Libraries in Hampshire offer support and social activities for new parents and babies during their first twelve months and beyond. Find out how we can help your new family feel at home in the library.
Join the library
Anyone who lives, works, or studies in Hampshire to join our library and it’s free! We have lots of books and resources to support you as a parent as well as some fantastic books for children and it’s never too early to start sharing books.
You can join online or in your local library – find out more about the benefits of joining here. https://www.hants.gov.uk/librariesandarchives/library/membership/jointhelibrary
New Parents Meet and Connect
These new sessions are perfect for new babies and first-time parents/carers. You will be supported to explore a range of sensory equipment with your baby and have a chance to connect with other new and first-time parents.
These sessions are free, there is no need to book, but places are limited. Find your closest session here: https://www.hants.gov.uk/librariesandarchives/library/events#.Parent-support
Baby stay and play
Free and fun play session for babies up to 12 months old. These sessions offer a great chance to bond with your baby and make new friends. Find your closest session here: https://www.hants.gov.uk/librariesandarchives/library/kids-zone/events
Baby Rhymetime
Join these sessions to learn action songs and rhymes with your own baby with other parents and carers. Some libraries run sessions just for babies under 12 months. Find your closest session here:
https://www.hants.gov.uk/librariesandarchives/library/kids-zone/events
Storytime
Learn how to share stories and make them special at our free storytime sessions for pre-school children. Find your closest session here: https://www.hants.gov.uk/librariesandarchives/library/kids-zone/events
When a book might help
Sharing stories about situations can help put a child’s make transitions and new experiences easier more understandable and easier to cope with. These story books can make it easier to explain new situations to small children.
Find out more here: https://www.hants.gov.uk/librariesandarchives/library/kids-zone/whenabookmighthelp
Rhyme and story of the month
Repeating the same rhymes and stories, with actions too, will help to build a connection with your new baby and support their own listening and communication too.
Each month our libraries share the same rhyme and story in our rhymetime and storytime sessions to help you and your baby become familiar with sharing rhymes and stories at home.
Find out more here: https://www.hants.gov.uk/librariesandarchives/library/kids-zone
First words together
Babies communicate long before they start to talk, through gestures, showing and giving objects, pointing, and vocalising. Sharing books and interacting through books from when babies are very young supports communication and language development.
If you would like support to build your confidence to support your baby’s communication, please contact ChatHealth to request a place on the new First words together courses for parents and carers: https://www.hampshirehealthyfamilies.org.uk/chathealth