Now that school is back in session, it’s time to make plans to keep your kids busy and out of trouble on Early Out days. We’ve rounded up some of Des Moines’s best activities for keeping kids ages six and up engaged on early school dismissal days. You can keep kids entertained, while you get back to work or whatever else you need to get done.
Des Moines Art Center
4700 Grand Avenue • Des Moines, IA 50312 • (515) 277-4405 • www.desmoinesartcenter.org
The Des Moines Art Center provides art classes on Wednesday afternoons designed for students aged 6 – 8 and 9 – 12. Visit the Art Center’s website to register for the classes.
Grimes Public Library
200 N James Street • Grimes, IA 50111 • (515) 986-3551 • www.grimes.lib.ia.us
Early Out Adventures at the Grimes Public Library provides students with an activity when Dallas Center-Grimes schools dismiss early. The program runs from 1:30-3:30 pm, unless otherwise noted, and activities can range from crafts and food, to movies and video games, to reading marathons! This is a FREE event and no registration is required.
Johnston Public Library
6700 Merle Hay Road • Johnston, IA 50131 • (515) 278-5233 • https://www.johnstonlibrary.com/
The Johnston Public Library hosts an Early Out Book Club for third to fifth graders. Kids will enjoy books, food, friends, and fun! Please call the library to let them know you will be attending this FREE event.
Pioneer Columbus Community Center
2100 SE 5th Street • Des Moines, Iowa 50315 • (515) 248-6316 • http://www.dmgov.org/
Keep your kids busy on Wednesday afternoons (September – May) from 2:00 – 4:45 pm at Des Moines Parks and Rec’s Pioneer Columbus Community Center. This FREE program is for School-Aged Children, ages 12 and up. Scheduled recreational activities include: dodge ball, basketball contests, Boot Camp, EFR – Employee Family Resources programs, Jr Police Fitness Training, Police programming and pizza parties. Call for details on specific programs.
Science Center of Iowa
401 W Martin Luther King Jr Parkway • Des Moines, IA 50309 • (515) 274-6868 • www.sciowa.org
Every Wednesday during the school year, head to SCI from 1:00-5:00 pm to test your problem-solving skills with engineering challenges and unleash your creativity with extended making activities during Studio Time. And don’t forget to catch a live science program or planetarium show!
Waukee Library
950 Warrior Lane • Waukee, IA 50263 • (515) 987-1280 • https://www.waukeepubliclibrary.org/
The Waukee Library hosts their Teen Program on Wednesdays from 1:30 to 3:30. Dubbed “Wild Wednesdays” the Library provides after school fun for sixth to twelfth graders. With a new activity every week like movies, board games, crafts and more, tweens and teens will stay engaged and entertained on early school dismissal days. The program is FREE and there is no registration requirement.
How do you keep your kids entertained on Early Out Days? Let us know in the Comment section below.
