Pinwheel Playroom

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

Overview

Pinwheel Playroom is a cozy reading and play space for young children located in places where families spend time waiting, such as laundromats and community health clinics. The spaces provide a safe and literacy-rich environment for young children with child-size furniture, bright colors and wall games. Pinwheel Playrooms are stocked with books for children to explore on their own or with a caregiver, and families are encouraged to take a book home to keep.

The first Pinwheel Playroom opened in the fall of 2016 at the South Memphis Alliance's Social Suds Resource Center. Pinwheel Playrooms support UCI’s goal of preparing children for kindergarten on the way to third grade reading proficiency.

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

South Memphis Alliance Laundromat
1048 S. Bellevue Blvd
Memphis, TN 38106
Est. 2016

Ellie’s Laundry

644 Waring Rd
Memphis, TN 38112
Est. 2019

Site Adopter: Rhodes College Kinney Program

Broad Avenue CCHS Clinic

2861 Broad Ave
Memphis, TN 38112

Est. 2018

Orange Mound CCHS Clinic

2569 Douglass Ave
Memphis, TN 38114

Est. 2019

Le Bonheur ULPS Clinic

51 N. Dunlap St
Memphis, TN 38105

Est. 2023

Shelby County Health Department
814 Jefferson
Ave
Memphis, TN 38105
Est. 2022

Ellie’s Laundry

215 S. Pauline
St
Memphis, TN 38104
Est. 2023

Site Adopter: Midtown Memphis Rotary Club

Ellie’s Laundry
4430 Winchester Rd
Memphis, TN 38118
Est. 2024

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.