FREE programs for children from birth up to and including teen. Check your local library for current programs and special events! Tel: (416) 393-7131 Website
Ages: All ages
Major Intersection: Multiple locations throughout Toronto (Click here to find your nearest branch!)
If you make an inquiry, please mention that you saw this listing on the Melanie On-The-Go / Kids On-The-Go website. Thank you!
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Share your thoughts below with other parents, caregivers and management. Only the rating and your child's age are mandatory, the rest is up to you!
Activities We Did:
Circle time with songs, a story, bouncing, shakers, and bubbles.
Good to Go!:
I like the fact that the activity area is lowered a few steps, like a “sunken” floor. It gives a cozy, welcoming vibe, and makes it a littler easier to keep your babe in the circle, more or less !
The Administrator was very friendly, and enthusiastic (though not annoyingly over-enthusiastic).
Not so Much/ Suggestions for Improvement:
I didn’t like the fact that the area was so close to the stairs, my toddler finds them fascinating.
Quick Tips for Others:
This class is free, but registered.
I called the day before to ask if I could drop-in, that was fine with them. Also when I thanked the lady Melanie after the class, she told me I was welcome to drop-in next week.
The Childrens Area is upstairs, and you leave your stroller downstairs.
Additional Ratings:
- Amenities: 4/5
- Value: 5/5
Activities We Did:
Singing, Nursery Rhymes, Listening To Stories
Good to Go!:
Smallish group so there was plenty of space. The librarian had a good voice. Great way to learn new songs.
Additional Rating:
- Value: 5/5
Activities We Did:
Sing songs, listen to librarian read books, learn baby rhymes.
Good to Go!:
The kids love the songs and puppets. Usually one one or two books are read during a session which is kind of ironic. The instructor taught a lot of fun baby rhymes.
Not so Much/ Suggestions for Improvement:
There is a lottery system for the program so it may be hard to get into. You have to know ahead of time when the registration is taking place. The room is very small and kids don’t have a lot of room to move around. For toddlers the room is too small and it’s hard to keep them seated.
Additional Ratings:
- Amenities: 3/5
- Value: 4/5
Activities We Did:
Singing, listening to stories, some dancing.
Quick Tips for Others:
They also have a great Saturday morning Family Program at 10am which is fantastic. It involves stories and a craft. Every now and then the library has puppet shows but they aren’t so great… Librarians have a difficult time projecting their voices. Go figure.
Additional Ratings:
- Amenities: 4/5
- Value: 5/5
Activities We Did:
The childrens’ librarian leads moms in songs and finger plays for babies. She also introduces board books and reads one or two interesting books.
Good to Go!:
If you’re not familiar with children’s songs, you can learn some good ones here. She used some props (mainly puppets) that the kids enjoyed. At the end of the program, she gives you a copy of the songs. It’s a good place to meet other moms in the neighbourhood. She said she would provide a handout at each session with tips on how to read with your child.
Not so Much/ Suggestions for Improvement:
The room is very warm, dress in layers – both you and the baby! She did bring in a fan, which helped. You need to leave the stroller outside the room, so be sure to keep your valuables with you.
I had attended this program with my older daughter (who is now 3). I was disappointed to see that the program is exactly the same as it was 2 years ago – the same songs, books etc.
The librarian is very nice, but seemed quite nervous and almost seemed eager for the time to end. There was not a large turn-out (maybe that’s why it’s on a drop-in basis now).
The program is only half an hour and my baby was hungry, so I ended up feeding her for about half of that time.
Quick Tips for Others:
Arrive early to ensure a spot. It’s usually a pre-registered program, but right now, it’s running at a drop-in basis.
Additional Ratings:
- Amenities: 3/5
- Value: 3.5/5
Activities We Did:
Story time, bouncing/ tickle rhymes.
Good to Go!:
Our instructor was wonderful. Very nice, enthusiastic and putting in a lot of effort to provide an organized, good quality program.
There’s a theme to each session- for e.g. sleeping, Easter, etc. and the books are picked according to that theme. The instructor tried to make it interesting by incorporating puppets, small noise-makers or using figures and a Velcro board to go along with a story.
There are handouts every session giving you some tips on how to read with baby, listing the books that were read that day, and one of the songs/ rhymes.
There’s always a different display of books at every session. You can stay after the class and read to your baby or borrow the books (it is a library after all!)
Not so Much/ Suggestions for Improvement:
The session is only a half hour. Even 45 minutes would be much better. I always ended up breastfeeding my baby in the class which takes up to 10 mins (quick snacker) and that’s 1/3 of the class time!
No food or drink but there’s a mall next door. The washrooms were pretty gross when I used them. I think it would be nice if they had a table setup in the room for baby changing like I’ve seen at other places. That way you don’t need to leave the room to change your baby, and it’s cleaner than bringing baby into the public washroom.
Additional Ratings:
- Amenities: 2/5
- Value: 4/5
Activities We Did:
2 to 2:30pm
Songs, rhymes, stories. All led by a trained library staff member.
Good to Go!:
This program is led by a children’s library staff member who is engaging and fun! Every week is themed around a letter of the alphabet. The songs and stories all revolve around the letter of the week. We always get to use small instruments – and all the kids love it! The staff always set up some program related books on a display trolly that you can pick up after the program is done.
After the program about 50% of the people stick around and pick some books from the library and let the little ones play in the big Children’s area. There are some big legos, bead mazes, crayons & paper. They have a reading nook that all the kids like with goldfish.
Quick Tips for Others:
Very TTC accessible at North York Station (you don’t even need to walk outdoors in the winter!). There is lot’s of parking ($) in the area as well as parking ($) bellow the library.
Additional Ratings:
- Amenities: 5/5
- Value: 5/5