36 things to do with little ones this spring

The daffodils are starting to bloom and that means that warm weather is on the way! Your public library and the Collaboration for Early Childhood have curated activities, events, and resources for you and your little ones to make the most of the soon-to-be-spring season.

Activities

1. Getting ready for kindergarten? Check out this librarian-curated list of digital apps for kindergarten readiness and kindergarten info for 2024-25. 
2. Bring your preschooler to Be Our Neighbor at the Oak Park Public Library to share episodes, discussions, and activities together on March 19, April 17, and May 6.
3. Grownups, put on some comfy clothes and get ready to exercise with your child in a stroller at Stroller Story Strides on March 25.
4. Friday mornings, drop in at the Main Library and discover what’s set out for open play: Barbie and Ken Club, Lego Club, or Wooden Train Club!
5. Join the community at the Solar Eclipse Viewing in Scoville Park on April 8!
6. Our monthly Supported Developmental Playgroup for kids in or being considered for therapy is coming up on April 10 and May 8.
7. Check out museum and cultural passes for fun spring adventures.
8. Grownups, be kind to yourself!
9. What is early literacy? Learn how you can support your child’s fun and development in just a few steps. 
10. Looking for ways to help your child self-regulate? This video highlights a wonderful book about a little kid and her co-regulating mom, Wiggles, Stomps, and Squeezes Calm My Jitters Down. It’s one of Miss Shelley’s favorites!
11. BingePass on Hoopla offers a huge amount of content that you check out for seven days, and it only counts as one checkout! Browse resources like Hellosaurus, Kids’ Books in Action, or Cuentos para niños en espanol.
12. It’s hard to add new things to routines, but habit stacking makes it easier. Try it as a way to include more books and stories into your day, without getting overwhelmed.
13. It’s spring! Looking for songs, activities, and nature play to celebrate? Visit our video collection, newly updated for the season. 
14. Did you know that there’s a special section of Kanopy just for kids? Watch great content from trusted favorites like Sesame Street, watch videos that animate books, or listen to books being read to you!
15. Feel like your family needs a screen break? Here are some tips on how you can unplug »

Storytimes

16. This spring, find storytimes at all three library locations every week, and library storytimes return to the parks around town this summer. Check the library’s storytime schedule to stay up to date!
17. Every Tuesday at 1:30 pm, the library hosts Supported Storytimes for kids 3+ with disabilities or who feel uncomfortable in big groups.
18. Our Beary Fun Storytime and Craft on March 25 is going to be beary fun indeed!
19. Raquel MacKay, author of the bilingual book I Hear a Buho, will visit the Main Library to share her book and a craft on June 15. Registration will open in April!

Events

20. March 12-17: Hunt for shamrocks left at the Oak Park Conservatory! Find all seven and receive a prize.
21. March 17: Does your preschool-age child have a disabled sibling? Check out our Sibshop just for kids 3-6.
22. March 18: Parents and caregivers are invited to create a vision board at the Forest Park Public Library with Families First | La Familia Primero! Child care provided. 
23. March 19: Explore nature with Miss Amy at our Tinkergarten Nature Class.
24. March 30: The Park District is holding an Egg Dash and Scramble for kids and another for dogs!
25. April 6-12: Join community partners for family-friendly activities to celebrate Week of the Young Child.
26. April 12: The Collaboration is hosting a caregiver workshop and play date at Wonder Works Children’s Museum on Navigating Conflict at Home.
27. Starting in April (exact date to be announced): Join the Bilingual (Spanish and English) Parent/Caregiver Workshop Series.
28. April 21: Visit the OP Conservatory KidsFest to check out bugs through a magnifying glass and say hello to live animals! Celebrate the wonders of our planet with activities presented by our community partners.
29. April 22: Celebrate Earth Day with a special Upcycle Earth Day Craft.
30. April 29: Join Miss Shelley (a neurodivergent librarian) for an in-person and virtual caregiver workshop on Normalizing Neurodivergence and Understanding ADHD and Autism, with First United Nursery School and the Collaboration for Early Childhood. Childcare will be available for attendees at the Main Library.
31. May 5: The Collaboration will host a caregiver workshop and play date at Wonder Works Children’s Museum on the topic of Kindergarten Readiness – What Teachers Wish Parents Knew.
32. May 5: Join Families First | La Familia Primero for a Mother’s Day celebration, to pick up Baby Bundles and participate in a family photo shoot. 
33. May 19: Blast off to Kindergarten, a communitywide kindergarten readiness celebration, will return!
34. May 20: Miss Shelley will host an in-person and virtual caregiver workshop Guide to Reading Readiness and Early Literacy,  with First United Nursery School and the Collaboration for Early Childhood. Childcare will be available for attendees at the Main Library.
35. Brookfield Zoo is celebrating spring and its 90th anniversary with events like a Bunny Hop and a temporary Ferris wheel. Check out a zoo pass with your Oak Park Public Library card at any library location.
36. And, of course, summer reading starts June 1! We can’t wait to share adventures with you all.