There are so many opportunities for summer family fun at the New York Public Library! From spending a warm afternoon in the cool, air-conditioned children’s section, to picking up books to take home to read; late summertime is the perfect time to spend at your local library with your preschooler (before potentially sending them to library preschool in the fall).
Library Cards
A great way to beat the New York summer heat is by spending the afternoon in the children’s section of your local New York Public Library. You can read through new books, find old favorites, and decide which ones you want to take home with your library card. If your little one doesn’t have a library card, getting their first one is a very exciting family activity to do with them! They learn that the books are there to borrow with their very own library card, and when they want new ones, they get to return the books they’ve read and find brand new ones to take home.
The staff at the New York Public Library have picked their favorite books for summer 2024 and they want to share them with you! Follow the link below to find their recommendations as a great family activity to read with your preschooler:
The family fun goes beyond books at the New York Public Library. From take home craft kits to experiments and activities based in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math), to musical storytimes in the park with some incredible New York City performers. There are options to sign up or drop in for family activities, events, or even weekly programs and library preschool!
Family Events:
The Children’s Center at Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library (SNFL) offers family activities such as storytimes, live streams, and sing-a-longs for your family to experience together. Beyond summer, SNFL offers many resources for little ones of all ages, which can all be found at the link below:
You can also use this search engine through the New York Public Library to find the family events happening throughout the day:
With sensory-friendly spaces and events happening indoors and out, there are plenty of fun family activities for you and your little one to have at your local library!
Libraries are great resources for family activities all year long, child development, and are generally great places for your little one to let their imagination run wild! We hope you take advantage of some great family time this summer, and continue to use your local library all year ‘round (maybe even for library preschool)!
