Storytime and library events with kids in Santa Clara

What's on for kids in Santa Clara

• Santa Clara City Library Comic Con

  Sat, Oct 10 · 10:00 AM · Santa Clara City Library - Central Park · Ages 0–12

Activity ideas that work any day in Santa Clara

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  Bike Skills Course

  Get ready to set up your own bike skills course and test your riding abilities. It's really fun to design a path with challenges and then try to master each one. Kids this age often enjoy friendly competition and pushing themselves to improve, so timing each run can add a satisfying challenge as they work to shave seconds off their best time. Start by gathering some cones or even small toys to mark out different stations. Try a slalom course for weaving, a slow race to practice balance, and a stop zone for precise braking. Time yourselves as you navigate each section, or even the whole course, and see who can get the best time or the smoothest ride. To stretch the activity, add new obstacles like a jump over a small stick, or use chalk to draw a narrow line to follow.

  9-13 · Outdoor · 60 min

  Open
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  Build And Paint A Pirate Ship

  Ahoy, builder! Assemble your own wooden pirate ship, then make it seaworthy by painting it with fearsome colors and a pirate flag.

  6,7,8 · Indoor · 50 min · About $5–$20

  Open
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  Kitchen Chemistry Lab

  Become a real kitchen scientist and conduct exciting experiments using everyday items. You'll create a colorful pH indicator from red cabbage, build a stunning density tower with different liquids, and uncover secret messages with invisible ink. This activity lets you explore scientific principles like acids, bases, density, and chemical reactions in a hands-on way, which is deeply satisfying for curious minds who love to see how things work and make discoveries. First, you'll prepare your red cabbage indicator, then test household liquids to see their pH. Next, layer different liquids carefully to watch a density tower form. Finally, write and reveal your secret messages. To stretch the activity, try predicting the order of liquids in your density tower before you pour, or experiment with other natural materials to see if they can also act as pH indicators.

  9-12 · Indoor · 60 min

  Open
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  Build a Marble Run Wall

  Design and build an amazing marble run right on your wall. This activity lets you experiment with angles, gravity, and problem-solving to create a long, winding path for marbles. Kids this age enjoy the challenge of engineering something that works, making adjustments, and seeing their ideas come to life as the marble successfully races from top to bottom. It's a satisfying blend of creativity and logical thinking. Start by gathering materials like cardboard tubes, plastic cups, and cardboard pieces. Use painter's tape to attach your ramps and tunnels to a wall or door, beginning at the top. Test each section as you go, adjusting angles and placement until your marble flows smoothly. To stretch the activity, try using different sizes of marbles or adding obstacles like spinning platforms or "trap doors" that the marble has to navigate.

  9-12 · Indoor · 75 min

  Open

Questions parents ask about Santa Clara

What can you do with a toddler in Santa Clara on a rainy day?

Santa Clara's central library has a large children's area and runs storytimes most weekday mornings — a better bet than driving to a paid indoor playground. The indoor list for Santa Clara shows what's scheduled.

Are these activities free?

Library and park programs are free. The theme-park and museum outings nearby are the ones that need a budget and a booking. 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.