Sunny Play - Meet & Play

Sunny Play is back at the Martindale-Brightwood Branch of the Indianapolis Public Library on Wednesday, November 18, from 11 AM to 11:45 AM. It's a meet-and-play session for preschoolers, babies, and toddlers, and it follows Sunshine Storytime, so you can easily string the two together if you're already there for the stories.

The session is open-ended sensory play. They set out loose parts, natural materials, art supplies, and make-believe props, and the kids just dive in. It's a busy, moderately noisy room, and the whole thing is built around the early literacy habits—play, read, talk, sing, and write—that the American Library Association identifies in its Every Child Ready to Read program. It's less about a structured activity and more about letting the little ones explore and figure things out on their own.

They've also thought about the adults. Caregivers get their own table with a calming activity, and there's a chance to mingle with other grownups while the kids are occupied. If you're usually the one doing all the work, it's a nice moment to just sit and chat with other parents in the room.

The Martindale-Brightwood Branch is at 2434 North Sherman Drive, Indianapolis, IN 46218. The branch opened in 2020 in a new building across the street from the previous site, so it's a fresh space. Sunny Play runs from 11 AM to 11:45 AM on Wednesday, November 18.