Wondering what you can do with babies and kids? Here’s some regular events that occur every week in Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and The Hunter. Whether you want a fun library excursion, an art session, storytime or just want to catch a movie with your bub, take your pick.
It’s organised by day so you can choose events based on when you have free time. Most of these activities don’t run during school holidays or on public holidays, so always check first.
Monday
Rock n Rhyme
Mayfield Library – 10am to 10:30am
Enjoy songs, nursery rhymes, dancing, music, stories and lots of fun! These action packed sessions are perfect for children age 1 – 3. Free but bookings essential! Does not run during school holidays or on public holidays.
Baby Book Club
Rutherford Library – 10am to 11am
Baby Book Club is a fun program of stories, songs and rhymes for your little ones, suitable for ages 0 to 2 years. The free sessions run weekly at every library branch and include stories, songs, rhymes and finger play through the use of board books, puppets and musical instruments. Reading tips and advice on the best resources are provided by Library staff.
Bring your Baby
Event Cinemas Kotara & Event Cinemas Glendale – 10:30am
Bring your baby to movie sessions at Event Cinemas. Unwind in front of the big screen with other parents and bubs. Lights are dimmed in the cinema so you can see what’s going on and features lowered movie volume. Session times are 10.30am on Mondays and Fridays and 1pm on Wednesdays, and will feature a changing line-up of new release films during school terms.
Storytime
East Maitland Library – 11am to 12pm
Join Maitland City Library for fun storytime sessions for kids aged 2 – 5. Storytime is a free weekly program of stories, rhymes and songs that encourages a love of reading and helps eager young minds develop a range of important skills such as language development, counting, imagination, concentration, creativity and listening. There’s a different storytime theme each month. No booking is required, just come along.
Story Stomp
Mayfield Library – 11am to 11:45am
Stomp your way through a fun filled session of stories, songs, games and craft developed to stimulate, engage and grow the minds of 3-5 year olds.
Read & Rhyme Time
Cardiff Library – 11am -to 11:30am
Move and Groove with stories, songs and musical instruments. Encourage imagination, build language skills and have fun. Suitable for ages 1-3 years
Tuesday
Read & Rhyme Time
Edgeworth Library – 9:30am to 10am
Move and Groove with stories, songs and musical instruments. Encourage imagination, build language skills and have fun. Suitable for ages 1-3 years.
Rock n Rhyme
Hamilton Library & New Lambton Library – 10am to 10:30am
Enjoy songs, nursery rhymes, dancing, music, stories and lots of fun! These action packed sessions are perfect for children age 1 – 3. Free but bookings essential! Does not run during school holidays or on public holidays.
Baby Book Club
Thornton Library – 10:30am to 11:30am
Baby Book Club is a fun program of stories, songs and rhymes for your little ones, suitable for ages 0 to 2 years. The free sessions run weekly at every library branch and include stories, songs, rhymes and finger play through the use of board books, puppets and musical instruments. Reading tips and advice on the best resources are provided by Library staff.
Story Stomp
Hamilton Library – 11am to 11:45am
Stomp your way through a fun filled session of stories, songs, games and craft developed to stimulate, engage and grow the minds of 3-5 year olds.
Storytime
Maitland Library & Rutherford Library – 11am to 12pm
Join Maitland City Library for fun storytime sessions for kids aged 2 – 5. Storytime is a free weekly program of stories, rhymes and songs that encourages a love of reading and helps eager young minds develop a range of important skills such as language development, counting, imagination, concentration, creativity and listening. There’s a different storytime theme each month. No booking is required, just come along.
Tuesday Tales
Newcastle Museum – 10:30am to 11am
Enjoy Tuesday Tales – Story time at the Museum. There’s no need to book, just drop in! Tuesday Tales is suitable for littles under five and is held at the Museum every Tuesday morning (except during school holidays). It’s free.
Wednesday
Rock n Rhyme
Newcastle City Library & Wallsend Library – 10am to 10:30am
Enjoy songs, nursery rhymes, dancing, music, stories and lots of fun! These action packed sessions are perfect for children age 1 – 3. Free but bookings essential! Does not run during school holidays or on public holidays.
Minitown at Marketown
Marketown – 9.30am – 10.30am
Minitown’s Play and Learn is a specially designed program for children under the age of five and runs every Wednesday of the school term at the Minitown playground, located just outside Big W on Level 1 of Marketown, Newcastle West.
Story Stomp
Adamstown Library, Newcastle City Library & Wallsend Library – 11am to 11:45am
Stomp your way through a fun filled session of stories, songs, games and craft developed to stimulate, engage and grow the minds of 3-5 year olds.
Storytime
East Maitland Library – 11am to 12pm
Join Maitland City Library for fun storytime sessions for kids aged 2 – 5. Storytime is a free weekly program of stories, rhymes and songs that encourages a love of reading and helps eager young minds develop a range of important skills such as language development, counting, imagination, concentration, creativity and listening. There’s a different storytime theme each month. No booking is required, just come along.
Spit the Dummy
Reading Cinemas Charlestown
Each Wednesday morning, Reading Cinemas Charlestown presents ‘SPIT THE DUMMY’ sessions. Relax and enjoy a movie at Reading Cinemas without worrying about feeding in the dark or those unexpected hissy-fits. The cinema keeps the lights dimmed so that you can see what you’re doing. Entry is free for up to two children under 5 when accompanied by a paying adult. Note: Spit The Dummy does not run during School Holidays or on Public Holidays.
Bring your Baby
Event Cinemas Kotara & Event Cinemas Glendale – 1pm
Bring your baby to movie sessions at Event Cinemas. Come relax and catch a movie at the Bring Your Baby sessions at Event Cinemas for only $10*! Unwind in front of the big screen with other parents and bubs.Lights are dimmed in the cinema so you can see what’s going on and features lowered movie volume. Session times are 10.30am on Mondays and Fridays and 1pm on Wednesdays, and will feature a changing line-up of new release films during school terms.
Thursday
Rock n Rhyme
Wallsend Library – 10am to 10:30am
Enjoy songs, nursery rhymes, dancing, music, stories and lots of fun! These action packed sessions are perfect for children age 1 – 3. Free but bookings essential! Does not run during school holidays or on public holidays.
Storytime
Thornton Library – 10:30am to 11:30am
Join Maitland City Library for fun storytime sessions for kids aged 2 – 5. Storytime is a free weekly program of stories, rhymes and songs that encourages a love of reading and helps eager young minds develop a range of important skills such as language development, counting, imagination, concentration, creativity and listening. There’s a different storytime theme each month. No booking is required, just come along.
Baby Book Club
Maitland Library – 11am to 12pm
Baby Book Club is a fun program of stories, songs and rhymes for your little ones, suitable for ages 0 to 2 years. The free sessions run weekly at every library branch and include stories, songs, rhymes and finger play through the use of board books, puppets and musical instruments. Reading tips and advice on the best resources are provided by Library staff.
Baby Book Club
East Maitland Library – 11am to 12pm
Baby Book Club is a fun program of stories, songs and rhymes for your little ones, suitable for ages 0 to 2 years. The free sessions run weekly at every library branch and include stories, songs, rhymes and finger play through the use of board books, puppets and musical instruments. Reading tips and advice on the best resources are provided by Library staff.
Storytime
Toronto Library – 10:30am to 11am
Listen to stories, sing songs and create something crafty with your pre-schooler. Prepare for school and encourage a love of reading, imagination and social interaction with other children. Suitable for ages 3-5 years.
Story Stomp
New Lambton Library & Stockton Library – 11am to 11:45am
Stomp your way through a fun filled session of stories, songs, games and craft developed to stimulate, engage and grow the minds of 3-5 year olds.
Friday
Storytime
Swansea Library – 9:30am to 10am
Listen to stories, sing songs and create something crafty with your pre-schooler. Prepare for school and encourage a love of reading, imagination and social interaction with other children. Suitable for ages 3-5 years.
Rock n Rhyme
Newcastle City Library – 10am – 10:30am
Enjoy songs, nursery rhymes, dancing, music, stories and lots of fun! These action packed sessions are perfect for children age 1 – 3. Free but bookings essential! Does not run during school holidays or on public holidays.
Bring your Baby
Event Cinemas Kotara & Event Cinemas Glendale – 10:30am
Bring your baby to movie sessions at Event Cinemas. Come relax and catch a movie at the Bring Your Baby sessions at Event Cinemas for only $10*! Unwind in front of the big screen with other parents and bubs.Lights are dimmed in the cinema so you can see what’s going on and features lowered movie volume. Session times are 10.30am on Mondays and Fridays and 1pm on Wednesdays, and will feature a changing line-up of new release films during school terms.
Baby Book Club
East Maitland Library – 11am – 12pm
Baby Book Club is a fun program of stories, songs and rhymes for your little ones, suitable for ages 0 to 2 years. The free sessions run weekly at every library branch and include stories, songs, rhymes and finger play through the use of board books, puppets and musical instruments. Reading tips and advice on the best resources are provided by Library staff.
Story Stomp
Beresfield Library – 11am to 11:45am
Stomp your way through a fun filled session of stories, songs, games and craft developed to stimulate, engage and grow the minds of 3-5 year olds.
Saturday
Newcastle & Hunter Toy Library
New Lambton Library – 9:30am to 11:45a
The Newcastle and Hunter Toy Library is open on Saturdays from 9.30am to 11.45am at New Lambton Library. They have toys stocked to the ceiling ready to be borrowed! A terrific mix between games, puzzles, toys, baby toys, outdoor equipment and more. Members can borrow toys for a week or keep them for up to a month! The Toy Library is always looking for volunteers to help out each Saturday morning and it’s a terrific way to get involved in the community and meet some like-minded people while not committing too much time in your busy calendar. Membership prices for 2019 are only $20 for a single child or $30 for families (2 or more children) which enables kids to borrow up to 3 toys. Bargain! Come with cash or you can do a bank transfer on your phone.
Art Cart
Newcastle Art Gallery – 10:30am to 12:30pm
Visit Newcastle Art Gallery every Saturday and Sunday morning for free art and craft activities in the gallery. Led by Gallery educators, every weekend Art Cart engages with a different work of art on display, and the event is staged in the Gallery space as close as possible to the original work. Parents are encouraged to collaborate with their younger children and encourage their older children to extend the art activity with some new element of their own design. Activities can be simplified or made more complex depending on the child. Each activity takes approximately 30 minutes to complete, and they ask that you arrive no later than 12:15pm to ensure there is enough time to complete your masterpiece.
Sunday
Art Cart
Newcastle Art Gallery – 10:30am to 12:30pm
Visit Newcastle Art Gallery every Saturday and Sunday morning for free art and craft activities in the gallery. Led by Gallery educators, every weekend Art Cart engages with a different work of art on display, and the event is staged in the Gallery space as close as possible to the original work. Parents are encouraged to collaborate with their younger children and encourage their older children to extend the art activity with some new element of their own design. Activities can be simplified or made more complex depending on the child. Each activity takes approximately 30 minutes to complete, and they ask that you arrive no later than 12:15pm to ensure there is enough time to complete your masterpiece.ivities can be simplified or made more complex depending on the child.
Free Art Sundays
Maitland Regional Art Gallery
11am to 1pm
Every Sunday, families are invited to drop into the art gallery for free art activities inspired by the exhibitions on display. Activities are designed for kids of all ages, and as a family you can all join in and get creative. Each activity takes around half an hour to complete.All materials provided. Bookings not required.
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50+ free & low cost things to do with kids in Newcastle & the Hunter
Started in late 2012 by a local mum, Newy with Kids has grown into a thriving go-to family guide for the Newcastle, Lake Macquarie & Hunter region. Parents visit the Newy with Kids website to find things to do with babies, kids and teens. Whether it’s local attractions, upcoming events, kids eat free, school holiday activities or birthday party ideas, Newy with Kids is the best website for local parents to find local kid-friendly activities and information 24/7.
