Winter is here, and as the days grow cozier, your public library and the Collaboration for Early Childhood have put together a bunch of fun ways for families and kids to learn, play, and stay connected. So take a peek at what’s ahead this season, and we’ll see you out and about!
Activities
- Oak Park Public Library staff celebrate Holidays Around the World and want to share their holiday traditions with you! Enjoy videos, recipes, books, and activity suggestions.
- The nights get longer the closer we get to the Winter Solstice. In this video with Miss Shelley, we’ll talk about light in darkness!
- Looking for new books to share? Check out 2025 favorites from your Oak Park Public Library staff!
- Pick up a free Toddler Kit from the Collaboration for Early Childhood. Designed for families with little ones ages 12-36 months, it includes books and fun, creative ways to support your child’s development.
- Caregivers, this is your reminder to be kind to yourself. Take time to model breaks and work on your own self-regulation during this very busy season!
- You also can watch this video on handling hard days with your children.
- Once your fingers and toes have had enough of the outdoors, here are some indoor play ideas.
- Are kids struggling with all the necessary cold-weather gear? Watch this video about getting dressed for the outside, set to song! Music makes everything easier.
- Get ready for winter with fun Early Bird Learning videos that cover seasonal songs, nature, and science exploration, mindfulness and calming breathing, and other activities.
- Use your Oak Park library card to get discounts at local cultural institutions—like Bronzeville Children’s Museum, Chicago Botanic Gardens, and the Museum of Science and Industry—with the Museum Adventure Pass and Explore More Illinois.
Storytimes
- On December 30, celebrate all things snow, as we read stories, share songs, play with puppets, and do a snowy craft.
- Weekly storytimes return on January 6, after a brief winter break.
- 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.
- The Oak Park Conservatory offers free storytimes and toddler play times throughout the week starting January 14.
- Enjoy stories, songs, and dancing during Cuenta Cuentos Con Kathy, an immersive Spanish language storytime, in January and February.
- On February 13, come for a winter themed storytime and stay for winter animal themed activities with Brookfield Zoo!
Places
- Send letters to Santa express to the North Pole, no postage needed! Write your own letter or use this template. Then mail your completed letter in the big red mailbox outside of the Collaboration for Early Childhood office. If the office is closed, slip it through the door slot; we’ll make sure the letter is delivered!
- The Park District of Oak Park provides two unique opportunities to offset the financial barriers of accessing programming: scholarships and childcare discount memberships. Learn more and apply now for 2026.
- Early learning programs that run on a school year calendar tend to open registration for the 2026-27 school year in January. The Collaboration for Early Childhood has gathered many of their scheduled open houses all in one place so you can plan and explore more easily!
Events
- Through December 31: Brookfield Zoo hosts fun events like Holiday Magic. Check online or stop by any library location with your Oak Park library card to see if a zoo pass to admit two is available.
- December 31: Count down to 2026 and make a memory journal! We’ll supply the paper for kids to draw their own books.
- January 2: Use our stamps to design your own bookmarks, and we’ll laminate them so you can keep them forever.
- January 5: Explore the roots of American music at the Interactive Blues Music Concert with Wendy and DB!
- January 5-March 30 (Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays): Drop in for free winter nature fun with the Park District of Oak Park.
- January 10: Delve into the art of manifesting dreams through the power of vision boards. Explore the profound impact of visually representing your aspirations.
- Starting January 14: The Oak Park Conservatory offers free storytimes and toddler play times throughout the week.
- January 21: Yoga for kindergarteners, rising kindergarteners and their families! This free family yoga session will focus on returning to routines through movement and mindfulness.
- February 7: The Caregiver Collective begins. Are you working to make things happen in the middle of your full (and sometimes overflowing) life? Then this workshop series is for you! Join us to plan and discover your sense of direction and help other parents and caregivers on their journeys, too! This workshop series is completely free.
- February 14: Maximize love and manage stress this Valentine’s Day at the Collaboration’s New Neighbor Play Date. Come with your children ages 0-5 for crafts, snacks, fun, and family connection!