Our “Top 5 for Under 5” monthly blog post typically includes highlights of upcoming events at the library and around town, as well as new picture books that have just arrived in the library, all recommended for children ages birth to five years old and their families. Even though the library’s physical book collection is temporarily unavailable, and all public gatherings and events have come to a halt, we still have plenty of suggestions to fill your days.
Princeton Public Library Storytime Shorts
Are you missing storytime at the library as much as we are? Good news! Storytime with PPL youth services staff is coming to YouTube. Beginning May 5, we’ll post a new “Storytime Shorts” video every Tuesday and Thursday at 10:00 AM that you and your children can enjoy from home whenever you want. In each video, we’ll share a book read-aloud, sing some songs, and have fun together while safely staying apart.
Our video streaming service Kanopy offers a wide selection of animated picture books produced by the award-winning Weston Woods studios. It’s a wonderful resource for expanding your child’s access to quality books and read-alouds while stuck at home. You can also browse Kanopy Kids and find TV series and movies your kids will love, with developmentally appropriate age ratings
There’s nothing better for curing the grumps than a spontaneous dance party at home! Push the furniture aside and get your groove on with access to hundreds of kid-friendly dance songs through the library’s subscription to Hoopla. All you need is your library card.
The annual movement to unplug from screen entertainment during the first week of May has been postponed for 2020 and has instead moved to Screen-Free Saturdays. During this time of quarantine and social distancing when it seems we are more dependent than ever on screens, you’re invited to take the pledge to unplug from devices one day a week (and it doesn’t have to be Saturday!).
The ever-popular music program for young children and their families, Music Together, is now offering their high-quality music classes online. During each class, a Music Together teacher from your local center will lead music activities for the whole family to sing, play, and jam along to, and show you how to transform everyday items like pillowcases, pots, and stuffed animals into musical props.
Photo by Laura Fuhrman on Unsplash