Our Signature Programs

The Community Classroom Play Space is a FREE preschool-inspired classroom environment where OberlinKids families can learn, play, and connect. Designed for children from birth through age 5, the space provides a safe, welcoming place for families to meet up with friends for a playdate, participate in scheduled playgroups, or connect with other families in the community.

More than just a play space, the Community Classroom is a place where families can build relationships, share experiences, and discover simple ways to support their child's learning at home. It also serves as a hub for connecting families with resources, support, and opportunities available through the OberlinKids community.

Whether you're looking for a fun place to play, opportunities to meet other families, or new ways to support your child's growth and development, the Community Classroom Play Space is here for you, always FREE for OberlinKids families.

Just as regular check-ups help monitor physical growth, the On Track for Kindergarten Check-In helps families understand how children are growing, learning, communicating, solving problems, and building relationships. The results can provide peace of mind, valuable insight into your child's development, and recommendations for activities that support learning through play at home.

Families who complete the Check-In receive personalized results, information about age-appropriate developmental milestones, and connections to community resources and support when needed. We also encourage families to share their results with their child's pediatrician as part of ongoing conversations about healthy development.

Completing the On Track for Kindergarten Check-In is the first step to becoming part of the OberlinKids community. Families gain access to free programs, family events, the Community Classroom Play Space, resources, and opportunities designed to help every child grow, learn, and thrive.

OberlinKids Literacy & Learning Kits are FREE take-home resources designed to help families support their child's development through play, reading, and everyday learning experiences. Distributed at community events throughout the year, each kit includes hands-on activities, books, learning materials, and family-friendly resources that make learning fun and accessible.

The kits are designed to encourage early literacy, language development, problem-solving, creativity, and school readiness skills while providing families with simple ways to continue learning at home. Activities are age-appropriate, easy to use, and focused on helping children build the foundational skills needed for success in school and life.

More than just educational materials, Literacy & Learning Kits help connect families with community resources, developmental information, and opportunities to support their child's growth from birth through kindergarten. By combining learning, play, and family engagement, these kits empower caregivers to be their child's first and most important teacher.

Through Literacy & Learning Kits, OberlinKids helps ensure that every family has access to tools, resources, and opportunities that support a strong start and a lifelong love of learning.

OberlinKids hosts FREE family-friendly community events throughout the year that bring children, caregivers, and community partners together for fun, learning, and connection. These events provide opportunities for families to explore local resources, build relationships with other families, and create meaningful memories together.

Designed for children from birth through age 5, our events feature engaging, hands-on activities that support early learning, literacy, creativity, physical activity, and social-emotional development. Whether attending a family festival, story time, community celebration, resource fair, or seasonal event, families can enjoy play-based experiences that help children learn and grow while having fun.

Our community events also connect families with local organizations, services, and supports that promote healthy child development and school success. Many events include free books, developmental resources, literacy and learning kits, giveaways, and opportunities to learn more about programs available throughout the community.

At OberlinKids, we believe strong communities help children thrive. Our family-friendly events create welcoming spaces where families can connect, learn, play, and celebrate together while building the foundation for lifelong learning and success.

The Lorain County Imagination Library is a FREE book gifting program that mails a high-quality, age-appropriate book directly to participating children every month from birth until their fifth birthday. Inspired by Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, the program helps families build home libraries, foster a love of reading, and support early literacy development during the years when children's brains are growing and learning the most.

More than 11,000 children across Lorain County receive a free book in their mailbox each month, helping ensure that every child has access to books and opportunities to develop early literacy skills.

Reading together helps children develop language, vocabulary, imagination, and literacy skills that are essential for future school success. Best of all, the books arrive right at your home, making it easy for families to create meaningful reading routines and special reading moments together.

OberlinKids encourages all eligible families to enroll in the Lorain County Imagination Library. Participating OberlinKids families can also contact OberlinKids for assistance with enrolling, checking the status of monthly book deliveries, updating mailing addresses, or resolving delivery issues.

Every child deserves access to books and opportunities to develop a lifelong love of reading. The Lorain County Imagination Library helps make that possible, one book at a time.

OberlinKids believes that every child deserves the opportunity to grow, learn, and thrive. That's why we partner with more than 30 local organizations, schools, healthcare providers, early learning programs, and community agencies to help families access the support and resources they need.

Raising young children can be rewarding, but it can also be challenging. Whether your family is looking for childcare, developmental services, healthcare, food assistance, housing resources, parenting support, mental health services, or educational opportunities, OberlinKids can help connect you to trusted community partners.

Our collaborative approach ensures that families do not have to navigate these systems alone. By working together, our partners help identify needs early, reduce barriers to services, and create a coordinated network of support for children and caregivers.

When families are connected to the right resources at the right time, children are more likely to enter school healthy, confident, and ready to learn. Through strong partnerships and a shared commitment to equity, OberlinKids is helping build a community where every child has the foundation they need for lifelong success.

If you're not sure where to start, start with OberlinKids. We're here to help connect your family to the people, programs, and resources that can make a difference