Reading aloud lights the fuse; making keeps it burning. When libraries and classrooms combine shared reading with hands-on building, children practice vocabulary, comprehension, spatial reasoning, fine-motor control, and social-emotional skills—all in a single, joyful session. In 2025, public libraries are seeing record program participation and expanding early-learning offerings,… Storytime + Maker Activities – Combining Reading With Creativity
Public libraries—nearly 17,000 locations across the U.S.—are the most accessible learning hubs for families with young children. In 2023, libraries delivered millions of programs and saw tens of millions of visits to storytimes, early-learning workshops, and hands-on activities. That momentum sets… Adapting Little Makers For Rural And Urban Library Settings
For children ages 2–6, the social-emotional engine is revving up: they’re learning to identify emotions, wait turns, cooperate, resolve conflicts, and talk through ideas. Maker learning—kids designing, building, testing, and improving with real materials—turbocharges this growth by pairing hands-on challenges with language-rich, peer-rich play. When little… Maker Learning And Social-Emotional Development For Ages 2–6
Virtual maker programs let children tinker, create, and problem-solve from home while families get a front-row seat to learning. Recent data shows how rapidly early-childhood media habits are shifting—40% of two-year-olds now have a tablet,… Tips for Running Virtual Maker Programs for Young Children
As libraries evolve beyond quiet reading rooms, maker programs have emerged as dynamic hubs of creativity, innovation, and community engagement. Across the United States, public, school, and academic libraries are embracing makerspaces—equipped with 3D printers,… Success Stories: How Libraries Nationwide Run Maker Programs
Making—children designing, building, testing, and improving with real materials—creates the ideal conditions for cognitive growth in the early years (roughly birth to age 8). It naturally blends attention, memory, problem-solving, self-control, and flexible thinking because children must plan, persist, shift strategies, and communicate ideas while their hands are busy. In… The Role of Making In Early Childhood Cognitive Growth
Maker learning is the practice of designing, building, testing, and improving ideas with real materials. Done at home, it nurtures curiosity, perseverance, problem-solving, fine-motor control, and executive function—the mental “air traffic control” needed for focus and self-regulation. When caregivers set up simple conditions… How Caregivers Can Support Maker Learning At Home
Public libraries are uniquely positioned to support early learners (ages 0–8) because they already excel at family engagement, free access, and developmentally appropriate programming. In 2025, library programs for children continue to grow, with more families seeking hands-on, play-based… How Libraries Can Create Low-Cost Maker Spaces For Early Learners
