For the kids

City of Rockingham

Our libraries offer some great activities and programs for your kids. Find something that suits your children from below-listed activities. We would love to see you and your family at our libraries. 

Activities and programs

School Holiday Program - April 2024
A male child smiling and surrounded by falling autumn leaves

The autumn school holidays are just around the corner.

Check out the activities happening at our libraries, and register your children early. There are various exciting sessions for 3 to 17 year olds, which will provide fun and educational activities to keep your children happy during the holidays.

Bookings will open on Tuesday 5 March.

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LocationActivityDay/DateTimeAgeRegister
Safety Bay LibraryMoon gazing with StartracksWednesday 3 April10.30am - 12pm6+Registeropens in a new window
Warnbro Community LibraryJapanese Pastel Nagomi Art with HaiyiWednesday 3 April11am - 12.30pm6+Registeropens in a new window
Rockingham LibraryMoon gazing with StartracksWednesday 3 April1.30pm - 3pm6+Registeropens in a new window
Warnbro Community LibraryWind chimesThursday 4 April1.30pm - 2.30pm6+Registeropens in a new window
Rockingham LibraryInteractive movieFriday 5 April1pm - 4pm8+Registeropens in a new window
Mary Davies Library and Community CentreDuplo and LEGO® drop-inFriday 5 April2pm - 4pmAll ages No bookings required
Rockingham LibraryString artMonday 8 April10am - 11am6+Registeropens in a new window
Safety Bay LibraryDuplo and LEGO® afternoonMonday 8 April12pm - 3pmAll agesNo bookings required
Safety Bay LibraryMarvellous 3D minibeastsTuesday 9 April1.30pm - 2.30pm6+Registeropens in a new window
Mary Davies Library and Community CentreMario Kart tournamentTuesday 9 April5.30pm - 7.30pm13 - 17Registeropens in a new window
Warnbro Community LibraryFelt animal magnetsWednesday 10 April10am - 11am6+Registeropens in a new window
Mary Davies Library and Community CentreKids drama workshopWednesday 10 April10am - 11.30am6 - 11Registeropens in a new window
Rockingham LibraryTech stationsWednesday 10 April1.30pm - 3pm3+Registeropens in a new window
Safety Bay LibrarySlime studioThursday 11 April10.30am - 11.30am6+Registeropens in a new window
Mary Davies Library and Community CentreMakeup SFX with FilmbitesThursday 11 April9.30am - 11.30am10 - 16Registeropens in a new window
Warnbro Community LibraryMakeup SFX with FilmbitesThursday 11 April1.30pm - 3.30pm10 - 16Registeropens in a new window
Rhyme Time and Toddler Time

Reading to children from the time they are born has a positive effect on the development of language and vocabulary, as well as providing the pre-literacy skills that are essential in learning to read when a child begins school. The Rhyme Time (suitable for 0-2 years) and Toddler Time (suitable for 12 months - 2.5 years) programs are designed to encourage parents and children to enjoy the benefits of reading together.

Songs, rhymes, finger plays and stories are shared in a group environment. Library staff can also assist you in finding resources to suit your needs, such as board books for babies, nursery rhyme books and parenting resources. No registration is required for this free event.

Rhyme Time (0 - 2 years)

Father and baby with the words Rhyme Time!

 

 

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                          Location       Days         Time
Mary Davies Library and Community CentreMonday10.30am - 11.15am
Secret Harbour Community CentreTuesday10.30am - 11.15am
Rockingham LibraryTuesday11am - 11.45am
Safety Bay LibraryWednesday9.30am - 10.15am
Warnbro Community LibraryThursday9.30am - 10.15am
 

Toddler Time (12 months - 2.5 years)

Mother and son with the words Toddler Time

 

 

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                            Location       Days         Time
Mary Davies Library and Community CentreMonday9.30am - 10.15am
Safety Bay LibraryMonday9.30am - 10.15am
Rockingham LibraryTuesday10am - 10.45am
Secret Harbour Community CentreTuesday9.30am - 10.15am
Warnbro Community LibraryThursday10.30am - 11.15am
Mary Davies Library and Community CentreSaturday10am - 10.45am
Story Times for preschoolers

""Story Time for children aged 2-5 years is held at all four libraries during the school term. Sessions aim to encourage a love of reading and start developing many of the skills needed when starting school.

No registration is required for this free event.

 

 

 

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                           Location        Days          Time
Safety Bay LibraryTuesday10.30am - 11.15am
Warnbro Community LibraryTuesday10am - 10.45am
Rockingham LibraryWednesday11am - 11.45am
Mary Davies Library and Community CentreFriday10am - 10.45am
Learning English Through Story Time at Rockingham Library
Adult reading with two children

This session is for families who speak English as an additional language to help children develop English speaking and listening skills.

Aimed at ages 2 - 5.

Location: Rockingham Libraryopens in a new window

Bookings are for an eight-week term every Wednesday from 7 February to 27 March, at 10am - 11am.

Bookings are essential and open on Wednesday 10 January.  

Registeropens in a new window

Under 5's STEAM Lab
Children doing an activity with the words Under 5's Steam Lab!

Under 5's STEAM Lab sessions are held during the school term and are for kids up to 5 years who enjoy an exciting, group environment.

Each session will be different, exploring age appropriate science, technology, engineering, art or maths to challenge the kids' creative and problem solving skills.

In the group they will meet new friends with similar interests. Bookings essential.

Rockingham Libraryopens in a new window - every Monday 10am - 11am

Mary Davies Library and Community Centreopens in a new window - Wednesday (fortnightly) 10.30am - 11.30am

Safety Bay Libraryopens in a new window - every Thursday 10am - 11am

Warnbro Community Libraryopens in a new window - Friday (fortnightly) 10.30am - 11.30am

Register for Under 5's STEAM LAB sessionopens in a new window 

Girls in STEM at Mary Davies Library and Community Centre
Girls in STEM logo

Presented by Little Genius, this series of workshops is designed to inspire primary school aged girls in Rockingham to get motivated by science, technology, engineering and maths.

This term's theme is all about Palaeontology. Learn about the different types of fossils, how they are formed, what they can tell us about dinosaurs and much more.

Attendance is free, but participants must be available to attend all sessions over the seven weeks.

Location: Mary Davies Library and Community Centreopens in a new window

Dates and Time: Mondays 5 February to 25 March 3.45pm - 4.45pm.

Suitable for ages 7-11.

Bookings are essential and open on Monday 8 January.  

This program will be repeated across all four libraries during the year.

Registeropens in a new window

STEAM Lab
STEAM Lab - image of two laughing children while doing an experiment.

STEAM Lab sessions are run by all branches during the school term for children aged 6+ who enjoy an exciting and collaborative environment.

Each session will be different, exploring science, technology, engineering, art or maths to challenge your creative and problem solving skills.

Come and meet friends with similar interests. Bookings essential.

Safety Bay Libraryopens in a new window - Wednesday (fortnightly) 3.45pm - 4.30pm

Rockingham Libraryopens in a new window - Thursday (fortnightly) 3.45pm - 4.30pm

Warnbro Community Libraryopens in a new window - Thursday (fortnightly) 3.45pm - 4.30pm

Mary Davies Library and Community Centreopens in a new window - Friday (fortnightly) 3.45pm - 4.30pm

Register for STEAM Lab sessionopens in a new window

Bright Tomorrows Parenting App
Image of the Bright Tomorrow app

The Bright Tomorrows app developed by child health experts at the Telethon Kids Institute is described as a 'one-stop shop' for tips and ideas to engage a child's brain. The app uses groundbreaking research into the early years (0-5) to create a collection of tips tailored to individual family situations.

The app includes over 1000 tips for activities designed to fit easily into everyday life organised into five core categories of skill development:

  • attention and focus
  • responding to emotions 
  • relationships and communication
  • planning and routines
  • taking on challenges

For more information visit Bright Tomorrowsopens in a new window.

Toy Library

Image of toy - wooden house

The City of Rockingham Toy Library operates from the Rockingham Library on Dixon Road.

The collection has a range of different toys (more than 800), that help develop children's skills and imagination across different stages of growth and development.

For more information please view the Toy Library page, or contact the library on 9528 8683.

 

Opening hours:

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    Day                              Time
Tuesday11am - 4pm
Thursday11am - 4pm
Saturday9.30am - 11.30am

Items from the Toy Library are available to all current and new library members to borrow free of charge.

Toys can be returned at any time during general library opening hours at Rockingham Library and loans will only be available during the above Toy Library hours.

Resources for kids

Better Beginnings

Better Beginnings kitEvery child born in the Rockingham district will receive a toolkit as part of the Better Beginningsopens in a new window Family Literacy Program.

The toolkit includes a picture book and guidance material for parents to develop their baby’s early literacy.

Busy Things

Busy Things <span class="sr-only">opens in a new window</span>Busy Thingsopens in a new window is a resource for the kids aged 3–11. It is a collection of fun learning activities that help children learn important skills in the key learning areas of creative development, problem solving, reasoning, numeracy, communication, language and literacy and knowledge and understanding of the world.

This subscription service has been provided through Better Beginningsopens in a new window supporting families in sharing a love of reading.                                                                                                                                                                

Kanopy Kids

Kanopy KidsKanopy Kidsopens in a new window has a diverse selection of educational and entertaining content that range across movies, TV series, animated storybooks, live action, and animated favourites with a focus on kids aged 2-8.

View more informationopens in a new window on this resource.

Good Reading for Kids

Good Reading for Kids logo <span class="sr-only">opens in a new window</span>Good Reading for Kids features author interviews, independent book reviews, sneak peeks inside books, extracts and podcasts about books for kids from 0-11 years of age. You'll also find fun book-related activities and teachers' notes to download.

No log in required.

LOTE4Kids

LOTE4Kids is a digital collection of picture books (ebooks and audiobooks) in a diverse range of World Languages.Two owls and the LOTE4Kids logo Children can enjoy the magic of books and other activities in LOTE (Languages Other Than English) at home. LOTE4Kids has over 3,000 picture books in 65+ languages together with English translations. New books and languages are released each month.

Story Box Library

Story Box Library <span class="sr-only">opens in a new window</span>The Story Box Libraryopens in a new window is a beautiful online 'reading room' - a place where the wonderful world of Australian Children's Literature is on permanent exhibit. The collection connects children with literature through the complementary medium of film, providing its audience with a vibrant, interactive experience via a diverse range of storytellers, each sharing past and present book titles.

Group visits

All of our libraries welcome visits by schools, child care centres and playgroups. Please contact the Young People’s Services Librarians to discuss a program for your visit.

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