Kids, teens and family
Events specifically for children or teens as well as those for families, including classes, park and library programs, music, dances, family fitness events, battles of the bands. Send items to nbrcalendar@dailyherald.com two weeks before event date.
Dec. 15
Anime Club: 4-5:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 15, Indian Trails Public Library, 355 S. Schoenbeck Road, Wheeling. Read manga, eat pocky and watch a new Anime movie or series on the first and third Mondays of the month. Registration is required. For information or to register, call (847) 459-4100 or visit www.indiantrailslibrary.org.
The Best Christmas Decorations in Chicagoland: 7-8 p.m. Monday, Dec. 15, Vernon Area Public Library District, 300 Olde Half Day Road, Lincolnshire. An amusing look at holiday displays from downtown Chicago to Lake County and the people who create them. For information or to register, call (847) 634-3650 or visit vapld.info.
Dec. 16
White Elephant Party: 7-8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 16, Indian Trails Public Library, 355 S. Schoenbeck Road, Wheeling. Bring a gift get a gift. Come with a gift in a brown paper bag, with no name or any other identifying information on it. The goal is to choose wacky, funny or entertaining gifts. For grades 6-12. Registration is required. Call (847) 459-4100 or visit www.indiantrailslibrary.org.
Holiday Cookies: 2-2:45 p.m. for ages 4-6, 4-5 p.m. for ages 7 and up. Tuesday, Dec. 16, Whole Foods Market, 760 Waukegan Road, Deerfield. Children can decorate cookies and their own holiday cookie boxes to bring them home in. $10 per person. For reservations, call (847) 444-1900.
Dec. 17
Pajamarama Storytimes: 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 17, Ela Area Public Library, 275 Mohawk Trail, Lake Zurich. Ages 3 to 5 can wear pajamas and enjoy stories, songs, finger plays and crafts. Rregistration is required. Call (847) 438-3433, e-mail infodesk@eapl.org or visit eapl.org.
Teen Scrapbooking Club: 7-8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 17, Indian Trails Public Library, 355 S. Schoenbeck Road, Wheeling. Bring pictures to build a scrapbook. For a one-time fee of $10, students receive an album with page inserts. The library provides all other supplies. The monthly theme is "Winter Wonderland." Registration is required. Call (847) 459-4100 or visit www.indiantrailslibrary.org.
Novel Thoughts: 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 17, Lake Villa District Library, 1001 E. Grand Ave., Lake Villa. Fourth- through sixth-graders can discuss "A Single Shard" by Linda Sue Park. Registration is required. Call begins November 19. For information, call (847) 356-7711 or visit lvdl.org.
Dec. 18
Yoga for Preschoolers: 10 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 18, Ela Area Public Library, 275 Mohawk Trail, Lake Zurich. Children ages 3 and up can learn the benefits of yoga. Please bring a mat or a towel. Space is limited. To register, call (847) 438-3433, visit eapl.org or e-mail infodesk@eapl.org.
Santa themed story: 1 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 18, Rink Side Family Entertainment Center, Gurnee Mills Mall, 6170 Grand Ave., Gurnee. Santa will read a story to parents and children. There is no charge, but bring a new or gently used book or two to donate to Cops 'N Kids. Participants can arrive at 11 a.m. for lunch and games for $2. Call (847) 856-1064, ext. 229, or visit rink-side.com or cops-n-kids.org.
Dec. 19
Teen Coffee House: 7-9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 19, Indian Trails Public Library, 355 S. Schoenbeck Road, Wheeling. Open mic night and karaoke jam for local high school students. Pizza and soda will be available. Registration is required. Call (847) 459-4100 or visit www.indiantrailslibrary.org.
Dec. 20
The Music of Jim Gill: 10-10:45 a.m. or 11:15 a.m. to noon Saturday, Dec. 20, Vernon Area Public Library District, 300 Olde Half Day Road, Lincolnshire. Jim Gill, winner of numerous Parents' Choice Awards, entertains with his zany songs. For children age 5 and under and caregivers. For information or to register, call (847) 634-3650 or visit vapld.info.
The Write Stuff: 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 20, Lake Villa District Library, 1001 E. Grand Ave., Lake Villa. The nest in a series of creative writing workshops for third- through sixth-graders. In "It's a Bird! It's a Plane! It's . . ." participants will create a superhero for an epic tale. For information or to register, call (847) 356-7711 or visit lvdl.org.
Dec. 22
Lapsit Storytime: 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Monday, Dec. 22, Indian Trails Public Library, 355 S. Schoenbeck Road, Wheeling. For infants 18 months and under and their caregivers, enjoy time together building language skills through the use of songs, finger plays, rhymes and stories. Registration is required. For information or to register, call (847) 459-4100 or visit www.indiantrailslibrary.org.
Benjamin Franklin: 1-2 p.m. Monday, Dec. 22, Indian Trails Public Library, 355 S. Schoenbeck Road, Wheeling. Kindergartners through fifth-graders can listen to "Benjamin Franklin" share what life was like for him and how his inventions came about. Registration is required. Call (847) 459-4100 or visit www.indiantrailslibrary.org.
Chess Club: 7-8:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 22, Indian Trails Public Library, 355 S. Schoenbeck Road, Wheeling. No prior knowledge of chess is required. All ages are welcome. Registration is required to participate. To attend, call (847) 459-4100 or signup online at www.indiantrailslibrary.org.
Family Gaming: 3-4:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 22, Indian Trails Public Library District, 355 S. Schoenbeck Road, Wheeling. Play Dance Dance Revolution, Rock Band or Nintendo Wii Sport with the whole family. Water and snacks will be provided. Registration is required. Call (847) 459-4100 or visit www.indiantrailslibrary.org.
Dec. 23
Celebrate with a Movie: 2 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 23, Cook Park Library, 413 Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville. Enjoy "WALL*E," rated "G" on the library's big screen. And, at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 30, watch "Star Wars: The Clone Wars," rated "PG." Children under age 8 must be accompanied by a caregiver. For information or to register, call (847) 362-2330 or visit cooklib.org.
Color My World: 11-11:45 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 23, Indian Trails Public Library District, 355 S. Schoenbeck Road, Wheeling. Kindergartners through fifth-graders can help act out stories from popular story books with makeshift props and on-the-spot coaching. Registration is required. Call (847) 459-4100 or visit www.indiantrailslibrary.org.
Yu-Gi-Oh Match: 1-3 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 23, Indian Trails Public Library District, 355 S. Schoenbeck Road, Wheeling. Students in third through fifth grade can play each other. Bring your own cards, no trading allowed. Refreshments will be served. Registration is required. Call (847) 459-4100 or visit www.indiantrailslibrary.org.
Dec. 27
Preschool Saturdays: 9:30-10 a.m. Saturdays, Dec. 27 and Jan. 3, Vernon Area Public Library District, 300 Olde Half Day Road, Lincolnshire. Stories for preschool children Dec. 27; short and entertaining films of stories old and new on Jan. 3. Registration is not required. For information, call (847) 634-3650 or visit vapld.info.
Dec. 30
Hodge Podge Crafts: 10 a.m. to noon Tuesday, Dec. 30, Indian Trails Public Library District, 355 S. Schoenbeck Road, Wheeling. Drop in anytime and make a craft from the library's supplies. This program is for 3-year-olds through fifth-graders. Registration is required. Call (847) 459-4100 or visit www.indiantrailslibrary.org.
Board Games from Around the World: 1-4 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 30, Vernon Area Public Library District, 300 Olde Half Day Road, Lincolnshire. Play board games, including Cranium Cadoo, Clue, Uno Attack, Monopoly and Candyland, along with Mancala and other games from around the world. One adult per family should accompany children younger than second grade. Registration is not required. For information, call (847) 634-3650 or visit vapld.info.
Dec. 31
New Year's Eve Celebration: 11 a.m. to noon Wednesday, Dec. 31, Indian Trails Public Library District, 355 S. Schoenbeck Road, Wheeling. Celebrate the New Year early with a craft, play a game, New Year's resolutions and noisemakers. Most appropriate for ages 5-10. Registration is required. Call (847) 459-4100 or visit www.indiantrailslibrary.org.
Jan. 3
Preschool Saturdays: 9:30-10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 3, Vernon Area Public Library District, 300 Olde Half Day Road, Lincolnshire. Stories for preschool children Dec. 27; short and entertaining films of stories old and new on Jan. 3. Registration is not required. For information, call (847) 634-3650 or visit vapld.info.
Ongoing
Walk-In Craft Projects: All December and Jan. 16-19, Feb. 13-14, and March 6-9 and 23-29, Cook Park Library, 413 Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville and Evergreen Interim Library, 290 Evergreen Drive, Vernon Hills (Evergreen is closed Sundays). Look for creative holiday and winter fun for all ages. For information, call (847) 362-2330 or visit cooklib.org.
Baby Jam: 9:45 and 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays, Fremont Public Library, 1170 N. Midlothian Road, Mundelein. Offers music specially chosen for babies 6- to 23-months-old to give the babies a safe space to move and bounce; an alternative activity will be provided for siblings older than 3. Children must be accompanied by an adult. For details, call (847) 918-3225 or visit fremontlibrary.org.
Family Jam: 7 p.m. Tuesdays and 9:45 and 10:30 a.m. Wednesdays, Fremont Public Library, 1170 N. Midlothian Road, Mundelein. Features a different style of music each week to get everyone dancing, for children ages 2-5 with an adult. For details, call (847) 918-3225 or visit fremontlibrary.org.
Big Screen Games: 1:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Fremont Public Library, 1170 N. Midlothian Road, Mundelein. Offers a different interactive DVD game each week for first- and second-graders. For details, call (847) 918-3225 or visit fremontlibrary.org.
Afternoon Adventures: 1:30 p.m. Thursdays, Fremont Public Library, 1170 N. Midlothian Road, Mundelein. Features a different craft, game, or activity every week for first- and second-graders. For details, call (847) 918-3225 or visit fremontlibrary.org.
Lunch & Listen: Noon Fridays, Fremont Public Library, 1170 N. Midlothian Road, Mundelein. Features a one-hour sample of a different book on CD each week for students in fourth grade and up. Participants are invited to bring a sack lunch, and the library will provide drinks and snacks. For details, call (847) 918-3225 or visit fremontlibrary.org.