Toddler Time takes place Tuesdays at 10:30am and Wednesdays at 9:30am, and it features a member of the library staff reading age-appropriate books (usually there’s a special “theme” for the week), songs & fingerplays, parachute playtime, and a simple craft (great for building fine motor skills). The kids even get to play with egg shakers during some of the songs. After the “formalities”, the staff member pulls down bins of fun toys (toy trucks, play food, animals, and musical instruments), and independent playtime begins! This ends up being fun social time for kids plus a great opportunity for them to learn to share toys and play well with others. Sometimes, Toddler Time includes BUBBLES!
Toddler Time isn’t the only thing we love about the Tomball Library. Since the library is on the community college campus, when we go, we rarely pack a lunch but instead opt to visit the café or the full cafeteria for snacks, lunch, and Starbucks coffee! There are sandwiches, salads, junk food like pizza and burritos, and plenty of snacks to choose from. The breezeway between the library and the cafeteria features a water fountain, pretty flowers, and sitting benches, which make it a nice place to sit and read poetry to the kids or even let them run around a bit.
In addition to Toddler Time, the Children’s Dept. of the library features many other fun, free programs for your little ones:
Baby Bookworms – Story time for newborn babies through those walking with assistance. Story time includes songs, age appropriate stories, and playtime. Mondays at 9:30am.
Read and Play – Storytime for babies who are walking up to 18 months old. Includes age appropriate stories, songs, activities, and playtime. Mondays at 10:30am
Preschool Storytime – Storytime for preschoolers. Wednesdays and Thursdays at 10:30am; Includes age appropriate books, songs, rhythm stick fun, parachute play, and a craft!
Choo Choo Club - Work with your child each week as they create, discover and become ready readers at this early literacy program. Required registration. For children ages 3 - 6 and their parents. Thursdays 1:30pm – 2:30pm
Chapter Chats – Bring a book to life! Read and explore the best of children’s literature with crafts, food and drama. For grades 3rd – 5th. Registration required. First and third Mondays from 5:00pm – 6:00pm
Art Explorers - Learn about artists, art forms and create a project. Required registration. For ages 8 – 12. Second Tuesdays, 5:00pm – 6:00pm
New Leaf Gardeners, Pokemon League, Science Discovery Club, Tween & Tween activities, and more!
We should note that, outside of the special program offerings, the Children’s Department at the Tomball Library is a treasure trove in itself. There are tens of thousands of books of course, plus computers, special gaming/learning computers for tots, puzzles, sensory bins, activity cubes, gears, and more! There’s a small separate room perfect for a nursing mom, equipped with a changing table, complimentary wipes, a rocking chair, and a bookcase with a few books. Naturally, there are stuffed animals scattered throughout (our favorite is the Clifford dog) as well as boys and girls restrooms inside the Children’s Dept.
