Have you ever taken your child to your local library to play? Kansas City has so many wonderful libraries with incredible children’s areas. My 3-year-old and I love exploring different libraries to see what each one has to offer. Here are five of our favorite libraries that you should try to visit soon!
Mid-Continent Public Library: Green Hills | 8581 N. Green Hills Rd., Kansas City, Mo.
The Green Hills branch is one of my favorite spots to take my son because it truly has something for every child. The children’s area is spacious and filled with unique features that make each of our visits special. My son’s favorite part is the fruit cutouts in the wall—he loves reading in the apple, working on puzzles in the orange and climbing as high as he can in the banana. Once he’s made his way through each fruit, he heads straight for the play kitchen, where he usually gets to interact with other children since it’s so big. Once he’s done in the kitchen, we move over to the coloring table, where there’s always a big sheet of paper or coloring pages waiting. One of the things my son loves to do the most at this library is play on the computers, which have a great selection of educational games. He tries new games each time we visit, but his favorites are digital painting and musical instruments.
Pro Tip: Before we leave, we always make a stop at Novella Cafe. I like to treat myself to an iced latte, and my son looks forward to picking out a pastry. It’s the perfect way to end our library visit.
Kansas City Public Library: Central | 14 W. 10th St., Kansas City, Mo.
Whenever we’re looking to spend a couple hours at a library, our first choice is always the Central branch in downtown Kansas City. We park in the library garage, cross the street and head straight up to the children’s area on the second floor. As soon as we walk up the book-themed stairs, my son makes a beeline for the pretend ice cream shop, which is the first thing he plays with anytime we visit. We’ve been coming to this library for years and it’s still one of his favorites.
This library is a dream for children who love pretend play and building. My son bounces between magnetic tiles, Lego Duplo blocks, train tracks, puppets and more! After plenty of playtime, we move on to coloring, computer games and picking out books. Between the board books, easy readers and picture books, we always find books that we enjoy.
Pro Tip: One of the things I appreciate most about this library is that the entire second floor is dedicated to children, so grown-ups don’t need to worry about their children being too loud during playtime. No visit is complete without a stop at The Nook, the first-floor coffee shop run by The Prospect KC culinary students.
Kansas City Public Library: Plaza | 4801 Main St., Kansas City, Mo.
Another Kansas City Public Library we love for playtime is the Plaza branch. The moment we step into the children’s area, we’re greeted by beautiful floor-to-ceiling windows that fill the space with natural light, creating a warm and inviting experience. One of the first things my son goes for are the building toys, especially the jumbo blocks. There’s plenty more to explore, including puppets, puzzles and activity cubes, which are perfect for younger babies.
Pro Tip: A visit to this library means a stop at one of our favorite spots for a treat. You can’t go wrong with frozen yogurt from Yogurtini or a pastry and coffee from Mildred’s!
Bonner Springs City Library | 201 N. Nettleton Ave., Bonner Springs
If your child loves trains as much as mine does, the Bonner Springs City Library is the perfect place to visit. The first time we walked in, my son was thrilled to see that the entire children’s section is train-themed: there’s a train busy wall, a train table and the family restroom is in a train caboose.
In addition to the train-themed fun, this library also has a play kitchen, puzzles and plenty of board books that are easy for young children to pick up and read. We spent almost two hours at the library the first time we visited because my son was having so much fun playing. He’s already looking forward to our next visit!
Pro Tip: To make the most of your trip, I recommend heading to historic downtown Bonner Springs. Our go-to spot there is Third Space Coffee, where we enjoy delicious coffee and yummy pastries while my son plays with the toys in the children’s area.
Olathe Public Library: Indian Creek | 16100 W. 135th St., Olathe
There is so much to see at the Indian Creek branch. Every time we visit, my son runs straight to the bubble wall, mesmerized by the floating bubbles and changing colors. Once we’re done checking out the bubbles, he heads over to the spacious children’s area. The two playhouses are always a hit and give kids plenty of opportunities for pretend play. With plenty of toys to choose from and a giant rug area that is perfect for young babies, there is something for every age.
Pro Tip: When we’re done playing inside, we head out to Indian Creek Park, which is just steps away from the library doors. This inclusive playground makes it easy for my three-year-old to play and explore!
Taylor Seidel is a toddler mom who enjoys exploring and searching for the best kid-friendly places and activities in the Kansas City area. You can follow Taylor on Instagram at @kc.mom.adventures for more recommendations.