Hampshire libraries

Hampshire County Council Libraries runs free early-years sessions through its libraries, with Bumps & Babies at Ringwood Library giving a good example of the baby music offer. Story Time sits alongside it for slightly older children who are ready for a shorter library session.

The age split is straightforward: Bumps & Babies is listed for babies from birth to 1 year, while Story Time is listed for children from 1 to 5 years. The examples shown here also stay close to home, with Ringwood, Farnborough and other Hampshire libraries each running regular morning slots.

That makes the programme easy to navigate if you are choosing between a baby session and an early-years story slot. Parents can pick the nearest library, check the weekday or Saturday timing, and move straight into the age band that fits well.