Learn And Discover With National Library Board's Wide Array Of Free School Holiday Programmes This November And December!

Families can look forward to many fun-filled programmes from the National Library Board (NLB), such as storytelling sessions, and sessions on clay art, coding, and sustainability.

Free & Fun-Filled Holiday Programmes For Kids By National Library Board (NLB)

For the upcoming school holidays, the National Library Board (NLB) has organised an array of fun-filled activities and programmes at its libraries for the young ones. Children can let their imagination take flight by stepping into the shoes of a musician, baker, or scientist, pick up the basics of coding, ignite their passion for science, and instil a love for the environment through various experiential workshops. All programmes are free.

Here's taking a closer look at some of the programmes and activities:

The Early READ Fiesta

• 18 Nov 2023, 11am to 5pm, Choa Chu Kang Public Library
• 25 Nov 2023, 11am to 5pm, Woodlands Regional Library

Save the date! Join us for a series of exciting activities at the Early READ Fiesta! Children will get to enjoy STEM activities, hands-on crafts, science and coding workshops and much more!

Take part in our Do You Know Your Library Quiz and solve fun riddles with LiBEErian through this online adventure. Please visit this link. 

Play@Library

Join us for Play@Library! In this unstructured play programme, children and parents can learn, socialise and make new friends. Enjoy the books and variety of educational aids we have! This programme is open to children aged 6 and below. For more information and registration, please visit this link. 

Baby Lapsit | Early READ

• 17 Nov 2023, 2.30pm to 3pm, Woodlands Regional Library, Everest Room
• 25 Nov 2023, 11am to 11.30am, Tampines Regional Library, Level 6 Programme Zone
• 8 Dec 2023, 2.30pm to 3pm, Yishun Public Library, Programme Zone
• 9 Dec 2023, 11.30am to 12pm, Bukit Panjang Public Library, SCAR

Bond with your baby through songs, rhymes and fingerplay in this meaningful play session! In this session, you will be introduced to simple stories, songs, action rhymes and finger play that you can use to interact and bond with your baby at home. This programme is for parents with babies up to 12 months old. For more information and registration, please visit this link. 

Jiggle, Read & Rhyme | Early READ

• 1 Dec 2023, 2pm to 2.30pm, Jurong Regional Library, Programme Zone
• 2 Dec 2023, 11am to 11.30am, Bedok Public Library, Programme Room

Join us for 30 minutes of bonding fun with your toddler and engage your little one through meaningful play! For more information and registration, please visit this link. 

Sensory Storytime

• 18 Nov 2023, 2pm to 2.30pm, Punggol Regional Library, SCAR
• 2 Dec 2023, 2pm to 2.30pm, Punggol Regional Library, SCAR

Join us for a special storytime tailored to engage the different senses. This programme is designed to support children with autism and intellectual disability. Families with typically developing children are also welcome. This is a parent-child programme and each registration is for one participant. Please register one ticket each for you and your child. For more information and registration, please visit this link. 

If I Could Be Anything – Bilingual Picture Book Launch

• 18 Nov 2023, 11am to 11.30am, Punggol Regional Library, SCAR
• 25 Nov 2023, 3pm to 3.30pm, library@harbourfront, SCAR
• 9 Dec 2023, 4.30pm to 5pm, Jurong Regional Library, Programme Room
• 10 Dec 2023, 11am to 11.30am, Woodlands Regional Library, Everest Room

An interactive, and engaging session for older babies, toddlers, preschool children and their parents, this book launch consists of the author's reading of the bilingual picture book "If I Could Be Anything" in both English and Chinese. Following the reading, the author will demonstrate to parents how they can foster bilingualism in their children, through activities such as naming and playing with objects featured in the book (such as an umbrella, or nightlight). For more information and registration, please visit this link. 

Storytelling Sessions in SgSL: “Sleeping Beauty” and “Little Red Riding Hood”

• 24 Nov 2023, 2pm to 3pm, Woodlands Regional Library, Programme Room

SADeaf and NLB are proud to continue its storytelling series with this upcoming session in November at Woodlands Regional Library! Watch two beloved children’s classics come to life in Singapore Sign Language (SgSL). For more information and registration, please visit this link. 

[Little Artists] EcoJam - Music Workshop for Young Environmentalists

• 3 Dec 2023, 2pm to 3pm, Choa Chu Kang Public Library, Programme Room 1 & 2

Encourage your child’s creativity and love for music from a young age with our exciting ‘EcoJam’ workshop designed for children aged 4 to 6. This fun and interactive session will not only introduce the joy of making music but also instil early environmental awareness by using recycled materials to create simple musical instruments. For more information and registration, please visit this link.

[Little Artists] Cookie Melodies

• 11 Dec 2023, 2pm to 3pm, Toa Payoh Public Library, Programme Room

Step into a captivating workshop that effortlessly merges music with the delightful storybook "Baker Baker Cookie Maker". Your child will dive into the perfect blend of reading, music, movement, and play, led by the lovable Cookie Monster! With engaging activities, they'll uncover the magic of basic musical rhythms and embark on imaginative pretend play journeys. As young bakers explore make-believe baking, parents can observe their growth in valuable skills that enrich learning. Join us to nurture your child's love for reading, foster musical exploration, and spark imagination through music, movement, and play. For more information and registration, please visit this link.

Children's Puppet Castle

• 10 Dec 2023, 3pm to 4pm, Yishun Public Library, Programme Zone
• 17 Dec 2023, 3pm to 4pm, Pasir Ris Public Library, Programme Zone

Join us for a puppet show performed by Puppet Masters Arii Azharii and Christopher Chow. They will be performing two stories, Who Can Call The Sun Back? and The Wonderful Three Brothers. Learn more about performance techniques through this exciting performance!

[Budding Scientists] | Budding Scientist: Light Up Your Life

• 25 Nov 2023, 10.30am to 12pm, Woodlands Regional Library, Everest Room

Have fun learning about how circuits are used to make pop-up cards and make one for someone special this Christmas! For more information and registration, please visit this link.

[Budding Engineers] | Spark Curiosity: Simple Machines

• 2 Dec 2023, 12pm to 3pm, Pasir Ris Public Library, Children’s Section

Join us in embracing SCIENCE as a tool to understand the world! This interactive DIY science booth event is designed to introduce young children to the fascinating world of simple machines; through hands-on activities and take-home resources. For more information and registration, please visit this link. 

[STEM Storytelling] – Friends under the Sea

• 22 Dec 2023, 3.30pm to 4pm, Pasir Ris Public Library, Storytelling Corner

Join us for a special storytelling session where we will share fun facts and activities related to Science with children aged 4 to 6. For more information and registration, please visit this link.

[DiscoverTech] Introduction to Scratch Junior Coding

• 18 Nov 2023, 11am to 12pm, Serangoon Public Library, Programme Zone

ScratchJr is a programming language for children aged 4 to 6. Using ScratchJr, children can create their own interactive stories, animations and games. For more information and registration, please visit this link. 

[Connecting With Nature] Our Feathered Friends

• 5 Nov 2023, 2pm to 3pm, Sengkang Public Library, Programme Room

Curious about bird calls? Find out how to identify the common birds in Singapore by their calls and how to protect them from human activities such as glue trap and poaching. Children will also learn more about being kind to jungle fowls and the bird trade in Singapore. This programme is suitable for parents and children aged 4 to 6. For more information and registration, please visit this link.  

[Caring For Our Environment] Upcycle for a Sustainable Singapore

• 5 Dec 2023, 3pm to 4.30pm, Tampines Regional Library, Programme Zone

Join us for a fun and engaging upcycling workshop where we aim to inspire sustainable practices and reduce waste by repurposing materials creatively. You’ll learn innovative techniques and transform everyday materials into creative works of art. So let your imagination take centre stage and play your part to chart towards a more sustainable Singapore. This session is suitable for children aged 4 and above. For more information and registration, please visit this link.  

[Caring For Our Environment] Commence Plastic Reduction (C.P.R.) Environmental Clean-Up

• 7 Dec 2023, 10am to 11am, Woodlands Regional Library (Meeting Point: Woodlands Regional Library, Level 1 Entrance)

Join us for an exciting, educational morning amidst the lush greenery of Woodlands! Get ready for an adventure in gratitude with Blossom World Society (BWS), as we appreciate our environment and learn about the detrimental effects of single-use plastic. It's the perfect opportunity for parents and their children to bond while connecting with the environment in a whole new way. For more information and registration, please visit this link. 

S.T.E.A.M. Lab 2023

STEAM Lab 2023 is a learning and tinkering carnival for children and teens. Explore science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics at the carnival happening on 18 and 19 November 2023 at Woodlands Regional Library! Please visit Go Library for programme details.

Book Bugs Rescuers: The End?

Rescuers – did you really think we’d come to The End? Book Bugs Rescuers return to Bugtopia, home of the Book Bugs! Join Attie at the humble Bugtopian news as a budding writer to explore all four Lands—Vanam, Huo Huan, Samudera, Solaris—and discover how the four Lands of Bugtopia have flourished since the End Bug returned their stories.

From 4 to 30 December 2023, visit the regional libraries to view showcases of the Bugtopia Lands and take photos with life-sized Book Bugs. On Saturdays, redeem Book Bugs exclusives at different libraries by borrowing eight books and participating in activities such as:

• Pin-credible Discovery!
• Where's Attie and Friends?
• Build-A-Bugtopia
• A Book Bug's Life

Book Bugs Event Days

• Vanam @ Woodlands Regional Library, 9 Dec 2023, 12pm to 6pm
• Huo Huan @ Jurong Regional Library, 16 Dec 2023, 12pm to 6pm
• Samudera @ Tampines Regional Library, 23 Dec 2023, 12pm to 6pm
• Solaris @ Punggol Regional Library, 30 Dec 2023, 12pm to 6pm

December Holidays Special Thematic Storytelling & Activity

• 6 Dec 2023, 3pm to 4pm, Ang Mo Kio Public Library Activity Room
• 17 Dec 2023, 11am to 12pm, Bedok Public Library Programme Room
• 16 Dec 2023, 11.30am to 12.30pm, Bishan Public Library Activity Room
• 15 Dec 2023, 2pm to 3pm, Bukit Panjang Public Library Stories Come Alive Room
• 6 Dec 2023, 2pm to 3pm, Cheng San Public Library Activity Room
• 7 Dec 2023, 11am to 12pm, Choa Chu Kang Public Library Programme Room
• 11 Dec 2023, 3pm to 4pm, Geylang East Public Library Activity Room
• 17 Dec 2023, 12pm to 1pm, Jurong Regional Library Programme Zone
• 28 Dec 2023, 2.30pm to 3.30pm, Jurong West Public Library Programme Zone
• 23 Dec 2023, 3pm to 4pm, library@harbourfront Stories Come Alive Room
• 30 Dec 2023, 12pm to 1pm, Pasir Ris Public Library Programme Zone
• 24 Dec 2023, 11am to 12pm, Queenstown Public Library Programme Zone
• 10 Dec 2023, 11.30am to 12.30pm, Sembawang Public Library Programme Zone
• 12 Dec 2023, 12pm to 1pm, Sengkang Public Library Programme Zone
• 23 Dec 2023, 11.30am to 12.30pm, Serangoon Public Library Programme Zone
• 6 Dec 2023, 3pm to 4pm, Tampines Regional Library Level 4 Terrace
• 8 Dec 2023, 2pm to 3pm, Toa Payoh Public Library Programme Zone
• 17 Dec 2023, 11am to 12pm, Woodlands Regional Library Programme Zone
• 16 Dec 2023, 11.30am to 12.30pm, Yishun Public Library Programme Zone

Come celebrate your December Holidays with us in a Travel-themed special storytelling session that will take you around the world! Children will get to learn about different countries and enjoy a creative postcard activity. This programme is free and all families and children are welcome. Tickets will be issued at the door on a first-come, first-served basis, and limited slots are available. Please visit Go Library for programme details.

Spark!Lab

Photo Credits: National Library Board

• Weekdays: 2pm to 8.30pm
• Weekends: 10am to 8.30pm
• Closed at 5pm on eve of Christmas, New Year, and Chinese New Year
• Closed on public holidays

Spark!Lab is a tinkering space that NLB has set up in partnership with the Smithsonian Institution from the United States of America, and is located on Level 2 of Punggol Regional Library. Children can participate in hands-on activities independently and create innovative solutions to different challenges, such as creating an item that flies through a wind tunnel and creating a structure to balance on a teetering surface. Children are free to try them out at their own pace, guided by questions for each activity. On top of encouraging children to creatively develop solutions, the activities also encourage family bonding as parents and children can participate in the challenges together.

Spark!Lab Pop-Ups

• 18 to 19 Nov 2023, 12pm to 6pm, Woodlands Regional Library, Programme Zone

Wonder how things work or do you love taking things apart? Join us at our Spark!Lab popups, where young inventors get to explore outside the box with hands-on activities! Please note the following for Spark!Lab Punggol Regional Library and pop-ups, children aged 8 and below should be accompanied by an adult; no registration is required and entry is on a first-come-first-served basis. A timed-entry system may be implemented to ensure a conducive learning environment for all. Please visit Go Library for programme details.

Teens Takeover

A series of workshops, exclusive programmes and activities that appeal to the interests of teens aged 13 to 17, for them to acquire the desired knowledge and skills across multiple subjects when growing up. Please visit Go Library for programme details and registration.

And Many More Reading Programmes for Children in English, Chinese, Malay & Tamil 

Make reading come alive for your child through storytelling and other hands-on activities at various public libraries. Please visit Go Library for programme details and registration.

For more information, please visit the NLB website, and NLB’s Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube channels.