Family Programs

Bring the whole family in to enjoy programs at the library!

Let’s talk about Summer Reading 2025!

This year’s Summer Reading Program is “Color Our World!” We are developing programs this summer for families based around color, art and fun! Of course, we will have children’s programing and adult programing also this summer.

The most important thing you can do this summer with your family is read. Please enroll your family in this years Summer Reading on Beanstack our reading app that keeps track of what you read and presents the Summer Reading Program challenge. Registration starts May 12th. If you want to know how to register and find out more about our Beanstack app follow our website link: https://silverlakelibrary.org/summer-reading-challenge/

If logging on your phone is not your thing, we will have paper enrollment and reading tracking sheets available.

“Show me a family of readers, and I will show you the people who move the world.”

April Family Fun at the Library!

On April 10th and the library will have after school programs for the whole family to enjoy! (No Sign-up Required)

Thursday, April 10th / 3:30-4:30 – Rain, Recycle, and Grow: An April Showers Celebration!

Thursday, we will be learning all about home composting, painting Ladybug rocks and planting seeds to take home. We have Brittany Laughlin with Shawnee County Keep America Beautiful who will be taking us through the process of in home composting and more.

If you have any questions please email tdeshazo@silverlakelibrary.org.

Why it is important to read to your child.

Syneva Mullins a retired Reading Specialist from Silver Lake tells us that reading with your child builds language skills, exposes them to new words and ways of using language which makes it easier to learn about new subjects once they are in school. From birth babies are hardwired to develop language skills so consistent exposure is key.

What should you read to your newborn? It doesn’t matter the level of reading. It’s about having them hear words, sentences and language.

What should you read to your toddler/preschooler? Choose books your children can relate to. Fun books that make you laugh and/or books that lead to meaningful conversations.

The library is in the process of planning more literacy programs fall of 2025. We will be asking Syneva to join us during these programs to answer questions and give advice.

New at the library are Book Bundles!

Each bundle has 4 hand-picked books based on a theme. Some of the themes are Color, Dogs, Cows, Numbers, Food and Dinosaurs. Come in and check it out.

The 1000 Hours Outside Challenge!

The 1000 Hours Outside Challenge was started by Ginny Yurich with the intention of encouraging kids to match their screen time with outside time. Its purpose is to help kids connect more with the outdoors and nature as easily as they connect with their buddies on Roblox!

The library is incorporating this challenge into the Summer Reading Challenge. When you use Beanstack and start to do your challenges to earn badges you will find that some of the challenges are outdoor activities. If you choose to do the 1000 Hours Outside Challenge with your family you can log the Summer Reading outdoor Challenges on your 1000 Hours Tracker sheet.

The 1000 Days Outside Challenge was made to last a year. But, we are running it from June – October 2024. If you decide to try it do not worry if you dont reach the 1000 hours by October. That is the library deadline not yours. We are planning a celebration in October to motivate everyone to continue going outside for 1000 hours. The library will have a drawing for prizes that are outdoor themed. The biggest and most important thing is that children and families change their lives by spending time together outside.

follow these QR codes to find more information about this challenge and to find free tally sheets for you to use.