The Directory
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 library's mission is to nurture the early learning experiences of young children and their families; support lifelong learning and enjoyment of all community members; and provide a comfortable and welcoming place for people to meet and grow.
Educating and enriching students of all ages in dance as a form of art, expression, discipline and a fun way to achieve fitness!
Creative Movement is a family fun atmosphere where everyone can learn how to be a star on the stage! We offer a warm, loving environment where we teach dance skills along with respect and team playing characteristics. Not only is this a place children enjoy, but parents are also active members of the CMD community. This is a place where every child is safe and feels at home.
CMD offers classes in many styles and areas including ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, hip hop, pom, musical theatre, and tumbling! We offer classes for all ages and abilities beginning at 3 years through high school as well as an All Boys class! A majority of our classes are offered after school hours. CMD does offer a few morning and early afternoon classes. CMD follows the public school year with classes running from September up through our Spring Performance in the middle of June. We also follow the school system with school breaks and holidays (we do not recognize teacher in-service days). We finish the school year with a Spring Concert highlighting the dancers improvements of the year. Many stars are born!
The not-for-profit Des Moines Art Center engages diverse local and international audiences with the art of today through its museum and school, adding to the cultural record through collections and programs.
The East Side Library features a large collection of automotive repair manuals as well as databases that assist even shade tree mechanics. In addition to a wide array of books, we also have a cozy reading nook complete with fireplace. Public television viewers will appreciate our extensive British film and educational DVD collection.
We provide services to individuals with all types of disabilities on our beautiful 40 acres campus. We have a lodge that can seat up to 100, Recreation Center with basketball court and rock climbing wall, overnight cabins for 140 people with accessible indoor showers, laundry, and a heated indoor pool that is fully accessible with zero-entry pool, water-dumping bucket, fountains and splash pad for up to 60 guests.
The Forest Avenue Library features an extensive Foreign Language collection, including materials in Spanish, Arabic, Vietnamese, and Karen. We also host a Language Learning Center where we provide computers to access Rosetta Stone, Pronunciator, and English Language Learning materials.
Children will be delighted with Rosie's Forest, our early literacy center, which includes artwork done by Sticks and a wide variety of early literacy stations where children can come to learn and play.
The museum and education center honors the U.S. Army's first officer candidate class for African American men in 1917, and the establishment of the first Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC's) in 1942.
A proud tradition of excellence and integrity born on a cavalry post at Fort Des Moines, Iowa.
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.