Early Learning Services at Queens Public Library (0-5)

Early Learning Services at Queens Public Library

Specially designed for little ones, ages 0-5 years old and their families, QPL's Early Learning programs create a welcoming, joyful environment for young children to learn, play, and grow. Parents and caregivers are also offered the tools to raise children who love reading and learning, with useful resources, informational support, hands-on activities, and much more—helping you to become the very first teacher in your child's life.

QPL Baby

Welcoming a new baby is a major life event which impacts individuals and families in different ways. With over 60 locations, Queens Public Library is committed to being there for you and your little one every step of the way! Our completely free offerings, especially designed for expecting parents and new families, provide access to valuable programs, services and resources, including health workshops, dedicated support groups, and engaging educational programs for both caregivers and their little ones.

Baby Basics: A virtual 3-part workshop series which provides education and support to pregnant people and new parents of babies under 2 months old. Baby Basics presents information on ways to have a healthy pregnancy, how to prepare for your baby's arrival, and how to care for a newborn once your baby has arrived. We host sessions 4 times a year in February, May, August, and November.

New Mamas Virtual Support Group: A virtual weekly support group for moms of babies under 12 months, which meets year-round on Fridays from 12:30pm to 1:30pm, with a break during the summer and winter seasons. Led by a postpartum doula, the group is designed to cover different topics at each session, such as breastfeeding, sleeping, playing, milestones etc. This support group is a valuable space for receiving resources, guidance, and support.

Learn more or register for Baby Basics or New Mamas Virtual Support Group by email at EarlyLearning@queenslibrary.org.

Learn more about QPL Baby.

Librarian-Led Storytimes

With over 60 locations across Queens, we offer storytimes featuring books, songs, fingerplays, and more activities carefully, selected by our team of knowledgeable librarians, to delight young children at various stages of their development.

These programs are designed to introduce parents and caregivers to the five early literacy practices: playing, reading, singing, talking, writing. Attendees will learn how to replicate them at home. We offer storytimes in English as well as bilingual storytimes in English and Spanish, Mandarin, Bengali, Polish, Russian, or Kreyol. Contact your local library or visit our calendar to find a storytime that is right for your child.

Visit our calendar to browse storytimes across Queens.

Toddler Learning Centers (TLCs)

Designed to serve the needs of toddlers ages 1 - 3 years old and their caretakers, TLC is hosted in-person at approximately 30 QPL locations across the borough twice a year in the spring and fall.

Over the course of 5 weeks, this dual-learning program combines social and emotional learning experiences for toddlers with introductions to child specialists for caregivers. Toddlers will play with a variety of toys while their caretakers will get the chance to chat with a professional in the fields of parenting and caregiving, early literacy, nutrition, speech development, and gross motor movement.

Learn more about Toddler Learning Centers.

Kickoff to Kindergarten (K2K)

Designed for 3- and 4-year-old children and their caretakers, and their caretakers, K2K is hosted both in-person and virtually several times a year, with translation support in Mandarin Chinese and Spanish.

Over the course of 7 weeks, this dual-learning program focuses on increasing pre-literacy skills in young children, while giving their caregivers the tools they will need to help support their child in learning how to read. Young children are invited to grow their early literacy skills through storytimes, games, activities centered around literacy and reading, and more, to help kick-off a lifelong habit of reading. Meanwhile, parents and caregivers are empowered to feel confident in their teaching skills as they support their child's development, through the modeling of the dialogic reading method, a way for them to talk with their child about what they read together.

Learn more about Kickoff to Kindergarten (K2K).

Lantern

Lantern is a text messaging service to help you on your parenting journey with easy, practical tips and information for parents & caregivers covering tantrums, nutrition, brain-building activities, local events, and much more! Messages are timed exactly to the child’s due date or date of birth from pregnancy to preteen.

1000 Books Before Kindergarten

The 1000 Books Before Kindergarten program introduces families to the library and provides a fun, family reading challenge with incentives along the way. Learning how to read begins before children enter school and parents and caregivers are a child’s first teachers. Reading together is a bonding experience and sets into motion a life-long love of reading. Join the challenge and support your child's reading journey.

Participating Locations

Early Learning Spaces

Visit one of our fun, nurturing spaces for little ones! Young children and their caregivers are invited to play and interact with age-appropriate books and toys within select library locations. Be sure to contact the branch before you visit to find out when the early learning space has toys available.

Participating Locations