Pinwheel Playroom

Creating safe play environments for kids where families already spend time.

See All Locations Below

Overview

Pinwheel Playroom supports UCI’s goal of preparing children for kindergarten on the way to third grade reading proficiency. These are cozy reading and play spaces for young children located in places where families spend time waiting, such as laundromats and community health clinics. Colorful, welcoming, and child-focused, Pinwheel Playrooms are regularly stocked with new books for children to explore on their own or with a caregiver.  Families are invited each time they visit a Pinwheel Playroom to take a book home to build their home library!

Inspired by the Touch Talk Read Play parenting program at the Neighborhood Christian Centers and the innovative social service delivery model at the South Memphis Alliance's Social Suds Laundromat, UCI opened the first Pinwheel Playroom at SMA's Social Suds Laundromat in 2016.

Vision

To create early literacy enrichment spaces with free books located where children and families spend time waiting across Memphis and Shelby County.

Goals

Increase opportunities for families to engage in early literacy activities as part of their daily routine.

Increase opportunities for nurturing social-emotional interactions with young children.

Increase opportunities for eligible families to enroll in Books from Birth.

Support Memphis' place-based literacy strategy, Read901.

Expand the reach of Pinwheel Playroom so these spaces are accessible to all families in Shelby County.

Partners

These accessible and fun early literacy enrichment spaces are supported by key partners.

Pinwheel Playroom Locations

Memphis Health Center

360 E. E.H. Crump Blvd

Memphis, TN 38126

Site Adopter: Kifani Kids

Est. 2025

Church Health Center

1350 Concourse Ave, Suite 142

Memphis, TN 38104

Site Adopter: International Dyslexia Association

Est. 2025

Fresh Suds Laundry

3513 Ramill Rd

Memphis, TN 38128

Site Adopter: Literacy Mid-South

Read901 Raleigh Literacy Zone

Est. 2025

Ed Rice Community Center - Memphis Parks

2935 Watkins

Memphis, TN 38127

*Site Adopter Needed

Est. 2025

Shelby County Health Department - Millington

8225 US-51

Millington, TN 38053

*Site Adopter Needed

Est. 2025

CCHS Clinic - Winchester

5366 Winchester Rd

Memphis, TN 38115

Site Adopter: Shelby Literacy Center

Est. 2025

Shelby County Youth and Family Resource Center

3157 Powers Rd

Memphis, TN 38128

Site Adopter: Literacy Mid-South

Read901 Raleigh Literacy Zone

Est. 2024

Raleigh Coin-Op

3211 Coleman Rd

Memphis, TN 38128

Site Adopter: Literacy Mid-South

Read901 Raleigh Literacy Zone

Est. 2024

Ellie’s Laundry - Winchester

4430 Winchester Rd
Memphis, TN 38118

*Site Adopter Needed

Est. 2024

Le Bonheur ULPS Clinic

51 N. Dunlap St
Memphis, TN 38105


Site Adopter: UTHSC Pediatric Interest Group

Est. 2023

Ellie’s Laundry - Pauline

215 S. Pauline
St
Memphis, TN 38104

Site Adopters: Midtown Memphis Rotary Club and Kifani Kids

Est. 2023

Shelby County Health Department - Main

814 Jefferson
Ave
Memphis, TN 38105

Site Adopter: UTHSC Pediatric Interest Group

Est. 2022

Ellie’s Laundry - Waring

644 Waring Rd
Memphis, TN 38112

Site Adopter: Rhodes College Kinney Program

Est. 2019

CCHS Clinic
- Orange Mound

2569 Douglass Ave
Memphis, TN 38114


*Site Adopter Needed

Est. 2019

CCHS Clinic
- Broad Avenue

2861 Broad Ave
Memphis, TN 38112


Site Adopter: Shelby Literacy Center

Est. 2018

South Memphis Alliance Laundromat
1048 S. Bellevue Blvd
Memphis, TN 38106

Site Adopter: Culture for Change (LeMoyne-Owen College)

Est. 2016
You can adopt a Pinwheel Playroom!
Adopting a Pinwheel Playroom helps us keep rooms well-stocked with books for children and families. There are no monetary requirements to adopt a Pinwheel Playroom, just a bit of your time.
To learn more, contact Katherine Bryan.