For the kids

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 0 to 17 year olds, which will provide fun and educational activities to keep your children happy during the holidays.

Bookings are essential and will open Monday 17 March.

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)

Toddler Time (12 months - 2.5 years)

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.

These sessions are for families who speak English as an additional language to help children develop English speaking and listening skills. Bookings are for a 10 week term.

Aimed at ages 2 - 5 years.

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

Dates and Time: Tuesdays 29 April to 1 July, 10am - 10.45am

Bookings are essential, and open on Tuesday 1 April.

Register

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 

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

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.

Term 2 is all about marine science. Learn about different marine life, the environments in which they live and much more.

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

Location: Mary Davies Library and Community Centre

Dates and Time: Thursdays 1 May to 19 June, 4pm - 5pm

Suitable for ages 7-11. Registrations open Thursday 3 April.

Register

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.

Every 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 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 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 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 is a digital collection of picture books (ebooks and audiobooks) in a diverse range of World Languages. 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.

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.