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Families with babies and young children can explore local early childhood programs, developmental screenings, and family support services in Gary and nearby Lake County. Look for help with child development, home visiting, preschool readiness, and referrals to community services.

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High quality care and education is an service for quality of life and economic health. Porter County families need a strong infrastructure for early childhood education so they can return to the workplace or pursue further education.

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The Gary Public Library and nearby libraries often offer story times, homework help, reading challenges, and family events for children from early childhood through elementary school. Libraries are a great place to find free books, internet access, and enrichment activities.

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Gary Public Library and Cultural Center - Children | Gary Public Library

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The Gary Public Library (GPL) is one of seven independent library systems in Lake County, Indiana. Founded in 1908, its Main Library, five branches, Extension Services, and Bookmobile serve the residents of Gary and the surrounding areas.

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Families may also benefit from community health centers, food assistance programs, and local family resource organizations that support children’s health, nutrition, and school readiness. These services can help caregivers meet basic needs while supporting learning at home.

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PBS Kids offers free educational games, videos, and activities for younger children. It is especially helpful for building early literacy, math, science, and social-emotional learning skills at home.

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Educational games and videos from Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Wild Kratts and other PBS KIDS shows!

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Starfall is a popular free learning site for early readers. Children can practice letters, phonics, simple reading, and basic math through interactive activities that work well for preschool and elementary ages.

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Starfall Education: Kids Games, Movies, Books & Music for K-5 and above

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At Starfall, children have fun while they learn - specializing in reading, phonics & math - educational games, movies, books, songs, and more for children K-5 and above.

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National Geographic Kids gives students a fun way to learn about animals, geography, science, and current topics through articles, videos, and games. It works well for curious elementary learners.

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Khan Academy Kids provides free lessons, books, and activities for young children. Families can use it for reading, math, and independent learning practice in a playful format.

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Inspire a lifetime of learning and discovery with our free, fun educational program for children ages two to eight.

100% FREE! No ads, no subscriptions.

Kids will love to learn.

Focused on the whole child

Our program engages kids in core subjects like early literacy, reading, writing, language, and math, while encouraging creativity and building social-emotional skills.

Five whimsical, charming characters-including narrator Kodi Bear-guide kids through activities and stories.

Original interactive activities, books, animated videos, games, and creative lessons captivate children's attention.

Khan Academy Kids was developed in collaboration with learning experts at Stanford and aligned with the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework and Common Core Standards.

You'll never see ads. You'll never need a subscription.

Our personalized learning path dynamically adapts, ensuring each child is presented with activities, books, educational videos, and creative lessons that allow them to learn at their own pace, creating an individualized experience for every learner.

Kids can also learn independently in the Khan Academy Kids Library-a curated collection of activities, books, videos, and coloring pages. Our book reader allows kids to follow along with recorded audio narration or read on their own across our fiction, non-fiction, and fiction leveled books.

"Every day I am amazed @khanacademykids is free, and I am so grateful for how much it has contributed to my kid's development."

J. Hernandez, via Twitter

"Parents: If you are looking for an educational app for your 2-5 yr old, download @khanacademykids - seriously most research-based, engaging, non-annoying app. AND IT'S FREE."

"My 4-year old is working on @khanacademy's app @khanacademykids this morning and loving it. The combo of school facts along with social/emotional content is outstanding."

Joyful learning starts here!

Inspire a lifetime of learning and discovery with our free, fun educational program for children ages two to eight.

100% FREE! No ads. No subscriptions.

Kids will love to learn.

Focused on the whole child

Our program engages kids in core subjects like early literacy, reading, writing, language, and math, while encouraging creativity and building social-emotional skills.

Five whimsical, charming characters-including narrator Kodi Bear-guide kids through activities and stories.

Original interactive activities, books, animated videos, games, and creative lessons captivate children's attention.

Khan Academy Kids was developed in collaboration with learning experts at Stanford and aligned with the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework and Common Core Standards.

You'll never see ads. You'll never need a subscription.

Unique for every learner.

Our personalized learning path dynamically adapts, ensuring each child is presented with activities, books, educational videos, and creative lessons that allow them to learn at their own pace, creating an individualized experience for every learner.

Kids can also learn independently in the Khan Academy Kids Library-a curated collection of activities, books, videos, and coloring pages. Our book reader allows kids to follow along with recorded audio narration or read on their own across our fiction, non-fiction and fiction leveled books.

"My 4-year old is working on @khanacademykids this morning and loving it. The combo of school facts along with social/emotional content is outstanding."

Unique for every learner.

Looking for summer learning ideas? Check out Camp Khan Kids !

Over 100 new books and activities in our Library!

Free summer learning program with hands-on activities!

Fun, educational off-screen
family activities.

Over 100 new books and activities in our Library!

Free summer learning program with hands-on activities!

Fun, educational off-screen
family activities.

YouTube videos with interactive stories and lessons.

YouTube videos with interactive stories and lessons.

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Free, fun educational app for young kids | Khan Academy Kids

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Inspire a lifetime of learning and discovery with our free, fun educational program for children ages two to eight. 100% FREE! No ads, no subscriptions. Kids will love to learn. Focused on the whole child Our program engages kids in core subjects like early literacy, reading, writing, language, and math, while encouraging creativity and building social-emotional skills.

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Parents and caregivers can look for trusted guidance on child development, routines, behavior, reading at home, and healthy habits. Good family resource sites can make it easier to support children from infancy through the elementary years.

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HealthyChildren.org - From the American Academy of Pediatrics

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When families need help finding food, housing, counseling, childcare, or crisis support, 211 can be a strong starting point. It connects people with local and regional services based on family needs.

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CommunityOS is an I&R, Disaster, and Public Health client database and case management system.

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Parents can also use school-family guides, literacy tips, and homework support resources to strengthen learning routines at home. Even a few minutes of reading and conversation each day can make a big difference.

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Discover how to support your child’s growth as a young reader and writer. Here you’ll find our Reading 101 for Families guide, bilingual parent tips, ideas for building your child’s knowledge about the world, Q&A with experts, guidance on how to help a child who struggles, and ways to connect with y…

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Indiana families can explore 529 savings plans to prepare for future education costs. These accounts may be used for qualified education expenses and can be a helpful long-term planning tool for college or other training pathways.

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Start saving for your child’s future education with Indiana’s 529 Direct Plan. Discover tax advantages and flexible investment options. Secure their tomorrow today!

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Saving for the future can also include planning for technical training, apprenticeships, or trade school. Families can talk with children about careers early and learn how education savings, scholarships, and workforce programs can support many pathways after high school.

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Not sure where to start?

Featured High-Demand Careers

Quickly see how your interest and skills align with high-demand career pathways, then connect with resources to plan how to get there.

Indiana Career Explorer is a powerful tool that empowers people to explore careers and plan their next steps.

Register today to document your exploration, interests, and career plans.

Join Today

Quickly see how your passions and skills match with available careers and fields of interest!

If you are on a shared computer, please remember to log out and/or power off your machine when you are finished.

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Not sure where to start? Featured High-Demand Careers Quickly see how your interest and skills align with high-demand career pathways, then connect with resources to plan how to get there. Indiana Career Explorer is a powerful tool that empowers people to explore careers and plan their next steps.

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Building strong saving habits starts small. Families can create simple goals, open a savings account if possible, and help children understand spending, saving, and planning for future opportunities.

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Developing financial knowledge, skills, and habits is an important stepping stone on young people's path to adult financial well-being. The tools and resources listed here support K-12 financial education.

Finding classroom activities

Use CFPB's interdisciplinary, age-appropriate activities in your own K-12 classroom to help students develop the building blocks and increase their financial capability.

Tools and resources to teach youth financial capability in the classroom

If you work with children and youth, you can help them develop the building blocks of financial capability-at school, at home, and in the community. CFPB's tools and resources can help you teach financial literacy across the curriculum, even if you're new to the topic.

Tools and resources for educators

CFPB provides tools and resources to understand best practices in financial education, evaluate financial education curricula, and explore relevant research.

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Youth financial education | Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

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We're here to support the teachers, administrators, and community leaders who help students build financial knowledge, skills, and habits. The tools and resources listed here show recommended policies and practices for K-12 financial education.

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For families willing to travel, Indianapolis offers major hands-on learning experiences. The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis is known for interactive exhibits in science, history, culture, and play-based learning for children across many ages.

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Chicago has many family learning opportunities, including museums, zoos, and cultural centers. These visits can extend classroom learning and introduce children to art, science, engineering, and world cultures.

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Beyond Gary, families can also explore parks, nature centers, and community events in Northwest Indiana, Indianapolis, and Chicago. Outdoor learning builds observation, curiosity, and healthy habits while keeping costs low.

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Family Fun & Activities | Plan Your Indiana Dunes Visit

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Plan fun family vacations at Indiana Dunes with curated attractions, family activities, and easy outings for all ages.