Category: Programs – Children

Discover Your Summer Events & Activities

Join us for Discover Your Summer: Summer Reading decorating events, kickoff parties, crafts, and more! | All Ages

SUMMER READING CLUB CHALLENGE

June 21 – August 27 | All Ages

This summer, join our Discover Your Summer Reading Club to read and get rewards, enter raffles for prizes, and more! Click the button below to learn more.

Learn About Summer Reading Club!

Discover Your Summer: Drop-In Crafts!

June 14 & 28, July 12 & 26, August 9, 16, & 30 | Open Hours | Teens

Stop into the Central Library every other Tuesday between June 14 to Aug 30, to see what creative project is waiting for you.

At the following library locations: Central Library

Discover Your Summer: Crafts & Scavenger Hunts!

All Summer Long | Open Hours | All Ages

Check with your local library branch to see what activities, crafts, and scavenger hunts they have going on that week! Available while supplies last.

At All Library Locations

Summer reading Challenge accepted!

3rd Wednesday of the Month: July 20, August 17
3:00-4:30 PM | All Ages

The Summer Reading Challenge is on! Join us for a monthly meet-up to enjoy some snacks and chat about the books that we’re reading – and what we’re excited to read next!

At the following library locations: East Forest Park Branch

How Many? How much? How heavy?

June 21 – August 27th | Open Hours | All Ages

Using your best guesses, guess how many, or how much, or how heavy are the items in our Guessing Jar. Twice a month there will be a new jar. Closest guess wins a small prize.

At the following library locations: Indian Orchard Branch

summer reading celebration!

Thursday, July 7th | 1-2 PM at Brightwood | 3-5 PM at East Springfield
Children & Families

Celebrate Summer Reading! Performer Tom Sieling will keep your toes tapping with an “ocean-full” of songs guaranteed to entertain the whole family. Come join the fun! Refreshments provided.

At the following library locations: Brightwood Branch & East Springfield Brach

Summer Feeding = Summer Reading

Monday through Friday: June 27 – August 26th | All Ages Up to 18

Visit the library locations listed below for special activities, like gardening programs, food trucks visits, as well as delicious nutritious lunches for kids up to age 18!

For more information go to: www.homegrownspringfield.org

June Crafts for Children, Teens, & Families

Crafts and activities at the library in June! | Children, Teens, and Families

Father’s Day Cards

Saturday, June 4 – Saturday, June 18 | Open Hours | All Ages

Drop by to make a card for dear ol’ Dad. Supplies and templates will be provided so that you can craft a card that will put a smile on the face of Dad, Pop, Grandpa and Uncle Joe. Show someone how special they are with a personalized card made by you! All supplies provided.

At the following library locations: All Library Locations

bad art night

Wednesday, June 29 | 5:00-6:00 PM | Children & Teens

Head to the children’s room at Central Library to make the weirdest and worst art you’ve ever seen! Geared for ages 5+.

At the following library locations: Central Library

Fluttering Butterflies – June 1-30

During the month of June, the East Springfield Branch Library will be growing and raising our very own Painted Lady Butterflies. Come and see them! | East Springfield | Children

East Springfield Branch
June 1-30 | Open Hours | Ages 5-10

During the month of June, the East Springfield Branch Library will be growing and raising our very own Painted Lady Butterflies. Every time you visit the library you can watch the larvae grow and change into beautiful butterflies. When the time is right, we will release the butterflies in our garden with your help.

Mindful Reading with Cadence the Dog – July & August

Reading with a pet is a calming, stress-free way to build fluency and expression. Join us to read with Cadence! | Sixteen Acres | Children

Sixteen Acres Branch
Saturdays: July 9, 23, & August 6| 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM | Children | Register

Calling all kids! Come to a mindfulness experience for emerging and practiced readers of all ages. The librarian will share a few relaxing stories with you and our special guests Megan and her certified therapy dog Cadence. After we read as a group, children are welcome to take a turn meeting Cadence and reading with her – she loves to hear stories of all kinds. Books will be available for read aloud or bring your own favorites. Reading with a pet is a calming, stress-free way to build fluency and expression. Please join us!

We’ll meet outside but move indoors to the Children’s Room in case of rain or extreme heat.

Children 7 and under must be accompanied and consistently supervised by an adult.

Registration is strongly encouraged with drop-ins welcome as space allows.

 

Sunshine Storytimes at Downtown Farmers Market – July & August

Soak up some sun, get your dancing shoes on, and listen to all sorts of amazing stories at the Springfield Central Downtown Farmer’s Market! | Children

Downtown Farmers Market
Every Friday in July & August | 11:30 AM – 12:15 PM | Children

Soak up some sun, get your dancing shoes on, and listen to all sorts of amazing stories at the Springfield Central Downtown Farmer’s Market! We will have water bottles available to keep everyone hydrated. Don’t forget to apply sunscreen!

The Springfield Central Downtown Farmers Market is located at Tower Square Park (1447 Main Street.) For more information, visit their page.

Writing Fun Fridays

We’ll have a rotating selection of colorful materials for pre-writers and beginning writers including worksheets, stationery, writing prompts, easy mad libs and more! | Sixteen Acres | Children

Sixteen Acres Branch
Every Friday in June, July, & August
1:00-4:30 PM | Ages 2-7

Drop in for some fun Friday learning this summer! We’ll have a rotating selection of colorful materials for pre-writers and beginning writers including worksheets, stationery, writing prompts, easy mad libs and more.

Ideal for ages ages 2-7 with younger and older children welcome. Children 7 and under must be accompanied and consistently supervised by an adult.

Minecraft Clubs

Build, play, create – and battle zombies, of course! | Forest Park & Indian Orchard | Children & Teens

Minecraft Monday

Forest Park Branch
Mondays: June 27, July 11, July 25, August 8, August 22
4:00-4:45 PM | Ages 12-17

Join us at the Forest Park Library every other Monday afternoon for Minecraft adventures! Join our library server and explore the ever-expanding, world-building awesomeness of Minecraft!

Indian Orchard Minecrafters

Indian Orchard Branch
Saturdays: June 25, July 23, August 27 | 12:00-2:00 PM | Ages 10 +

Join us at the Indian Orchard Library for Minecraft at the Library, where we mine, craft, and trade Minecraft tips! The second Saturday of the month from 12:00-2:00pm. Space limited to 8 participants so come early. Please call (413) 263-6846 for more information.

Makerspace Collaboratory Drop-In

There will be a variety of projects and experiments to get you and your family started exploring and creating! | East Forest Park | All Ages

East Forest Park Branch – Makerspace
Tuesdays: July 5, 19, 26 and August 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 | 2:00 – 4:30 PM | All Ages

From traditional crafts to digital tinkering, the East Forest Park Makerspace is your place to create, invent, and learn. Each week we will have a drop-in project or two based on a theme.

Want to learn more? Contact the East Forest Park Branch Library at (413) 263-6836.

Taste Test Tuesdays

Come sample new snacks every Tuesday at the Forest Park library! | Forest Park | Children and Teens

Forest Park Branch
Tuesdays | 4-5 PM | Children and Teens

Come sample new snacks every Tuesday at the Forest Park library! We’ll supply anything from international to limited edition or seasonal snacks – open to your suggestions. Ages 5-18.

Lunch Bunch Cooking Classes

Join us for cooking classes for tweens and for parents to learn to make easy healthy lunches! | Sixteen Acres | Children and Adults

Lunch Bunch – Tween Edition

Sixteen Acres Branch
1st Saturday every month
Jul 9, Aug 6, Sep 3
11:30 am – 12:30 pm | Ages 8-12

Are you a kid who wants to be more independent and find ways to cook for yourself? Join us to learn how to make fun, healthy lunches. For tweens ages 8-12. Classes limited to 10 participants and pre-registration is required.

Register on our online calendar.

Lunch Bunch – Parents

Sixteen Acres Branch
One Saturday every month
Jul 16, Aug 20, Sep 17
11:30 am – 12:30 pm | Ages 18+

Are you stuck in a rut when it comes to making healthy, easy lunches for your children? Parents, join us to learn some fun ways to make healthy lunches. For parents ages 18+. Classes limited to 10 participants and pre-registration is required.

These programs are funded by a grant from LSTA.