Kids Blog

Day 3 of the school holidays – It seems like the hols are going too fast! Here’s some free entertainment for you.

Special Event: Meet a Tuatara!

Miramar Library, 11am: Have you ever met a dinosaur? No? Here’s your chance! Sue Keall from Victoria University is bringing along Spike the Tuatara to Miramar Library.

Find out about why Tuataras are so special and learn how we can protect them and make sure they survive for many more generations.

This free event is suitable for 5-12 year olds. Places are limited and bookings are essential. Phone Miramar Library on 388 8005 to secure your place.

Baby Rock & Rhyme: Perfect for parents and bubs aged 0-2yrs old.

Central Library, 9.30am

Johnsonville Library, 9.30am

Storytimes: fun stories and songs for toddlers, preschoolers and their families. Older siblings are welcome.

Cummings Park Library (Ngaio), 10.30am

Karori Library, 10.30am

Newtown Library, 10.30am

Kilbirnie Library, 10.30am

Find out what’s on at the Kids’ Events page.

Karori Library had some special visitors at preschool storytime last week.  The Wellington SPCA treated us to a visit by two very friendly and fluffy rabbits – Rosie and Vimes.  We shared some bunny-themed stories and enjoyed giving the rabbits a pat.

Children’s Day is all about treasuring the children in our life. This means supporting parents and encouraging positive family time.

This year Children’s Day falls on Sunday 3rd March.  The theme is ‘Treasure our Children.” So join in the fun and do something special for the small people in your life.

Events happening in Wellington on the day include Treasure Our Children Beach Day at Lyall Bay Beach and Reach for the Stars at Carter Observatory.

Check out more Children’s Day events in Wellington.

Here are some amazing activities and images for that you can color in for downloading.

For information visit the Children’s Day website.

Kung Hei Fat Choy! Happy New Year!

Chinese New Year celebration runs from Sunday February 10 – Sunday February 24 this year. Now not only people in China can have colourful and dynamic performances and activities to mark this special occasion, people in New Zealand can also participate and enjoy them.

In Wellington, there will be exiting celebrations for the Year of of the Snake held on the weekend of Saturday 23 and Sunday 24.

Here are some details:

- There is a New Clothes for New Year Fashion Show on Saturday 23 February at the TSB Bank Arena, Queens Wharf from 7pm-8.30pm.

- On Sunday 24 February, Chinese New Year Festival Day, you can come and taste the delicious food at the Asian Market at the TSB Arena as well as enjoying the crafts and performances from10.30am-4.30pm.

- Cultural Entertainment will be held at Frank Kitts Park from 3pm-4.30pm.A colourful Street Parade will start at Courtenay Place at 2pm.

- There will be performances from Shenzen Song and Dance Ensemble from 7pm-8.20pm (tickets from Ticketek)

- The festival will finish with a Firework Display.

You can visit the Wotzon and Chinese New Year websites for more details.

Have fun!

Over the Christmas and New Year holiday period and throughout January there will be some temporary changes to the Preschool Storytime and Baby Rock & Rhyme schedule.

Preschool Storytime

Branch Libraries: There will be no Preschool Storytimes in branch libraries during the week of Christmas 24-28 December. Regular Preschool Storytime session will start again from Monday 31st December onwards.

Central Library: will continue running Preschool Storytimes through Christmas with a session on Friday 28th December at 10.30 as usual.

Baby Rock & Rhyme

Branch Libraries: there will be no Baby Rock & Rhyme sessions in branch libraries from Monday 24th December to Friday 25th January. Baby Rock & Rhyme will start for 2013  from Monday 28th January.

Central Library: will not run Baby Rock & Rhyme over the weeks 24th December to 4th January, but will continue as usual with their weekly Wednesday 9.30am session from 9th January onwards.

Check out the Wellington Libraries events calendar for daily session dates and times over Christmas, New Year and January.

Celebrate Christmas with us at special evening storytimes for 3-8 year olds at participating Wellington City Libraries. Check out where and when here. 

A new show will be on at Carter Observatory starting on November 21st.

We Are Aliens explores the possibility of life existing elsewhere in our universe through a new 360 degree digital planetarium show. Find out about what we are doing to search for alien life and whether scientists think they will find life on other planets or not. Visit this site to watch the show’s trailer.

For Harry Potter fans you’ll be pleased to know that the show is narrated by Rupet Grint, who plays Ron Weasley in the HP movies.

Sit back in Carter Observatory’s indoor planetarium and enjoy the show!

Ticket and more info here.

More activities are on in your local libraries this week:

Monday 8 October, 11am Tawa Library: Come along and experience Gruesome and Gory Grimm. Celebrate the 200th anniversary of Brothers Grimm Fairytales with stories and fun activities. Don’t forget your costume.

Tuesday 9 October, 11am Island Bay Library: Funtastical fairytales and fables. Join us in celebrating the Brothers Grimm 200th anniversary with a special storytime.

Tuesday 9 October, 11am Johnsonville Library: Come along and experience Gruesome and Gory Grimm. Celebrate the 200th anniversary of Brothers Grimm Fairytales with stories and fun activities. Don’t forget your costume.

Tuesday 9 October, 11am Central Library: Celebrate the Grimm 200th anniversary with a Hansel and Gretel bonanza! Follow the trail, but beware of the witch

Thursday 11 October, 11am Miramar Library: Get ready for Halloween. Come along for witches’ tales, scary stories and spell making ideas! And don’t forget to dress up in your favourite Halloween costume

All activities are free and perfect for 5-12 year olds. No bookings required – just turn up! All our events are listed here – check it out.

There have been a few changes to the days and times for Preschool Storytime and Baby Rock & Rhyme.

Here is the new schedule for Preschool Storytime:

Brooklyn Library: Tuesday 10.30am

Central Library: Tuesday and Friday 10.30am

Cummings Park Library (Ngaio): Wednesday 10.30am

Island Bay Library: Thursday 10.30am

Johnsonville Library: Tuesday 10.30am

Karori Library: Monday, tuesday and Wednesday 10.30am

Khandallah Library:  Tuesday 10.30am

Mervyn Kemp Library (Tawa): Monday 10.30am

Miramar Library: Thursday 10.15am

Newtown Library: Wednesday 10.30am

Ruth Gotlieb Library (Kilbirnie): Monday and Wednesday 10.30am

Here is the new schedule for Baby Rock & Rhyme:

Central Library: Wednesday 9.30am

Cummings Park Library (Ngaio): Tuesday 10.30am

Island Bay Library: Wednesday 9.30am

Johnsonville library: Wednesday and Thursday 9.30am

Karori Library: Thursday and Fiday 10.30am

Mervyn Kemp Library (Tawa): Friday 9.30am

Miramar Library: Tuesday 10.15am

Ruth Gotlieb Library (Kilbirnie): Friday 10.15 am

These sessions are free and no bookings are required. Preschool Storytime is designed with 3-5 year olds in mind, and Baby Rock & Rhyme is perfect for developing early literacy skills for 0-2 year olds. Go to the Kids What’s On page to find out when events are on in your local library.

We are very lucky to have super children’s poet Greg O’Connell visiting Wellington Central Library this week to put on a show for you.

Greg O’Connell is an exciting new children’s poet, recently published in eleven issues of the School Journal, so you’ve probably read some of his poems. A dynamic and exciting performer, Greg has thrilled audiences of children throughout New Zealand, and around the world, with his unique brand of interactive poetry. Come along, be part of the fun…and experience poetry like never before!

Details:

11am at Wellington Central Library (Children’s Section)

Thursday 4th october

Perfect for 5-10 year olds

Free!

Hey, don’t be bored! Here’s some things you can do during the holidays:

Wonderful and Grimm School Holiday activities at your local library.

Celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Brothers Grimm and the 150th anniversary of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland with stories and activities at participating libraries. These free fun activities are suitable for 5-12 year olds, and no bookings are required.

Week 1:

Monday 1st October:

Cummings Park Library at 11am: Gruesome and gory Grimm stories and fun activities

Tuesday 2nd October:

Karori Library at 11am: Gruesome and gory Grimm stories and fun activities

Newtown Library at 11am: Funtastical fairytales and fables at a special Brothers Grimm storytime

Thursday 4th October:

Ruth Gotlieb library (Kilbirnie) at 11am: Topsy turvy, inside out, upside down, magical Alice in Wonderland, play croquet and come dressed up. But don’t be too curious!

Central Library at 11am: Amazing performance poems, action rhymes, songs and stories with Children’s Poet Greg O’Connell

Week 2:

Monday 8th October:

Mervyn Kemp Library (Tawa) at 11am: Gruesome and gory Grimm stories and fun activities. Don’t forget your costume!

Tuesday 9th October:

Island Bay Library at 11am: Funtastical fairytales and fables at a special Brothers Grimm storytime.

Johnsonville Library at 11am: Gruesome and gory Brothers Grimm stories and fun activities. Come dressed up!

Central Library at 11am: Follow the trail of Hansel and Gretel, but beware of the witch!

Thursday 11th October:

Miramar Library at 11am: Halloween, witches’ tales, scary stories and a spell or two! Dress up in your favourite Halloween costume.

All events are free and no bookings are required – just turn up! We’ve planned these events perfectly for 5-12 year olds. See you there!