By Shamsiya Hussainpoor
Belgrave Library kicked off the festive season with a series of joyful activities for local children to bring the spirit of Christmas to life in the community.
The library’s dedicated Children’s Librarian, Chris Nugent, celebrated the festivities with a sack full of Christmas books, songs, and stories.
Kids of all ages enjoyed a fun-filled, festive experience, complete with Christmas carols, stories, and plenty of laughs.
The ‘Special Christmas Storytime’ sessions were a huge hit, offering kids the chance to sing, clap, and join in as Ms Nugent read stories about Santa’s mischievous toys and the magic of Christmas.
Belgrave Library team leader Toni Main said these Storytimes were a wonderful opportunity for young children to develop early literacy skills while enjoying the festive cheer.
The sessions ran for about 25 to 30 minutes and were followed by Christmas-themed activities.
The Toddler Storytime took place on Monday 2 December at 11am, and the Preschool Storytime followed the next day Tuesday 3 December at 11am – both sessions were packed with excitement as children enjoyed stories, rhymes, and songs that helped create a love of books and learning.
For older children, the ‘Crazy for Crackers’ workshop proved to be a real highlight, held on Monday 2 December, from 4pm to 5pm, this hands-on session taught kids aged 6-12 how to make their own colourful Christmas crackers or bonbons.
The children got crafty and created festive decorations for their Christmas tables – using a few simple materials.
“We wanted to create a space where kids could enjoy both the stories and the creative side of Christmas – it’s all about having fun while learning and celebrating together,” Ms Nugent said.
The library’s Christmas celebrations were a hit with families, offering a festive way for the community to come together and share the joy of the season. Whether it was singing along at Storytime or crafting homemade crackers, the activities were a great success.
All activities were free of charge, but bookings were required due to limited spaces.
