Monday

In Person: Nest Family Music

April 19, 9 am

Rittenhouse Square

With the weather warming up, Nest classes are going outside! Drop in ($20 per family) for a fun music and movement class for ages 6 months to 5 years in Rittenhouse Square. Signing up in advance is recommended, as space is limited.

In Person: Nest Outdoor Yoga Adventures

April 19, 10:15 am

Rittenhouse Square

Nest Yoga Adventures uses creative storytelling along with an engaging flow of movement to support families looking to get in touch with their bodies and spirits. Kids ages 3-6 welcome. Pre-registration required.

Spanish Storytime

April 19, noon

Join Ludington Library’s Miss Bella via Facebook Live for her first of a four-part Spanish Story Time Series.

Developmental Playtime Virtual Workshop

April 19, 1 pm

In class, you and your baby will learn ways to enjoy tummy time and infant massage. Best for babies 0-6 months. Pre-register online with Kith + Kin, and join via Zoom.

Tuesday

In Person: Nest Family Music

April 20, 9 am

Rittenhouse Square

With the weather warming up, Nest classes are going outside! Drop in ($20 per family) for a fun music and movement class for ages 6 months to 5 years in Rittenhouse Square. 

In Person PlayArts Movement Lab

April 20, 10:30 am and 11:15 am

Liberty Lands Park,  913 N. Third St.

Bring your own props and blanket for this class that explores basic dance concepts with lots of playful locomotion through songs, nursery rhymes, stories, and interactive games. Best for ages 2-4. Pre-register online.

Join Ms. Amy from Jitterbugs Music and Movement, as she takes kids age 3 and up on a yoga storytelling adventure that consists of a warm-up, the adventure, and relaxation. During the story, children will work on 20-25 yoga postures. Free; pre-registration is required, and an email with the Zoom link will be sent the morning of the program.

Music with Miss Jill

April 20, 10 am

Music with Miss Jill is a free, lively interactive music program for toddlers through kindergarten. Activities consist of songs, fingerplays, props, musical games, and puppets.

At-Home Anthro: Aztec Symbols and Stamps

April 20, 1 pm

New Parent Virtual Support Group

April 20, 1 pm

Kith + Kin’s new parent support groups are facilitated by trained doulas who help guide the transition into the new role of parenthood. Share stories, ask hard questions, and more. Pay what you can; join on Zoom via Kith + Kin’s website.

In Person Kids’ Movie-Inspired Cooking at Hudson’s Table: Moana

April 20, 3:45 pm

1001 N. Second Street

Kids ages 4-7 will make food inspired by the movie Moana. They will learn how to work in the kitchen and even pick up some knife skills (with child-friendly knives) and baking basics. Kids will prepare a main dish and dessert, and take the food home. Class is drop off. See more details and pre-register online.

Virtual Hip Hop Songwriting

April 20, 4 pm

This virtual assembly features a solo, interactive hip-hop performance and multimedia presentations by teaching artist Bomani, focusing on the writing process and power of writing. Join free on Lillian Marrero Branch Library’s Facebook page.

In Person: Mini Musicians Outdoor Class with Miss Minor

April 20, 4:30 pm

Washington Square Park

Outdoor music and movement at Washington Square for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers. First drop-in class is donation-only so you can try it out!

Mascs Off: Real Talks for Men and Boys

April 20, 6 pm

Join a lively virtual session of intergenerational conversation, communication, and connection for fathers and sons, and men and boys, in nontraditional and nonnuclear families. Discussion will explore expectations and experiences of masculine-identifying folks, and will be facilitated by Victor Jackson, co-founder of OURchive Germantown, and youth OURchive members. Free; pre-register online.

Pajama Storytime with Haverford Township Free Library

April 20, 7 pm

Grab your jammies and a special friend and get ready for some stories before bed! Join free on Facebook.

Wednesday

Paleo Playdate: Love the Earth

April 21, 10 am

Kids ages 3-6 and their grownups can have some fun with Academy of Natural Sciences experts and other young natural history fans for a very special Earth Day science storytime and activity with room to move and explore. Everyone can chat, play, show off their knowledge, and meet special guests who love the earth! Zoom link and supply list will be emailed prior to the event, so be sure to pre-register by April 19.

In Person: Bartram’s Garden Homeschooler Days: Mysteries of Navigation

April 21, 10 am

5400 Lindbergh Blvd.

Explore how we can navigate the world without our phones and what knowledge helped create that technology. The lesson is held outdoors, socially-distanced for homeschoolers ages 5 to 11 and their adults. Pre-register online for your preferred date, as space is very limited.

In Person: Nest Family Music

April 21, 10 am

Rittenhouse Square

With the weather warming up, Nest classes are going outside! Drop in ($20 per family) for a fun music and movement class for ages 6 months to 5 years in Rittenhouse Square. 

Story and Craft Time: Earth Day

April 21, 10:30 am

Kids ages 2 and up are invited to celebrate Mother Earth and how we are a huge part of taking care of her through The Earth Book, written and illustrated by Todd Parr. Kids will learn they are never too little to make a big difference in our world, and will learn ways to take care of our world each and every day. After the story, today, Miss Mel and Christina Bunny will demonstrate how to make an upcycled tin can drum. Join free on Marple Public Library’s Facebook Page.

In Person PlayArts Movement Lab

April 21, 10:30 am

Wharton Park, 2300 Wharton St.

Bring your own props and blanket for this class that explores basic dance concepts with lots of playful locomotion through songs, nursery rhymes, stories, and interactive games. Best for ages 2-4. Pre-register online.

In Person Dog Days at Elmwood Park Zoo

April 21, 1–4 pm

1661 Harding Blvd., Norristown

Elmwood Park Zoo is inviting dog owners to bring their furry friends to visit the zoo on select days this spring! Pre-registration is required, and guests must complete an online waiver and submit required documents to attend this and all Dog Days events.

Woof and Meow Café: Read to a Dog or Cat!

April 21, 3 pm

Young readers are invited to bring a favorite book to read to a furry guest from Main Line Animal Rescue. Each individual reader session lasts for 15 minutes. Fill out the Google form to sign up and get the Zoom link.

Thursday

In Person: Please Touch Museum Reopens!

April 22

4231 Avenue of the Republic

The Please Touch Museum is reopening, including two new permanent exhibit spaces, and you can get in for free opening weekend! Be sure to make reservations because space is limited. Details in our preview.

Philly Theatre Week Begins

April 22–May 2

After over a year of theaters across the country going dark, Philly Theatre Week is planning its triumphant (and largely virtual) return from April 22 to May 2. Over the 11-day festival, performances from around the region can be viewed mostly online, with something for everyone. Check out our preview to see all the kid-friendly picks, and get your tickets!

In Person PlayArts Movement Lab

April 22, 10:30 am

Gold Star Park, 613 Wharton St.

Bring your own props and blanket for this class that explores basic dance concepts with lots of playful locomotion through songs, nursery rhymes, stories, and interactive games. Best for ages 2-4. Pre-register online.

Brandywine River Museum Virtual Read Aloud: ‘Draw’

April 22, 10:30 am

Families with young children are invited to join museum staff on Zoom for a morning of fun interactive storytelling and artwork engagement. Each family will receive suggestions for connecting to the book at home with craft and sensory exploration ideas. Free; pre-register online.

In Person: ‘Hey Black Child’ Read Aloud

April 22, 3:30 pm

Haddington Library, 446 N. 65th St.

Children and their loved ones are invited to join a read-aloud of the One Book, One Philadelphia 2021 children’s selection, Hey Black Child by Useni Eugene Perkins, outside on the steps in front of Haddington Library. Masks and social distancing will be required.

In Person: Celebrate Earth Day at Little Crum Creek Park

April 22, 12:30 pm

107 Yale Ave., Swarthmore

Bring a bag lunch and celebrate Earth Day, at this outdoor family program with World of Song’s Allison DeSalvo and Friends of Little Crum Creek Park in Swarthmore. Children will participate in fun, interactive activities through songs, stories, yoga, art, and a scavenger hunt while learning about the 3R’s and our connection to the earth. Geared for ages 2 – 7. Masks required. No registration necessary.

Breastfeeding/Chestfeeding Virtual Support Group

April 22, 1 pm

Kith + Kin moves their group online so you can continue on your journey while you’re home. Facilitated by an international board-certified lactation consultant who can help answer your questions and provide tips for success, the group meets on Zoom (call-in info in the link in title); pay what you can over Venmo.

Play ‘Among Us’ with Kensington Library

April 22, 4 pm

Kensington Library will be running their own private Among Us room with a Zoom chat for ages 9-12. Email Arrick Underhill at underhilla@freelibrary.org for more details.

Kids’ Cooking Class: Gyoza

April 22, 4:30 pm

Kids ages 5-15 will learn how to make these Japanese dumplings step-by-step with a chef instructor. Tickets available online.

Earth Day Story and Songs

April 22, 7 pm

Join local author and musician Miss Jolie for a special storytime and songs to celebrate planet Earth. Free on Facebook Live.

Earth Day Live with the Schuylkill Center

April 22, 7 pm

Share Earth Day actions, ask questions of Saleem Chapman, the city’s climate resilience coordinator, enjoy the arts with poet Jeff Hoagland, artist Raul Romero, and dancer Christina Catanese, learn our city’s special history with Earth Day, and guess the top five environmental pop songs of all time—while hearing a climate change quartet. Free; pre-register online.

Baby-Led Feeding Basics Q & A

April 22, 7 pm

Join BLF expert, Tegan Bernstein for this informal session to get your questions answered about baby-led feeding and weaning. Size of class is kept intentionally small to accommodate individual questions and situations. Pre-register online at Kith + Kin’s website to reserve your spot, and join over Zoom.

Friday

In Person: Earth Day Weekend Celebration at Academy of Natural Sciences 

April 23-25, 10 am — 5 pm
1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway

In celebration of Earth Day, families are invited to visit the museum and learn about ways to conserve resources to help animals’ habitats. Plus. take home a craft kit to make a useful item out of recycled materials. Families with children ages 7 to 11 will love this self-guided program, but younger guests will also be able to enjoy the activities with adult support.

In Person: Please Touch Museum Reopens!

April 23

4231 Avenue of the Republic

The Please Touch Museum is reopening, including two new permanent exhibit spaces, and you can get in for free opening weekend! Be sure to make reservations because space is limited. Details in our preview.

In Person: In The Park with Baby Wordplay

April 23, 10 am

Lemon Hill Park, Sedgeley and Lemon Hill drives, Fairmount Park

Join Kith + Kin and Baby Wordplay for a four-week series of storyplays in the park. Baby Wordplay storyplays are literacy-rich, fun opportunities to engage your little one with reading, songs, fingerplays, and puppets. Best for ages 6 weeks to 5 years, but all ages welcome. Bring your own blanket and water, and masks for ages 2 and up. Pre-registration required online.

Penn Museum Virtual Passport: STEAM

April 23; lessons at 11 am and 1 pm

This special event series is open to all home learners, pods, K-12 students, and K-12 classrooms. Take a journey through the past and into the present by looking closely at examples of ancient technology. See if you can match the artifacts with the tool or technology we still use today. Learn more about how archaeologists, researchers, and specialists in the Center for the Analysis of Archaeological Materials (CAAM) use scientific techniques to answer questions about ancient farming and food practices. Registrants also gain access to a virtual classroom space full of digital activities, videos, and articles to further explore the theme throughout the day. Pre-register online.

In Person Dog Days at Elmwood Park Zoo

April 23, 1–4 pm

1661 Harding Blvd., Norristown

Elmwood Park Zoo is inviting dog owners to bring their furry friends to visit the zoo on select days this spring! Pre-registration is required, and guests must complete an online waiver and submit required documents to attend this and all Dog Days events.

All About Birds

April 23, 1 pm

Join Miss Sue on Bala Cynwyd Library’s Facebook page as she reads Ruby’s Birds and learn lots of interesting facts about birds in the neighborhood! Free; no registration required.

Superheroes Among Us: Comic Book Workshop

April 23, 3:30 pm

Program intended for children grades K-12 and their families. For this free, one-day workshop, students will learn first about shape and color language, and how characters can be developed using basic shapes. Join free on Facebook Live.

In Person: Live Music at King of Prussia Town Center

April 23, 6 pm

155 Village Drive, King of Prussia

Fridays from 6-8 pm, King of Prussia Town Center will host free outdoor concerts by local artists. Wear a mask and maintain social distancing.

In Person: Earth Day Drive-In Movie: ‘The Lorax’

April 23, 6:45 pm

542 Plymouth Rd., Plymouth Meeting

Celebrate Earth Day at a special drive-in movie at Plymouth Elementary School. Pre-registration is required ($5 per car). Stay at your vehicle for the duration of the screening; wear a mask and practice social distancing when outside of your car.

Weekend Events

Please Touch Museum Reopens!

April 22–25

4231 Avenue of the Republic

The Please Touch Museum is reopening, including two new permanent exhibit spaces, and you can get in for free opening weekend! Be sure to make reservations because space is limited. Details in our preview.

Earth Day Weekend Celebration at Academy of Natural Sciences 

April 23-25, 10 am — 5 pm
1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway

In celebration of Earth Day, families are invited to visit the museum and learn about ways to conserve resources to help animals’ habitats. Plus. take home a craft kit to make a useful item out of recycled materials. Families with children ages 7 to 11 will love this self-guided program, but younger guests will also be able to enjoy the activities with adult support.

Mummers Music Weekend at Sesame Place

April 24 and 25

Sesame Place, 100 Sesame Road, Langhorne

Dance along with the music of New Orleans performed by the Quaker City String Band in a physically distanced environment, plus enjoy all the fun and rides of Sesame Place. Book tickets in advance, as capacity is limited.

Crayola IDEAworks: The Creativity Exhibition at the Franklin Institute

Through July 18

222 N. 20th St.

A highly colorful and interactive exhibit makes its debut at the Franklin Institute. Crayola IDEAworks is an immersive experience that uses state-of-the-art technology to challenge visitors, expand creativity, and hone problem-solving skills. Even cooler, with more than 150 physical and digital inquiry-based interactive experiences and challenges, guests can track their progress on an RFID wristband and receive a customized summary of their unique creative strengths discovered on their journey! Read more details in our preview.

Parks on Tap 

April 23-25

100 N. Horticultural Drive, Fairmount Park

Saturday

Earth Day Activities at Tyler Arboretum

April 24

515 Painter Rd., Media

Tyler Arboretum has lined up three family-friendly activities to celebrate Earth Day on April 24. Choose one or more of the socially distanced outdoor opportunities, each with two different timeslots. Little ones (ages 3-5) and their grownups can join Miss Louisa for stories about birds and trees, followed by a Scavenger Hunt. Kids ages 6-10 (with an adult) can gather at Lucille’s Garden for a fun and interactive on-site class for planting spring vegetables and edible flowers. Also, kids ages 8 and up can join a workshop to build a native bee house! Pre-registration is required online for each event, so don’t miss out.

Community Kids Sale at Kith + Kin

April 24, 9 am –noon

3060 W. Jefferson St.

Pick up gently used clothes (newborn through 5 years), toys, maternity items, baby gear, and more! Ten shoppers allowed inside at once. All unsold items will be donated.

Fishtown Neighbors Association Earth Day Celebration

April 24, 9 am –noon

Fishtown Rec, 1202 E. Montgomery Ave.

Join a clean-up, Kindness Rocks Art Project, Spring “Seed-Bomb” Scavenger Hunt, and Mindfulness Sessions at the Fishtown Rec Center. Around the neighborhood, Saint Laurentius School will be showing off their Urban Garden with water wheel and planting at Crease Street Garden. Pre-register online for each activity.

Naturepalooza: A Family Earth Day Celebration

April 24, 10 am — 3 pm
Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education, 8480 Hagy’s Mill Road

Celebrate Earth Day at our 10th annual signature family-friendly festival, with a new COVID-safe twist. Hike along the trails, stopping at various activity tables on the mission to become a Planet Protector. Learn about the importance of planting native, and make a bird feeder and other wildlife-friendly crafts to take home. Registration is required; due to COVID, space is limited.

Día Del Niño at the Franklin Institute 

April 24, 10 am — 6 pm

222 N. 20th St.

The Franklin Institute marks Día Del Niño, a celebration of children around the globe, with a family-friendly “Meet the Scientist” Q&A session with researchers from Janssen Pharmaceuticals, streaming live for visitors in the Giant Heart exhibit. Learn about the daily life of a scientist, the path these researchers took to get there, and their passion for science. Free with museum admission.

‘Grow Clean Water’ Earth Day Event

April 24, 10 am — 3:30 pm

500 N. 10th Street

This event will include lots of hands-on activities, including planting seedlings with Farmer Jawn to take home, creating art with Amber Art & Design, preparing a snack with chef Erik Oberholtzer, and exploring a vermicomposting worm bin. This event is part of Rodale Institute’s Grow Clean Water initiative, which aims to educate families about the important connection between healthy organic farms and clean water. Space is limited and attendance will be broken up into three timeslots, so be sure to pre-register online for your desired timeslot.

Healthy Kids Day

April 24, 10 am —1 pm

Upper Main Line YMCA (UMLY), 1416 Berwyn-Paoli Rd.

This free, family-friendly event features visits to the Nature Center and Barnyard, hikes through the Cassatt Preserve, a seed planting station, inflatable obstacle course, hula hooping, family Zumba, dance performances, scavenger hunts, and more! Please bring a non-perishable food item to donate.

Virtual  Ask the Scientists: Taking Action for the Earth

April 24, 10 am

Join the Academy of Natural Sciences scientists to discuss how you can take action for the earth and what impacts you can have. This program is suitable for children ages 8-11 but all are welcome. Free; pre-register online.

Virtual Earth Day Scavenger Hunt with Radnor Memorial Library

April 24, 10 am

Over Zoom, the library will send families on a journey in and around their homes, searching for a hodge-podge of items related to nature and the environment, then put it all together for a fun team challenge! Free; pre-register for the link.

Virtual All Around This World Music

April 24, 10 am

Join Gladwyne Library on Zoom and sing songs from several continents as you and your kids bounce and jump, groove and hop, spin, and soar! Free; pre-register online.

Elmwood Park Zoo’s Party for the Planet

April 24, 11 am — 3 pm
1661 Harding Blvd., Norristown

Guests can enjoy demonstrations and education stations featuring animals, recycling, sustainable living, and more. Eco-friendly items will also be available to purchase from vendors throughout the zoo. Free with zoo admission.

Food Truck Frenzy at Linvilla Orchards

April 24, 11 am — 5 pm

137 W. Knowlton Rd., Media

Enjoy all your local food favorites in one beautiful day on the farm. Along with delicious eats from the food trucks, enjoy music, hayrides, pony rides, face painting, train rides, and more!

Virtual Kids’ Paint Party

April 24, 11 am

Join artist Christine Burke to create your own masterpiece! Use your own supplies (list will be emailed after you register) to paint a beautiful sea turtle with step-by-step guidance. Class is best for ages 5 and up. Free; pre-registration required.

Griot Tale Storytelling

April 24, 1 pm

Franklin Square, 200 N. Sixth St.

The African American Museum in Philadelphia is partnering with Franklin Square for a special outdoor Earth Day storytime.  Told by a Griot (an African oral historian), this free and engaging storytime is  perfect for children ages 5-12 and their grownups.

Virtual  Crayola Mother’s Day Card Making with Simon Hurley

April 24, 6 pm

Join artist and influencer Simon Hurley, Inklipse, for a free card-making class on Facebook Live.

Virtual ComedySportz Live Improv

April 24, 7:30 pm

In ComedySportz two teams of improvisers battle each other for points and laughs; and through the interactive chat, you’re involved in the fun at home—you get to make suggestions, award points, and choose the winner! This improv show is always different and always high-energy. Click “Buy Tickets” to make a reservation and pick your timeslot.

Virtual  Art Houses

April 24, 7:30 pm

In this very unique concept, professional artists from Theatre Horizon were paired with local area households to create an evening of original theater. The performance will expand on the concept of family in the era of quarantine, and explore the sensational moments that can be found within the familiar every day. The livestreamed performance will be followed by a “talk back.” Pay what you can; click “Buy Tickets” to reserve your spot and get the link to watch live.

Sunday

Virtual  Eagles Junior Cheerleader Clinic

April 25, 1 pm

Eagles Cheerleaders will teach junior cheer participants popular, minute-long routines, great for sharing on social media. The session will also teach participants fan-favorite Eagles cheers and movements. Recommended for children ages 5 – 14 years of age. Tickets available online.

Virtual  Liberty Learning Live: Eco Heroes

April 25, 1 pm

To mark Earth Day 2021, learn how you, too, can take action against big social issues, like climate change! Join National Liberty Museum for a do-it-yourself activity making an upcycled seed starter out of paper rolls. After the workshop, you can add potting soil and seeds of your choice to start a window garden! Recommended for ages 6-12. Pay as You Wish; pre-registration is required. You will receive a link to join the activity prior to the starting time.

Virtual Kids’ Parkour

April 25, 1 pm

Are your kids climbing walls and jumping off the furniture? This class will teach them how to do that safely and appropriately. This class teaches the fundamentals of parkour and free-running inside. For kids ages 8-12. Pre-register online.

Virtual Youth Acro

April 25, 1:30 pm

This half-hour virtual class from Philadelphia School of Circus Arts will have kids ages 6-10 jumping, rolling, and cartwheeling. Activities include warm-up games, dancing, basic acrobatics, and doorway climbing! Pre-register online.

Virtual Sundays on Stage: Dreams of Land with Hua Hua Zhang

April 25, 2 pm

In this series of dream vignettes, puppet artist Hua Hua Zhang uses puppets, shadows, living sculptures, and stylized movement to explore relationships, emotional states, and how we process them using her own unique lens of both  Asian and Western viewpoints and attitudes. This program will be shared live on Free Library of Philadelphia’s Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/FLPYouthServices/) and will be available for one week.

Virtual Kids’ Baking Class: Snickerdoodles

April 25, 3 pm

In this class, kids will measure, mix and bake these delicious cookies from scratch, step-by-step with a chef instructor over Zoom. Tickets available online.

Virtual  jkidphilly Birthday Bash

April 25, 4 pm

Celebrate jkidphilly’s 10th birthday with a virtual party including Bingo, trivia, a scavenger hunt, and more. Tickets available online.

Photograph by Laura Swartz.