Kids & Families

Join us every week for stories and a craft project or science experiment related to the stories we read. This program is geared towards ages 4 and under, but older siblings and kids are welcome, too!

Join us for a new series of storytimes this fall! Our theme this session is "What Makes a Family?" and each week we'll share new stories about different types of families, big and small. Our Thursday storytimes are geared towards kids ages 3 to 5, but siblings of all ages are always welcome to attend.

New this session, we'll also have a monthly "coffee break" from storytime. On these weeks, there will be no official storytime, but parents and caregivers are invited to enjoy a cup of coffee or tea on us during our usual meeting time while kids have free range to play in the storytime room. This unstructured time is great for socializing and meeting new friends.

Our weekly themes for the fall include:

• Sept. 4: Here Comes the Bus (Storytime will be held on a school bus!)
• Sept. 11: Coffee Break Time -- Open Play Session
• Sept. 18: New Babies
• Sept. 25: Moms & Dads
• Oct. 2: All Kinds of Families
• Oct. 9: Sisters & Brothers
• Oct. 16: Family Pets
• Oct. 23: Coffee Break Time -- Open Play Session
• Oct. 30: Halloween & Monster Families (Feel free to wear costumes!)
• Nov. 6: Adoption Stories
• Nov. 13: Animal Families
• Nov. 20: Coffee Break Time -- Open Play Session
• Nov. 27: Library Closed for Thanksgiving
• Dec. 4: Fairy Tale Families
• Dec. 11: Grandparent Stories
• Dec. 18: Family Holiday Traditions

Join us for baby lapsit storytimes! These storytimes are designed for babies up to 18 months and their caregivers. We'll learn finger plays, sing songs, and read one or two easy board books each week. Join the fun, socialize with other parents and caregivers, and learn how to grow a lifelong reader!

This session of Baby Storytime will run every Friday at 10AM from September 5 to December 19. Once a month, we will take a week off of official storytimes and have a "Coffee and Play Break"—feel free to join us at our regular time to enjoy a cup of coffee or tea on us, while babies have a chance to free play in the storytime room. This is a great opportunity to socialize and make new friends in a relaxed environment. Our coffee break weeks will be as follows:

• September 12
• October 24
• November 21

There will also be no Baby Storytime on Friday, November 28 due to the library being closed for Thanksgiving.

Are you a family that homeschools your children? Whether you've been homeschooling for years or are just getting starting on your homeschool journey, join us for a meet-up! Youth Services Librarian Catherine will be leading a brainstorming session with parents about what homeschooling resources and programs the library can offer this year, while kids can enjoy time to socialize, play, and have a snack. We will also host a short storytime if time allows. Please contact Catherine at cabaer [at] rgpl.org (cabaer[at]rgpl[dot]org) with any questions before the meet-up.

Come read to our dog pal, Brighty! Sign-up for a 15 minute session to read to our favorite dog and his human handler, Jenny. This opportunity is open to kids of all ages. Email cabaer [at] rgpl.org (cabaer[at]rgpl[dot]org) or ask for Catherine at the library to sign-up!

Join us for a 4-week session of Library Lego Club! Kids ages 8 and older and invited to register for this program that will involve a new themed Lego challenge each week on Thursdays from 3:45 to 4:45PM after school. Contact cabaer [at] rgpl.org (cabaer[at]rgpl[dot]org) or call the library to register.

Stop by on your no-school day to craft a little woodland animal ornament out of wool balls and felt. No registration is required for this program.

Please read and share our behavior guidelines with your children.

Are you about to embark on a new adventure like potty training your child? There is help waiting for you in the Parent Zone of our children's department. Take a look at the variety of resources this special collection has to offer.