Free Children's Activities in Barre, Massachusetts

The Town of Barre, Massachusetts is a community committed to the continued education and well being of its children. Through the continued efforts of the Woods Memorial Library and the Quabbin Community Partnership for Children, Barre's youngest residents can enjoy fun and educational free activities.

Following are several free recurring activities for toddlers and preschoolers in and around the Town of Barre.

Woods Memorial Library Preschool Story Time
Each week preschool age children are invited to join May Ellen Radziewicz, children's librarian, for a fun story and craft session. Preschool story times are held every Tuesday, with two separate sessions to accommodate as many children as possible. The first session is held at 10:15, and the second begins at 11:15. A new story is read each week, followed by an accompanying craft project. Registration is not required, drop ins and new children are always welcome.

Together Time at Woods Memorial Library
A weekly activity and story time for toddlers is held with Miss Stephanie Young every Thursday at Woods Memorial Library. Children age eight months to three years and their caregivers are invited to the library weekly on Thursdays at 11:00. Children will be guided through age appropriate song, dance, finger plays and stories. Older children and siblings are welcome at the discretion of their parents. Registration is not required, drop ins and new visitors are always welcome.

Quabbin Community Partnership for Children Parent/Child Playgroups
A free playgroup is held at the offices of the Quabbin Community Partnership for Children monthly. The playgroups are for preschool age accompanied by a caregiver. Session dates vary depending upon holidays and other activities, but the playgroup is usually held on the second Friday of each month. The preschool playgroup runs from 10:00 to 11:30. The monthly playgroups at the QCPC are facilitated by trained and certified early childhood education professionals from the partnership. Children throughout the central Quabbin area are invited to attend.

Quabbin Community Partnership for Children Parent-Child Home Program
The parent-child home program administered by the Quabbin Community Partnership for Children is a literacy-based initiative aimed at promoting a life-long love of reading and developing emerging reading skills in toddlers. Children age 18 months to three years old are invited to enroll in the program through the QCPC. A certified early childhood professional will visit children weekly in their homes to read age appropriate books to them, accompanied by educational toys. Participating children keep the books and toys provided during their visits. The home visitor works with parents and children to teach literacy building activities the parents and children can continue to do together at home with the materials provided.

Addresses and Contact Information
Woods Memorial Library is located at 19 Pleasant Street in Barre. To contact Mary Ellen Radziewicz or Stephanie Young at Woods Memorial Library regarding these and other free children's programming at the Library, call (978) 355-2533. The library's website address is www.barrelibrary.org.

The Quabbin Community Partnership for Children is funded through a grant from the Massachusetts Commonwealth Early Education and Care office. For more information on preschool playgroups, the parent-child home program or other programs administered by the QCPC, call the office at (978) 355-2751. The QCPC office is located at 8 Broad Street in Barre, above P & F Auto. Playgroup sessions are held at the office.

For more information on these events and other happenings in the town of Barre, go to www.townofbarre.com.