Kid friendly businesses, organizations and services in the Des Moines area.
Whether you live in Ankeny, Altoona, Clive, Des Moines, Grimes, Indianola, Johnston, Urbandale, Waukee, Windsor Heights, West Des Moines or beyond, find the local resources your family needs in in the dsm4kids Directory!
While all submissions are considered, inclusion in the Directory is based on relevance. Businesses or organizations outside of Central Iowa or primarily geared toward adults may not be listed.
If you are a business or organization and would like to submit a directory listing, please click on Submit Business Listing.
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The Franklin Avenue Library, on Des Moines’ west side, serves the needs, wants, and tastes of our patrons with a collection of over 100,000 items. Our many media formats include books, audiobooks, music CDs, DVDs, magazines, and electronic resources, as well as over 40 Internet stations for easy online access. Let our knowledgeable staff help you find the items you are looking for, or recommend a title to try. Whether it’s information or entertainment that you seek, the Franklin Avenue Library wants to help satisfy your desires.
Greenfields is fundamentally different from traditional schools because students are in control of their own learning. How Greenfields is different:
Student-driven, self-paced learning
Real-world projects and apprenticeships
Multi-age/grade classes
Student self-governance
Exploration and assessment of skill levels, learning styles, aptitudes, personality traits, and interests
Guides rather than teachers
Socratic discussions rather than lectures
Mastery learning and student portfolios of achievements rather than grades
No homework
No teaching to the test
The Grimes Public Library is a comfortable and productive place to connect with the community in person and online.The library provides free and equally available resources and services to: promote reading readiness and encourage the love of reading;provide access and guidance for information technology;support life-long learning; and stimulate imagination through reading, viewing and listening for pleasure.
The Hoover Library & Museum enables visitors to experience for themselves the many sides of Iowa's only president:
The permanent galleries begin with Hoover's boyhood in Iowa and continue on to the Waldorf Towers in New York where he spent the final years of his life.
The Quarton Gallery offers exciting temporary exhibits relating to American history.
In the Hoover Library people of all ages can learn about President Hoover's life and career. Using manuscripts, photographs and oral histories, one can learn the stories of our history.
The Hoover Museum sits on the grounds of the Herbert Hoover National Historic Site where visitors can tour:
Mr. Hoover's birthplace cottage
a blacksmith shop
Quaker Meeting house
school house
the gravesite of Mr. and Mrs. Hoover
The Indianola Community School District, in collaboration with the greater Indianola community, is committed to educational excellence for each and every student.The goal of the school district is to provide the best possible opportunities for its students in order to maximize their learning.
The Library offers public computers,story times, book clubs, eBooks, and audiobooks. And books, of course! Located just off The Square, we are happy to answer your questions and provide a place for you to meet your neighbors or just sit and read for awhile.
Iowa School for the Deaf is a pre-K to 12th grade school for deaf and hard-of-hearing students located in Council Bluffs, Iowa. It serves students who live in Iowa or Nebraska.
Planetarium located in Physics Hall on Iowa State University Campus.
Astronomy Seminars are generally held on Friday afternoon from 4:10-5:30 P.M. in Room 3, Physics Hall. Special Seminars may be held at different times, so please check the event listings for complete details.
The Planetarium regularly hosts shows that are open to the public. The first show, starting at 6:30 p.m. will be 20 minutes and for kids. Shows at 7 and 7:30 p.m. and are suitable for all ages. Tickets will be available at the door starting at 6:15 p.m. Seating is limited. Weather permitting there will be an outdoor observing session after the last show.
