40 things to do with little ones this fall

Take a peek at all the exciting happenings for families this fall, curated by your public library and the Collaboration for Early Childhood! We hope to see you and your little ones out and about during this cozy season. 

Activities

1. New year, new transitions: Caregivers, find books and videos to help smooth the way for new routines and schedules. 
2. Get ready for fall with fun Early Bird Learning videos! Also, check out our new early learning section for caregivers. Explore using nature to build literacy and science skills, and find tips on setting up reading times for success.
3. Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15–October 15) with your little ones through diverse books, engaging events, and fun videos! 
4. Two fall essentials for families with new babies are a Baby Bundle and a library card!
5. November is Native American Heritage Month, but every month is a good month to share stories from Native authors.
6. Does your child have a disability or a new disabled classmate? Disabilities are a normal, neutral part of life, and this video shares one way and one book to start a conversation. You can learn how to find disability-affirming books in this video, and find resources for children with disabilities on the Collaboration for Early Childhood’s website. 
7. What is early literacy? Learn how you can support your child’s fun and development in just a few steps. 
8. For kids, play isn’t just fun, it’s learning. Make sure kids get plenty of unstructured, child-led play times so their brains and bodies grow. Watch specific examples of what skills connect to various activities.
9. Self-regulation is a skill that needs to be explicitly taught, not just modeled! This video illustrates 10 ways to co-regulate with kids, and this video highlights a wonderful book about a little kid and her co-regulating mom called Wiggles, Stomps, and Squeezes Calm My Jitters Down. It’s one of Miss Shelley’s favorites, and the sequel is even better!
10. When it comes to nurturing a new baby, fed is best, whether bottle or breast. If you are preparing to start your breastfeeding journey, get some helpful tips from Dr. Rivera, a pediatrician at the IWS Children’s Clinic in our recent podcast. Listen and catch up on past episodes (featuring Oak Park Public Library friends, too!).
11. Help us celebrate Boo-ktober! The Oak Park Public Library is working together with Beyond Hunger to build home libraries in our community. We need your donations of children’s books in good condition (baby board books through young adult) to distribute to pantry clients. Books in Spanish are especially appreciated. Drop them off anytime in October.

Storytimes

12. Storytimes in the Park continue through October 15! After that, we’ll be back at the Main Library on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
13. Call the Oak Park Public Library’s Dial-a-Story service to hear stories read by your favorite librarians, day or night! Dial 708.816.2800 to start listening. Add in storytime songs with Miss Shelley and Miss Jenny to make your own unique storytime.
14. Supported Storytime & Family Play for kids with disabilities or support needs are now on Mondays at 4 pm.
15. Wee-woo! Meet a Firefighter Storytime on October 10. 
16. Haunted Trails Tales in the Dark will be filled with light-fright fun stories. Come early and make Creepy Crawly Jars at Craft Corner, our intergenerational craft series, which will light the night beautifully! The fun starts at 5 pm on October 28, with stories at 6 pm.
17. Cuenta Cuentos con Kathy/Spanish Storytime With Kathy is held most Friday mornings at the Main Library. Check the calendar to see when she’ll be there!
18. The Oak Park Conservatory hosts bilingual Spanish and English storytimes on the first Wednesday of each month, and English-language storytimes on the remaining Wednesdays each month. Plus, second Wednesdays feature music from the Oak Park Farmers Market Band!

Places

19. Visit the Oak Park Conservatory for Toddler Exploration Times, the third Friday of every month, September through November.
20. Drop in on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays for fun and free nature activities at Austin Gardens.
21. Brookfield Zoo hosts fun events like BOO! at the Zoo and a Hispanic Heritage Fest. Check if a zoo pass to admit two is available through the Museum Adventure Pass with your Oak Park library card.
22. Visit the library’s Día de Muertos ofrenda in the Main Library Community Space.

Events

23. September 23: Potty Training workshop in English and on Zoom. 
24. September 26: Head over to the Kids’ Root Beer Garden at Oaktoberfest to participate in artistic, educational, and hands-on activities.  After you race your zucchini car, you can race a buddy through the Collaboration’s Little Sprouts Corn Quest obstacle course!  
25. September 27: Fall Fest at Rehm Park is free fun for the whole family with carnival rides, music, games, and food vendors. Plus, stop by and see the bats and skunks at the conservatory! 
26. October 5: Dress for a bit of mess, and explore a variety of activities during monthly Messy Mondays Sensory Play! Also on November 9 and December 7.
27. October 7 and 9: Need to get rid of or find a new costume? Drop off old costumes at the Main Library October 1–November 5 (not required), and “shop” the free Children’s Halloween Costume Swap on October 7 and 9.
28. October 10: Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with the Village at the annual ¡VIVA! Festival.
29. October 13: Potty Training workshop in Spanish and on Zoom. 
30. October 14: Being Bilingual Rocks! Concert with Alina Celeste & Mi Amigo Hamlet is always a treat. 
31. October 17: Celebrate Fall Family Fun with a costume parade, treats in Hemingway District shops, and the Early Childhood Resource Fair at the Main Library.
32. October 20: Bilingual Neighbor Play Date at Maze Branch. 
33. October 23: Trunk or Treat with local organizations in the Ridgeland Common Parking lot! All costumed trick or treaters get treats.
34. November 1: Oak Park’s long-awaited  Día de los Muertos celebration in Scoville Park.
35. November 13:  We’re going to dive deep into nature and see what kids notice in Preschool Nature Photography! This is a child-led program; caregivers are encouraged to take their own photos when they spot cool things.
36. November 14: Ring out the end of the Oak Park Farmer’s Market’s season with the annual reading and sharing of Stone Soup.
37. November 14: It’s a fall fun block party! Kids can decorate their bikes and take a spin around the brand new Oak Park Avenue during the Hemingway District’s Street Reopening Celebration.
38. November 17: Want to learn more about autism, ADHD, accommodations at home and on the go, and how to explain them to family members you don’t often see? Register for the virtual Understanding Autism & ADHD event on Zoom, and you will also get a link to the slides and recording after.
39. November 21: Enjoy photos with Santa, workshops, gifts, and a candy cane walk while you hunt for Cece the Collaboration’s little pig with wings in participating businesses at Saturday With Santa in the Oak Park Arts District.
40. November 28: Get in the holiday spirit with a variety of family-friendly holiday activities during the Hemingway District Shop Small Celebration and Tree Lighting.