This January is all about making, moving, singing and reading in the Greenwich Library Children’s Room. There is a lot on tap for music-loving families, including the popular children’s performer Tom Weber, who will entertain audiences with an energetic show designed to get children laughing, singing and dancing to the beat. Anitra Brooks will have kids singing in multiple languages, while the very youngest of listeners will enjoy our Petite Concert with violinists Chi-Chi Bestmann and Chie Yoshinaka.
Check the online calendar for details on the Library’s full slate of regular drop-in storytimes, including Mother Goose Storytime, Baby Lapsit, Fiesta de los Cuentos, Wee Ones, Tales for Tots and more throughout January.
Don’t forget to sign-up online at greenwichlibrary.org/enews for the Children’s Room eNewsletter, featuring special events and news from the Main Library and its branches.
***All programs held at the Main Library unless otherwise noted.
Fun Friday (Ages 3-5)
Offered two Fridays this month! January 3 and 24, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Join us twice a month for a drop-in preschool playtime in the Children’s Room that encourages creativity and imaginative thinking as children explore, build and learn in an open play setting. STEAM learning will happen naturally as children try new things and enjoy a hands-on opportunity to investigate their world. At Fun Friday playtime, Greenwich Library staff will provide age-appropriate, educational items that encourage young children to develop the critical thinking and problem-solving skills they will use in science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics.
Family Fun Saturday: Legos, Games and Craft at Cos Cob Library (Ages 3 and Up)
Saturday, January 4, 10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Pack up the fam, drive on over and drop in to create something wonderful with our Legos. Children under the age of seven must be accompanied by an adult. Families are welcome to work on a project together. Stay to play one of our board games and do a drop-in craft as well.
Toddler Exploration Time (Ages 1-2)
Offered two Mondays this month! January 6 and 27, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Join us for a fun, open playtime created with the Library’s littlest patrons in mind. Using blocks, sensory bins and other items, this event is designed to encourage creativity and imagination and help little ones develop their motor and critical thinking skills. Drop in and let your toddlers use their senses to learn about their world in the Children’s Room.
Spanish Storytime at Cos Cob Library
Offered two Tuesdays this month! January 7 and 21, 10:30 – 11 a.m.
Join us for Spanish Storytime with Miss Patricia! Little ones are welcome to drop in for a weekly half hour of music and songs, stories and movement. It’s time to learn some Spanish and have some fun! No registration is necessary.
STEAM Storytime (Ages 3-4)
Offered two Tuesdays this month! January 7 and 21, 4 – 4:45 p.m.
Join us as we take story time to a whole new level in the Children’s Room. This interactive STEAM children’s event includes songs, action rhymes, dancing and a book reading with themes that focus on science, technology, engineering, arts and math. Afterward, kids will bring these themes to life in a hands-on activity, such as paper airplanes or KEVA blocks.
World Music with Anitra
Friday, January 10, 3:45 – 4:30 p.m.
Local resident and talented singer, Anitra Brooks, sings in five different languages and teaches the audience the refrains so they can sing parts of the songs along with her. Most songs are played on her ukulele and volunteers play percussion with her. This concert is geared toward preschoolers and early elementary school students, but older children and adults are welcome. No registration required.
Japanese Storytime
Tuesday, January 14, 4:30 – 5 p.m.
Join us for a fun and exciting half-hour of stories, games, and music in Japanese.
Sing-a-Long Music Time with Tom Weber
Saturday, January 18, 10:30 – 11:15 a.m.
Local musician Tom Weber’s performances are filled with interactive movement, props, singing, dancing, and lots of energetic fun. His repertoire includes original songs as well as traditional favorites, and is intended to get children moving, singing, and feeling confident! No registration required.
Petite Concert
Tuesday, January 21, 10:30 – 11 a.m.
Petite Concerts are 30-minute live concerts for the youngest of listeners! From newborns to preschoolers, these concerts are informal and interactive and contain well known (and very short) musical selections with violinists Chi-Chi Bestmann and Chie Yoshinaka. At the end of the performance, there is an instrument discovery session for children. No registration is required.
Wednesday Crafternoons (Ages 9-12)
Wednesday, January 22, 4 – 5:30 p.m.
In this 90-minute registered program, boys and girls ages 9-12 will learn new skills and create unique handmade pieces each month. No experience necessary; all materials provided. Space is limited; registration required.
Science Saturday (Ages 5-8)
Saturday, January 25, 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Move over, Saturday morning cartoons! It’s time for Science Saturday. Join Ms. Lauren for all types of hands-on science experiments. Please arrive at least 10 minutes prior to the start of the program. Registration recommended!
Make-It Monday
Monday, January 27, 4 – 5 p.m.
In this 60-minute registered program, students in grades K-2 will learn new skills and create a unique craft each month. No experience necessary; all materials provided. Space is limited; registration required.
These events are made possible through the support of the Greenwich Library Board of Trustees and contributions by generous donors. Contact Head of Children’s Services Deirdre Sullivan at dsullivan@greenwichlibrary.org or call 203-622-7940 for more information.
Steam programs for all ages in January
This month, Greenwich Library will host an exciting and diverse lineup of STEAM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) activities designed to encourage adults, teenagers and little ones to stretch their minds and expand their creative problem-solving skills—while having fun, too!
*Unless otherwise noted, all programs are at the Greenwich Main Library and require registration, which can be done through the Library’s online calendar.
(Offered Weekly This Month!) 3D Printer Certification: Lulzbot Mini: January 2 from 6 – 7:30 p.m., January 5, 12, 19, 26 from 2 -3:30 p.m. Discover everything you need to know about the Lulzbot Mini 3D printer in this informative, hands-on training session for ages 13 and up. Participants will learn how to change filament, select objects to print, set up a print job and troubleshoot. After attending this class and receiving certification, patrons will be able to reserve time to print their own projects.
Family Fun Saturday: Legos, Games, and Craft at Cos Cob Library: January 5 from 10:30 am – 4:30 p.m. Drop in and create something wonderful during this relaxed afternoon. Families and children ages three and older are welcome to work on a project together, play one of our board games or make a craft. (Please note: children under the age of seven must be accompanied by an adult.)
Story Crafts: January 8 from 4 – 5 p.m. Enjoy stories, songs and a fun take-home craft designed for three-, four- and five-year-olds with a parent or caregiver. No registration required but space is limited. Please arrive early and sign in at the Children’s Room desk.
Make It Thursday at Cos Cob Library: January 17 from 4 – 5 p.m. Each month we explore a different STEAM topic with a hands-on activity for kids ages eight to 11. Past projects have included making custom foam stamps with unique, personalized designs.
(New!) Learn Electronics with Arduino: January 17 from 7 – 8:30 p.m. Interested in learning electronics? Or do you already know a bit but would like an easy way to prototype your ideas? Arduino is a simple computer that can sense and control more of the physical world than your normal desktop. For example, an Arduino can be programmed to recognize the sound of a knock at the front door and then unlatch the lock. It can also be used to develop interactive objects, like a light that turns on and off in response to a hand being waved in front of a switch. In this course, participants work with the Arduino Uno microcontroller board and learn the basics of writing computer code to make their own technology project or idea come alive. For ages 13 and up.
Science Saturday: January 26 from 11 – 12 p.m. Join us for a hands-on science experiment as we explore the plasma state of matter and concoct our own gooey Oobleck. All activities are tailored to children ages five to eight. Please arrive at least 10 minutes prior to the start of the program.
Wednesday Crafternoons: January 30 from 4 – 5:30 p.m. In this interactive 90-minute program, children ages eight to eleven will learn new skills and create unique handmade pieces. For January, the special topic is hand-knitting a winter scarf using chunky yarn and no needles. All materials will be provided and no experience is necessary.
All programs and services are made available to Library patrons at no charge through the support of the Greenwich Library Board of Trustees and contributions by generous donors. For more information and on these and other programs, visit www.greenwichlibrary.org
