Literacy playgrounds provide fun space for children at Winnipeg libraries

Kids don't have to keep quiet at the library anymore — at least, not when they're playing at family literacy playgrounds popping up in Winnipeg's library branches.

The Millennium Library downtown is the latest branch to open a literacy playground, which features interactive, educational play structures that develop young children's literacy and numeracy skills.

"It's really about learning through play and discovering that the public library is a place of fun, activity and reading," Rick Walker, the city's manager of library services, said at the official launch on Thursday.

"Certainly the research shows that there's a lot of merit to learning through play and learning through discovery, and that's what the public library is all about."

Letters, numbers, shapes, animals and plants are among the things children can learn about on the play structures. And, of course, there are plenty of books on hand for kids to read.

"This is the third of many that will be rolling out across our system," Walker said of the new playground at the Millennium Library.

"We currently have them at our Charleswood and our Fort Garry library [branches], and later this summer we will also have literacy playgrounds at our Henderson and our St. James branches. Ultimately, all of our branches will have these playgrounds."