Free Library Programs For Children

One of the best entertainment resources for parents really is the local library.  Aside from offering books for children to read, local libraries offer lots of great FREE programs and activities for children.

If you weren’t familiar, each month the Cincinnati Public Library (as well as other local libraries) offers a wide variety of free activities and story times for families.   This month we’re sharing with you some of our favorite picks with regards to Children’s Programs. You can find a link to the full list of offerings for November at the end of this post.

As I mentioned, in addition to it’s great children’s programs, the Library also hosts story times throughout the month at its various branches.  You can find a complete list of Cincinnati Library storytimes here.

Arts & Crafts

Tuesday, November 16
Miami Township Branch Library, 8 North Miami Ave., 369-6050
Kids Craft Club: Join us for some crafty time and make an awesome item to take home! Tuesday 16, 6:30-7:30 p.m., Ages 5-12 Registration is required Sponsored by the Friends of the Public Library & the Kersten Fund

Thursday, November 18
Price Hill Branch Library, 3215 Warsaw Ave., 369-4490
Art Thursday: Unleash your imagination! Get creative! Thursday 18, 3:30-4:30 p.m., Ages 6-12

Friday, November 19
College Hill Branch Library, 1400 W. North Bend Rd., 369-6036
Artist’s Club: Learn, practice & discuss basic art skills. Friday 19, 2:30 p.m., Ages 5-17

Monday, November 22
West End Branch Library, 805 Ezzard Charles Dr., 369-6026
Snazzy Scarves! Show off your winter style and make your own flannel scarf. Monday 22, 3:00 p.m., Ages 5-12 Sponsored by the Friends of the Public Library

Animals & Insects

Tuesday, November 16
Corryville Branch Library, 2802 Vine St., 369-6034
Birds of Prey: Learn about birds of prey and meet live birds! Presented by the Hamilton County Park District’s Naturalist Office at Woodland Mound. Tuesday 16, 6:30-7:30 p.m., All ages

Bedtime Storytime

Tuesday, November 16
Oakley Branch Library, 4033 Gilmore Ave., 369-6038
Bedtime Stories: Enjoy stories, songs, and rhymes. Tuesday 16, 6:30-7:00 p.m., Ages 6 & under

Thursday, November 18
Clifton Branch Library, 351 Ludlow Ave., 369-4447
Bedtime Storytime, Thursday 18, 7:00-7:30 p.m., Ages 3-5

Bi-Lingual Storytime

Saturday, November 20
Main Library, 800 Vine St., 369-6900
Uno Dos Tres: Spanish-English Storytime. Enjoy stories, rhymes, fingerplays & songs in Spanish and English. Children’s Learning Center, Saturday 20, 11:30 a.m., All ages

Cooking & Food

Friday, November 12
Walnut Hills Branch Library, 2533 Kemper Ln., 369-6053
R U Game? Everyone has fun playing Wii, Gamecube or board games! Come show your skills & bring a friend. (Games offered depends on availability.) Friday 12, 2:30-4:30 p.m., Ages 6-17

Monday, November 15
Main Library, 800 Vine St., 369-6900
Graeter’s Ice Cream: An Irresistible History: Graeter’s has been making some of the world’s best ice cream for more than 140 years. Join author Robin Davis Heigel and Rich Graeter to get the inside “scoop” on this beloved Cincinnati institution. Huenefeld Tower Room, Monday 15, 7:00 p.m., All ages

Gardening & Nature

Thursday, November 11
Oakley Branch Library, 4033 Gilmore Ave., 369-6038
Camp S’More: Learn about camping, and how to leave no trace from the Boy Scouts. Thursday 11, 4:00-5:30 p.m., Ages 12 & under

Holiday

Tuesday, November 16
Greenhills Branch Library, 7 Endicott St., 369-4441
Give thanks! Join us for a special Thanksgiving craft. Tuesday 16, 6:30 p.m., Ages 5-12 Registration is required Sponsored by the Kersten Fund

Wednesday, November 17
Blue Ash Branch Library, 4911 Cooper Rd., 369-6051
Make A Gingerbread House: Come make a gingerbread house and have a great time. One house per family. Wednesday 17, 7:00 p.m., All ages Registration is required Sponsored by the Friends of the Public Library

Thursday, November 18
Elmwood Place Branch Library, 6120 Vine St., 369-4452
Afterschool movie: We will be showing A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving & The Mayflower Voyagers. Thursday 18, 3:30-5:00 p.m., Ages 6-12

Math & Science

Tuesday, November 16
Bond Hill Branch Library, 1740 Langdon Farm Rd., 369-4445
Afternoon Academics: Get your brain working with science activities. Tuesday 16, 5:00-6:00 p.m., Ages 6-12 Sponsored by the Friends of the Public Library

Wednesday, November 17
Green Township Branch Library, 6525 Bridgetown Rd., 369-6095
Math Play – Tangrams: Parents and children discover tangrams through reading, interaction, and activities. Wednesday 17, 10:30 a.m., Ages 4-8 w/adult Sponsored by the Friends of the Public Library & the Kersten Fund

Phew, that’s a lot of fun!  For a complete list of Cincinnati Library programming for the month of November, click here. For those of you who don’t live in Hamilton County, here are links to the children’s programs pages for libraries across the region: