Stuck at home? Your kids can still have fun - and keep up those important reading (and pre-reading) skills, too.
This page is full of activities created and selected specially by LCPL youth services librarians just for our youngest patrons.
Show Us Your Work!
Have you tried an activity or challenge from this page? Read a book we recommended? Send an email to kids@lcplin.org with pictures or a book review and we'll display them on a special page.
Check here for the newest activities just added to the page!
• How to Draw Animals (Video)
Video Guides
Check out our playlist of crafts and activities you can enjoy with your kids!
Simple games, challenges, and activities for you and your child. You can print these at home, or simply open them on your computer or tablet and follow the instructions.
Shape Strength Test Needs paper, tape, and heavy items (like books!)
Building with Cardboard Cut-Outs Needs cardboard (like cereal boxes) and scissors
Make a Menu Needs old magazines/grocery flyers, scissors, glue/tape, paper, markers
ABC Sensory Bins Needs a container and pasta/rice/beans
Art Club:
Playing Our Way to Literacy: Small activities to do each day, week by week, to build your child's pre-reading skills at home.
Week One: Color - Black and White
Week Two: Color - Black and White
Week Three: Color - Black and White
Week Four: Color - Black and White
Week Five: Color - Black and White
Week Six: Color - Black and White
Week Seven: Color - Black and White
Week Eight: Color - Black and White
Week Nine: Color - Black and White
Week Ten: Color - Black and White
Week Eleven: Color - Black and White
Week Twelve: Color - Black and White
Week Thirteen: Color - Black and White
Week Fourteen: Color - Black and White
Week Fifteen: Color - Black and White
Week Sixteen: Color - Black and White
Week Seventeen: Color - Black and White
Week Eighteen: Color - Black and White
STEAM ChallengesLong Cut Challenge Needs paper, scissors
Tube Stack Challenge Needs cardboard tubes, scissors
Marble Run Needs a marble or ball, tape
Newspaper Building Needs newspapers, tape
Foil Boat Needs foil. Optional: pennies or other weights
Catapult Needs craft sticks, rubber bands, spoon, cotton ball or crumpled paper
LEGO Maze Needs LEGO bricks or other building blocks, a marble
Book Dominoes Needs books
Monthly STEAM Challenges:
• September: Sharks
Try the activities - Watch the video
• October: Pirates
Try the activities - Watch the video
• November: Native American Nations
Try the activities - Watch the video
• December: Cookie Chemistry
Try the activities - Watch the video
• January 2021: True or False
Try the activities - Watch the video
• February 2021: Photography
Try the Activities - Watch the Video
• March 2021: Puzzles and Critical Thinking
Watch the Video - Try the Activities
• April 2021: Secret Codes
Watch the Video - Download the PDF
Step Into STEAM (for ages 2-6):
• September: Rainbows
Try the activities - Watch the Video
• October: Pumpkins
Try the activities - Watch the Video
• November: Making Butter
Try the activities - Watch the Video
• December: Coding
Try the activities - Watch the video
• January: Shapes
Try the activities - Watch the video
• February: Color Mixing
Watch the Video - Try the Activities
• March: Leprechaun Traps
Watch the Video - Try the Activities
• April: Recycling
Watch the Video - Download the PDF
• May: Flashlight Exploration
Watch the Video - Download the PDF
• June: Animal Exploration
Watch the Video - Download the PDF
• July: Counting in Nature
Watch the Video - Download the PDF
Miss storytime? Hold your very own storytime session at home! We've put together these guides to help you out.
We share some of our favorite kids' books and why we love them!
Want more kids' books and reading strategies?
For babies and toddlers, try our Every Child Ready to Read page or our Getting Ready to Read blog!
For middle grade kids, try these suggestions from YES staff:
eBooks with Activities for Kids
Middle Grade Summer Reading Suggestions
Pride Month Reads for Preschool - 7th grade
Hispanic Heritage Month: Grades K - 3
