Tagged Childrens Programs

Saturdays on Stage: Dance, Sing, and Get Inspired This Fall!

Our fall line up for Sundays on Stage is here, and it’s packed with old favorites and new acts. This season we will again host live, free performances on Saturdays in the Montgomery Auditorium in Parkway Central Library , and we…

Department Highlights: Central Children's

Since  Parkway Central Library  opened in 1927, patrons have had free and open access to its rich and unique collections, expanding services, and professionally trained and welcoming staff. The robust programs and collections…

Join Charles Durham Library for Animal Tales from the Philadelphia Zoo!

The Free Library of Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Zoo are two of the City of Brotherly Love’s oldest and most respected institutions, so it’s only fitting that they are teaming up in the coming months to present Animal…

McPherson Square Welcomes the Story Trail Project

In 2023, KABOOM! , the nonprofit dedicated to ending playspace inequity, brought playful learning and literacy organizations together to co-create a Story Trail — an interactive trail with story panels like a book…

Want To Learn How to Skateboard?

An adrenaline rush is defined as a physical feeling of intense excitement and stimulation caused by the release of adrenaline from the adrenal glands. That’s gnarly! Do you know what else is gnarly? Learning how to…

Sundays on Stage is Back … on Saturdays this Season!

Spread the word: Sundays on Stage is back this spring! This season we will host live performances on Saturdays in the Montgomery Auditorium at Parkway Central Library . After nearly four years of virtual performances, Sundays on Stage…

The Outdoor Costume Parade Returns to Parkway Central Library on October 26!

Join the Central Children’s Department  on Thursday, October 26 from 3:30 p.m.–4:30 p.m. (rain date: Friday, October 27) for our yearly Costume Parade! Bookmark the event on the Free Library's website event…

Philly Families, Get Ready for Reading Promise Week!

Reading Promise Week is October 7–15, 2023! Philly’s fourth annual family reading festival is back and bigger than ever. Over 70 free family events are giving away 16,000 children’s books citywide!  If you…

Read, Baby, Read: The Power of Talk For Nurturing Your Baby's Brain

Read, Baby, Read at the Free Library knows that early childhood matters! We also know that from day one, you want to set the stage for your baby’s lifelong learning, happiness, and success. We are delighted to kick off this blog…

Dungeons & Dragons and The Free Library

In recent years, Dungeons & Dragons (or D&D ) has transformed from a nerdy niche into a pop culture staple, recognizable in popular shows like the Netflix original series Stranger Things , or the Amazon animated series Vox…

Join the Summer Camp Challenge!

Summer is on its way, once again. If you will be working with Philly kids at an existing summer camp program, we welcome you to join us in the Summer Camp Challenge! Whether it’s your camp’s first time or third, this program…

Literacy in Early Learning Spaces | Write from the Start

Literacy in Early Learning Spaces is a Free Library project focused on literacy and language development in children from birth through 5 years old. We partner with childcare programs across Philadelphia and are funded through a…

Join Us for Reading Promise Week | October 10-16

What Will Your Reading Promise Be? The Free Library and Read By 4th invite your family to join us for Reading Promise Week , October 10-16! This weeklong in-person event series serves as a catalyst for the Reading Promise initiative.…

Read, Baby, Read Presents Early Literacy Ideas: Bedtime!

Read, Baby, Read is a Free Library initiative focused on encouraging early literacy development among infants and young toddlers under two years old. We work with 17 participating libraries across Philadelphia to reach caregivers of all…

Literacy in Early Learning Spaces | How does reading out loud help young children learn to talk?

Literacy in Early Learning Spaces is a Free Library project focused on literacy and language development in children from birth through 5 years old. We partner with childcare programs across Philadelphia and are funded through a…

Halfway through Summer of Wonder 2022!

The Summer Readers of Philadelphia are on a roll. Just halfway through the Free Library’s Summer of Wonder, we’re more than halfway to our citywide online reading minutes goal! If you’re not signed up yet, it’s…

Literacy in Early Learning Spaces | How do young children interact with books?

Literacy in Early Learning Spaces is a Free Library project focused on literacy and language development in children from birth through 5 years old. We partner with childcare programs across Philadelphia and are funded through a…

Keep it Fresh with Fresh Herbs!

Fresh herbs add flavor and nutrition to meals, they are beautiful when added to dishes, and many of them have unique fragrances. They are like tiny greens ! Maybe fresh herbs will inspire poems, cooking, or preserving like they do for…

Read, Baby, Read Presents Early Literacy Ideas: Babies!

Read, Baby, Read is a Free Library initiative focused on encouraging early literacy development among infants and young toddlers under two years old. We work with 17 participating libraries across Philadelphia to reach caregivers of all…

Start Summer of Wonder with a Treasure Hunt

There’s treasure in your neighborhood if you know where to look! Southwest Philadelphia families are invited to hunt down treasure troves of books to kick-off Summer of Wonder in June. Saturday, June 4th, starting at 10am until…