Being a stay-at-home mom to a toddler I went into panic phase a few weeks ago when I realized that our very structured daily routine is about to be completely tossed upside down with school ending. It hadn’t crossed my mind that many of the playgroups and programs we go to end with school… I mean Caroline doesn’t go to school, what gives?!

After talking with other moms, dads and caregivers I realized that there STILL is FREE programming for babies, toddlers and preschoolers, you just have to do a little digging  to find them. Because I wanted to know, I thought I could do some of the heavy lifting for you all, and compile a list (to the best of my ability) of daily activities that take place weekly for those of our kiddos primarily under the age of 6.

Here’s what I found!

Playgroups:

Baby Playgroup (Burlington) with BWI of Greater Burlington @ Evolution Prenatal & Family Yoga Center, held on the second and fourth Thursdays each month from 10:20 AM – 11:50 AM, birth to young toddlers.

Burlington Building Bright Futures (BBF) Playgroup @ The Miller Center, Mondays and Wednesdays from 9 to 10:30 am {Runs from 6/15 through 8/5}, birth to age 6. Updates available on their Facebook page at “Building Bright Future Burlington Playgroup at the Miller Center.”

Charlotte/Shelburne BBF Meet Up @ Charlotte Central School Playground, Wednesdays 9:30 to 11 am {from 7/10 to 8/19}

Colchester BBF Playgroup @ The Colchester Meeting House, Wednesdays 9:30 to 11 am, birth to age 6 {from 7/8 to 8/12}

Crawlers, Waddlers and Toddlers Playgroup (Burlington) @ The VNA Family Room, Mondays 10:30 amto 12:30 pm. For Early Tots

Family Play (Burlington) @ The VNA Family Room, Tuesdays and Thursdays 9 am to 1 pm. For children birth to 5 years old. Please note: that during the summer family play takes place outdoors at the Ethan Allen Homestead, transportation is provided.

Georgia BBF Playgroup @ Georgia Beach/Town Park, Wednesdays 10 am to 12 pm, All ages

Hinesburg BBF Meet Up, Wednesdays at 10 am, birth to age 6 (older siblings welcome!). There will be a schedule of all of the meetups for the summer (one if its sunny an alternate if it rains) later this month. To be added to the email list email: [email protected]. Caregivers are responsible for their own kids and for bringing their own snack, sunscreen, etc. and for any fees associated with the activity. Program updates are also available on their Facebook page, “Friends of Families.”

Middlebury Playgroup @ The Quary Hill School, Mondays and Wednesdays from 9:30 to 11: 30 am {Runs 6/23 through 8/5}, birth to age 6. Facilitated by the Addison County Parent/Child Center (802-388-3171).

South Burlington BBF Playgroup @ Jaycee Park, Tuesdays and Wednesdays  9:30 to 11:30 am {runs from 6/16/15-9/9/15}, birth to age 6. Program updates are available on their Facebook page, “South Burlington Family Center.”

Libraries:

Please note: I focused primarily on story and music times that take place weekly. Many of our local libraries have several special events taking place regularly throughout the summer and programming for older children. If you are wondering what else they have going on, click your library’s link!

Mondays

Baby & Toddler Story Time (0 to 36 months) @ Waterbury Public Library , Mondays 10 to 11 am

Storytime (3-5 year olds) @ Richmond Free Library, Mondays 10:30 to 11 am

Story Hour (all ages) @ St. Albans Free Library, Mondays 10:30 to 11:30 am

Stories with Megan (3 to 6 year olds) @ Fletcher Free Library, Mondays 11 to 11:30 am

Preschool Music (0-5 years old) @ Williston Library, Mondays @ 11 am and Thursdays @ 10:30 am (one session per week per family)

Tuesdays

Lunch at the Library! (0 to 18 years old from any community) @ Fletcher Free Library, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 11:45 to 12:30 pm

Teeny Tiny Backyard Explorers (0-2 years old) @ Wheeler Homestead with South Burlington Community Library, Tuesdays 9:30-11 am

Story Hour @ Fairfax Community Library, Tuesdays 9:30 to 10:30 am

Storyhour @ South Hero Community Library, Tuesdays 10 am

Toddler Story Time (18 to 36 months old) @ Colchester Library, Tuesdays 10:30 to 11 am

Story Time (0 to 6 years old) @ Kellogg Hubbard Library, Tuesdays @ 10:30 am

Preschool Story Time (3-5 years old) @ Charlotte Public Library, Tuesdays, June 30-July 28  @ 10:30 AM

Preschool Music (3 to 5 years old) @ Colchester Library, Tuesdays 11:30 am to 12 pm

Story Time (3 to 5 years old) @ Williston Library, Tuesdays at 11 am

Read to a Dog @ Fletcher Free Library, Tuesdays 12:30 to 1:30 pm

Wednesdays

Story Time (1 to 6 years olds) @ Swanton Public Library, Wednesdays 10 to 11 am

Toddler Time (18 months to 3 year olds) @ Richmond Free Library, Wednesdays 10:30 to 11 am

Read to a Dog @ Fletcher Free Library, Wednesdays 10:30 to 11:30 am

Wee Read! Story Time (0 and up) @ Jericho Town Library , Wednesdays 10 to 11 am

Lunch at the Library! (0 to 18 years old from any community) @ Fletcher Free Library, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 11:45 to 12:30 pm

Story Time (6 years and older) @ Charlotte Public Library, Wednesdays, July  8-29  @10:30 AM

Thursdays

Tot Storytime @ Fairfax Community Library, Thursdays 10 to 11 am

Preschool Music (0-5 years old) @ South Hero Community Library, Mondays @ 11 am and Thursdays @ 10:30 am (one session per week per family)

Superhero Preschool Story Time (3 to 6 years old) @ Colchester Library, Thursdays @ 10:30 am

Story Hour (all ages) @ St. Albans Free Library, Thursdays 10:30 to 11:30 am

Spanish Musical Kids (1 to 5 year olds) @ Fletcher Free Library, Most Thursdays 11 to 11:45 am

Lunch at the Library! (0 to 18 years old from any community) @ Fletcher Free Library, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 11:45 to 12:30 pm

Fridays

Garden Adventures with the Bookworms (3 to 5 years old) @ Wheeler Homestead with South Burlington Community Library, Fridays 9:30 to 11 am

Preschool Storytime @ Georgia Public Library, Fridays @ 10 am

Marvelous Music with Robert @ Fletcher Free Library, Fridays 10 to 10:30 am

Preschool Story Time (3 to 5 years old) @ Waterbury Public Library , Fridays 10 to 11 am

Toddler/Preschool Early Literacy Story Hour (1 to 5 years old) @ Milton Public Library, Fridays 10 to 11 am

Storyhour @ South Hero Community Library, Tuesdays 10 am

Story Time (0 to 6 years old) @ Kellogg Hubbard Library, Fridays @ 10:30 am

Pizza Fridays (0 to 18 years old) @ Jericho Town Library, Fridays 12:30 to 1:15 pm {registration required by June 20th!}

Saturdays

Story Time (1 to 6 years olds) @ Swanton Public Library, Saturdays 10:30 to 11:30 am

Saturday Story Time @ Ilsley Public Library, Saturdays 10:30 to 11:15 am

Story Time (0 to 6 years old) @ Kellogg Hubbard Library, Saturdays @ 10:30 am

Other Free Weekly Activities:

BurlingtonVT Moms Blog Park Hopping Playdate Series @ a different park each week from 10 am to 12 pm

Alice in Noodleland @ Butter Noodles, Mondays 10 to 11 am

Mister Chris @ Buttered Noodles, Tuesdays from 10 to 10:30 am

Rockin’ Ron the Friendly Pirate @ Buttered Noodles, Wednesdays 10 to 10:45 am

Cookie Decorating @ Barrio Bakery starting at 10:30 am, donations welcome

Yoga with Danielle @ Buttered Noodles, Thursdays 10 to 10:30 am

What activities do you know of that aren’t on this list? Please share!

Want to stay up to date on fun summer events? Join our Summer Events Facebook page where we will be posting events all summer long!