fun activities you can do at home to prepare little ones, for school success. Learn more…
Parenting Resources
KPL staff-selected resources — books, websites and more — to provide parents and caregivers with tools and information to cope with a wide range of challenges; from child development, health, and learning, to social and governmental issues. Learn more …
Talking, Reading and Singing to Our Children Helps Their Brains Grow from Kenneth Rainin Foundation.
“By talking, reading and singing to our kids, we will help children become kindergarten ready and prepared to succeed in life. This video tells the story of the parents and caregivers who are using daily simple actions, such as describing objects seen during a bus ride, singing songs, reading aloud, or telling stories to significantly improve their babies’ ability to build vocabulary and boost their brain development. Learn more about our work at: krfoundation.org/education”