Parenting

Children's Programs

Whether you are the parent of a newborn (congratulations!) or you are looking for activities for toddlers, preschoolers, or older children, the library offers programs that will help you guide your child towards success by promoting language, literacy and social skills. Coming to library programs with your family helps promote family bonding and helps develop habits that lead to success. These programs are free and offered at branches throughout the city.

Library programs for young children are created to include books, songs, fingerplays, puppets, rhymes and activities. These programs help build early literacy, listening, and group participation skills in preparation for school.

Babytime

  • Nursery rhymes, knee bounces, board books stories, songs and lullabies are basic literacy foundations for your baby and a great bonding experience for you both
  • For babies ages 0-18 months old and a parent or caregiver.

Toddlertime

  • Music, dance, movement, rhymes, books, and story activities like puppets and flannel board
  • For toddlers aged 18 months old to 3 years old and a parent or caregiver.

Storytime

  • Stories, songs, rhymes, book activities like puppets and felts, and maybe a complementary craft!
  • For children ages 19 months to school age.

Family Storytime

  • Stories, songs and rhymes for the whole family to enjoy together.
  • Geared to each audience with something for everyone - children of all ages and their parents.

For older children

The library hosts a variety of free programs and events each year including homework help, reading buddies, book clubs, author visits, musical performances, STEM programming and more. These encourage your child to develop their language and communication skills while exploring topics of interest. While too numerous and varied to list here, our programs can be searched at through our programs and events page. 

Events

  • Saturday Jan 10, 2026 at 2:30pm (series runs until Feb 07, 2026)
    Join us for a program that features: dimmed lighting sensory toys a smaller number of participants an adapted circle time with stories, rhymes and songs...
  • Tuesday Jan 13, 2026 at 10:00am (series runs until Mar 03, 2026)
    Courtes histoires, comptines et chansons pour les bambins (des petit.e.s âgé.e.s d'environ 19 à 36 mois) accompagnés d'un parent ou gardien. Jouons à la biblio!...
  • Parenting in Ottawa
    Tuesday Dec 23, 2025 at 1:00pm (series runs until Jun 30, 2026)
    Speak, in person, with a Public Health Nurse to get support around infant feeding and parenting. No appointment is necessary, simply drop in during these...
  • Wednesday Dec 17, 2025 at 1:00pm (series runs until Aug 26, 2026)
    Speak, in person, with a Public Health Nurse to get support around infant feeding and parenting. No appointment is necessary, simply drop in during these...