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Storytime and library events with kids in San Francisco

Free, short and toddler-proof: library and community reading programs.

Museums, playgrounds and free park days sit within a few blocks of each other in San Francisco, so a weekend plan usually comes down to weather and nap timing.

Coming up near San Francisco

Nothing listed in San Francisco for this view right now. Here's what's on elsewhere in the Bay Area, plus ideas you can do today.

Within a short drive of San Francisco

Activity ideas that work any day in San Francisco

  • Build a Cardboard Pinball Machine

    Build a Cardboard Pinball Machine

    Design and build your very own tabletop pinball machine using cardboard and other simple materials. Kids this age will enjoy the challenge of engineering a game that actually works, seeing their ideas for ramps, obstacles, and scoring areas come to life. The satisfaction comes from both the creative construction process and then playing a game you designed yourself, making it feel like a real inventor's project. You'll start by sketching out your game board layout on cardboard, then cut out the base and side walls. Next, design and attach ramps, bumpers, and a scoring system, using rubber bands for working flippers. Finally, decorate your machine and grab a marble to start playing. To stretch the activity, challenge yourself to build a two-player game or add more complex scoring zones.

    9-13 · Indoor · 90 min

    Open
  • Design a Royal Castle Blueprint

    Design a Royal Castle Blueprint

    Every royal needs a castle! Let's use painter's tape to draw a giant castle floor plan on the floor and then furnish it with toys and pillows.

    4,5,6,7 · Indoor · 60 min · About $5–$10

    Open
  • Build a Bottle Rocket

    Build a Bottle Rocket

    Design and build your own water-pressure bottle rocket, complete with fins for stability and a nose cone for aerodynamics. This activity is exciting because it combines hands-on engineering with the thrill of seeing your creation launch high into the sky. Kids this age enjoy the challenge of designing something functional, predicting its performance, and then testing their ideas in a dramatic way, making adjustments to improve their design. First, you'll gather your materials like plastic bottles, cardboard, and tape. Then, design and attach fins and a nose cone to create your rocket body. Next, set up the launch pad and carefully fill your rocket with water. Finally, use a pump to build pressure and watch your rocket blast off! To stretch the activity, try experimenting with different fin shapes, water levels, or even adding a parachute for a gentler landing.

    9-13 · Outdoor · 75 min

    Open
  • Neighborhood Nature Scavenger Hunt

    Neighborhood Nature Scavenger Hunt

    Let's become nature detectives and go on a hunt! We'll look for fuzzy leaves, interesting rocks, colorful flowers, and other natural treasures.

    4,5,6,7 · Outdoor · 45 min · About $0–$5

    Open

Questions parents ask about San Francisco

What can you do with a toddler in San Francisco on a rainy day?
The branch libraries run toddler storytimes most weekday mornings, and the big museums have stroller-friendly indoor space if you want a longer stretch out of the rain. The indoor list for San Francisco shows what's scheduled.
Are these activities free?
Library and park programs are free; San Francisco museums often have free or discounted resident days, so it's worth checking the organizer link before you pay full price. Anything ticketed links out to the organizer so you can check the price before you go.
How often is this page updated?
Event listings refresh automatically from local sources, so past dates drop off on their own.
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