MML Children’s Programs
Overview
Here in the Children’s Department, we love reading, learning, and organized chaos. We’re always excited to share that with you. Within the department we offer places to play, read, explore, and learn. Throughout the year we offer a variety of programs that offer a hands-on approach to that ideal. See details on our current programs below and feel free to call 419-347-5576 EXT 5 or email [email protected] with questions or ideas.
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2024-2025 Programming
Special Events
Join us once a month for something extra fun and exciting! This year’s line up includes LEGO Contests, Family Fort Night, Trick-or-Treat at the Library, and more.
Children’s Craft Carnival
Saturday January 18 from 10:30 – 1:00
Drop by any time between 10:30 and 1:00 for games, snacks, crafts, prizes, and more!
Family Literacy Night with Shining Lights Preschool
Tuesday February 4 at 6:00
In partnership with Shining Lights Preschool, we’re hosting a night of Early Literacy fun for families. Join us for stories, games, crafts, and more! We’ll share early literacy tips and provide a chance to check out all the library has to offer.
Take Your Child to the Library Day
Saturday February 15 from 10:30 – 1:00
Celebrate everything that makes the library great! Drop by anytime for breakfast snacks, a chance to meet and hang out with other library families, crafts, puzzles, games, and more! It’s a great chance to learn (or remember) all the best parts of the Children’s Department, Library Joy, and fostering a love of reading and learning.
Family Fort Night
Tuesday February 25 at 6:00
Join us for a night of stories, fort building, and s’mores in the Children’s Department! Every family will get to pick their campsite and build a blanket fort. We’ll share a few stories, a craft, and enjoy s’mores in our forts.
Please bring your own blankets, we’ll supply everything else.
Registration is REQUIRED and will be open Monday February 10 and close Saturday February 22.
Upcoming Events
- LEGO Contest: Saturday March 29 (registration required)
- Earth Day Carnival: Saturday April 19 from 10:30-1:00
- Top Chef: Saturday May 17
- Family Game Nights featuring the Thinking Money for Kids Games: Fourth Tuesdays at 6:00 beginning in March
STEM Saturdays
Join Miss Kat for some hair-raising scientific experimentation! We’ll get messy, try new things, and learn something about the world while having fun.
Kindergarteners-6th Graders Welcome on the first Saturday of the month at 11:00
- January 4: CSI Science
- February 1: Slime Time
- March 1: Will it float?
- April 5: Down with Gravity
- May 3: Explosions
Crafturday
Join Miss Jami for some creative crafting! We’ll get messy, try new things, and have something awesome to take home afterwards. Miss Jami is still picking out crafts, so make sure you keep an eye on Facebook/our monthly calendars for all the details and sample pictures.
Kindergarteners-6th Graders Welcome on the second Saturday of the month at 11:00
- January 11: Snowflake Mobiles
- February 8: Love Bugs
- March 8: Spring Crafts
- April 12: Recycled Crafts – Collages and More
- May 10: Sand Art – Pictures, Necklaces, and More
Family Book Club
Miss Jami is VERY EXCITED about this new activity-Family Book Club! Read the books together at home and we’ll talk about them together. Each book discussion will include an activity, talking points, and more! We’ve selected a variety of books with different themes, reading levels, and genres. Hopefully you’ll find at least one that gets you as excited as Miss Jami is for the whole year.
Books for the next meeting will be provided at Book Club and available in the Children’s Department. Pick one up today!
Please feel welcome to come even if you don’t finish the book – we’ll try to avoid spoilers for you!
Bring the whole Family on the second Tuesday of the month at 6:00
- January 14: Dog Squad by Chris Grabenstein
- February 11: Beezus and Ramona by Beverly Cleary
- March 11: The Trouble with Chickens by Doreen Cronin
- April 8: The Candymakers by Wendy Mass
- May 13: No Talking by Andrew Clements
Story Time: My Life and Travels
Join us for games, stories, music, crafts, and more! This year we’ll be reading about ourselves, the world around us, and it all fits together.
Ages 2-5: Tuesdays/Thursdays at 10:30
Family Story Time: Mondays at 6:00
As always, age groups are not set in stone-what works for you works for us, we’re always happy to see you.
Upcoming Monthly Themes:
- January: Places to Go and Ways to Get There
- February: People to See
- March: Wild Weather and Creative Critters Along the Way
- April: Creatively Share Your Experiences
Homeschool Program
Homeschool families are invited to join us on the third Wednesday of the month at 1:00. This year’s theme is Interesting People. We’ll read some biographies and learn about the lives of artists, inventors, scientists, musicians, and more. Then we’ll complete an activity (or two) corresponding to that person’s life work.
We’re planning for middle school students (5th-8th grade), but can be adjusted for younger students as well. As with our story times, you know your children best, if you think this is a good fit, please come, we’d love to have you.
- January 15: Change Makers (people who did it first)
- February 19: Presidents
- March 19: Athletes
- April 16: Environmentalists
- May 21: Musicians
Study Buddies
Students needing extra support are welcome to join us at Study Buddies on Wednesdays at 4:00 from September 4-May 21.
Register to be paired with an older student and practice together every week or just come when you need a little help. Registration forms for paired, weekly meetings can be picked up at the front desk. Registration is not required for the occasional drop in, but we can’t guarantee you’ll get the same helper every time.
Helpers are needed – we prefer middle/high school students – please register using the same forms at the front desk.
Builders’ Club
Drop by the Children’s Department on the first and third Tuesday of the month at 4:00 to build, challenge your engineering thinking, and have fun!
Photo Sharing
Have awesome pictures from our programs, activities, or finished Take & Make crafts? Share them with us by tagging us in your Facebook Post or emailing them to [email protected]. By sending pictures, you acknowledge that we may or may not use them for promotions or other library related-media.