Early Learning Center

The Early Learning Center (ELC), located in the Children’s Department, is a unique space for kids to interact with different learning opportunities. From the Art Studio to the apples trees to the vegetable garden, the ELC is a colorful, interactive place where kids can discover the fun of learning. Come for the storytimes, stay for the arts and crafts, and watch your child get excited about all the hands-on activities within reach.  It’s a one-of-a-kind Waukegan experience that you and your child will come back to again and again.

Tour of the ELC

Art Studio - Come and create a farmyard masterpiece in our Art Studio.

Sound Barn - Press the colored buttons to hear the farm animal sounds and lift the windows to find the animal that has made the sound.

Apple Trees - Place and pick an apple off the tree.

Crawl Space - Little ones will explore the world around them in this interactive, sensory filled Crawl Space.

Maggie the Real Milking Cow-Pretend you are a farmer and learn how to milk Maggie.

Vegetable Garden - Plant pretend play vegetables in the ELC garden.

Take a look at our Farm Fun Grand Opening Party on December 8, 2013!

ELC Programs

Have you visited the Waukegan Library’s Early Learning Center (ELC)—A Children’s Learning Museum right here in Waukegan! It’s open during library hours and free to the public. Chech out our free family programs.

No registration required. Please accompany your child to the ELC programs!  All ELC programs are for 3-5-year-olds and their parent/caregivers, unless otherwise stated.

Storytimes

• Monday

  • Drop-in Storytime - 10:45-11:15 a.m.

• Tuesday

  • Two-Year-Old Storytime - 10:10-10:30 a.m.
  • Drop-in Storytime - 10:45-11:15 a.m.
  • *Los Bilingüitos (4-7 year olds) - 6 to 7 p.m.

• Wednesday

  • Drop-in Storytime - 10:45-11:15 a.m. and 6:30-7 p.m.

• Thursday

  • Babies and Books - 10:10-10:30 a.m.
  • Drop-in Storytime - 10:45-11:15 a.m.

• Saturday

  • Drop-in Storytime - 3:30-4 p.m.

• Sunday

  • *Los Bilingüitos (4-7 year olds) - 3:30-4 p.m.

*Los Bilingüitos - Every week,  a new theme is introduced to children ages 4 - 7.  There is always an element of surprise.  One week there could be a craft project, or a storytime, another week it could be a library scavenger hunt or other games.

Early Learning Center Camps

Free, fun and informative, these camps have at all!  Each features different activities, such as farm animal mystery game to build-a-bug art projects and a preschool sing along.  Recommended for children ages 3 - 5.

• Mondays from 6:30 - 7:00 p.m.

  • February 4:  Let’s Count 1-2-3 - Play a variety of hands-on counting games such as Numbers Ring Toss and create a number crown.
  • February 11:  Valentine’s Day Arts and Crafts - Celebrate Valentine’s Day and make an assortment of art projects such as a glittery heart and a Valentine’s Day necklace.
  • February 18:  Snowy Blowy Shapes - Participate in a number of shape games such as Pin the Shape on the Snowman and create a colorful snowman craft.
  • March 4:  Little Scientists - Come learn what happens when you mix different colors together and take part in a number of science experiments.
  • March 11:  Farm Animal Game Time - Join us for a variety of farm animal games such as Farm Animal Bingo and learn all about the different animals that live on a farm.
  • March 18:  Springtime Arts and Crafts - Celebrate the spring season and make an assortment of art projects such as a flower collage and a springtime headband.

• Tuesdays from 11:30 - 12:00 p.m.

  • February 12:  Valentine’s Day Arts and Crafts - Celebrate Valentine’s Day and make an assortment of art projects such as a glittery heart and a Valentine’s Day necklace.
  • March 12:  Springtime Arts and Crafts - Celebrate the spring season and make an assortment of art projects such as a flower collage and a sprintime headband.

Sensational Sixes & Sevens

Mondays from 6:30 - 7 p.m. Once a month our sensational 6 and 7-year-olds will try a sensational new project!

• January 28:  What Are You Eating? - How healthy are the foods you eat?
• February 25:  Sensational Scavenger Hunt - Put on your thinking cap and find the missing items in the Early Learning Center.
• March 25:  Springtime Arts and Crafts - Create sparkly flower collages and colorful springtime crowns.

Homeschoolers Storytime

Thursdays from 3 - 3:30 p.m. Listen to folk and fairytales from around the world, be the first to hear brand new picture books, poetry, or favorite stories and make a craft related to one of the stories.

Lake County Farm Bureau Programs

Early Learning Tips

• Week 11
• Week 12
• Week 13
• Week 14
• Week 15
• Week 16
• Week 17

Great Books

Choose from thousands of books in the ELC collection specifically designed to help your child read and learn.  Below is just a small example of the wealth of knowledge available to spark your child’s interest and imagination.

Board Books

Picture Books

Early Readers

What People Are Saying about the New ELC…

“The ELC room is a great area for children to enjoy themselves in a safe area. While at the same time they are constantly learning about the different theme they change every year. The ELC room educates, entertains, and definelty motivates children as well as parents to bring their children to the fun activities the library provides.”– Elizabeth Cordova 

“My kids never want to leave. There’s plenty to keep them playing and learning for hours.” – Christy Porter

“There is nothing like this at any other library. My grandchildren can’t wait to visit and use all the wonderful learning centers. It is presented in a way they have no idea they are learning. It is always well kept and the staff is very helpful and encouraging.”

“The ELC is more fun then McDonald’s Play Land.” – Naomi Adams

ELC in the News

On November 2, 2008, the Waukegan Public Library unveiled its new Early Learning Center (ELC), a hands-on environment where the children of Waukegan have a place to actively learn. Modeled in part after the Kohl’s Children’s Museum in Glenview, the ELC provides five stations—music, nature, science, craft and pretend play—each with theme-related books easily within reach.

www.schoollibraryjournal.com