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The City of Bee Cave and the Bee Cave Public Library will host their second annual free Books and Bees Festival on April 1st and April 2nd at the Bee Cave Galleria. This year, we are hosting a two-day event including our first ever HoneyFest!

As a hub of literacy for children and adults, our Bee Cave Public Library hosts programs year round that serve hundreds of families in the area and beyond. As a Bee City USA affiliate, the City of Bee Cave is dedicated to educating the public and helping conserve this most important insect. Our one-of-a-kind Books & Bees Festival helps accomplish our two missions - share fantastic literature with kids and adults alike, featuring high-profile, bestselling authors – and teach our residents and their kiddos more about bees! We have so many fun activities, entertainment and readings in store, you will not want to miss this FREE event! 

The average costs for school supplies every year is $35 which creates an extra burden for already challenged families as well as for teachers, who often spend their own money buying missing supplies for their classrooms and students.

In order to ease the burden of both families and teachers, school districts that are continuously facing tighter budgets, are trying to outsource the financial obligation by requesting that parents help provide  these supplies. 

Here is a list of Back-to-School Programs and School-Supply Drives in and around Austin.

It's never too early to start thinking about summer camps. Especially when registration for some summer camps are already open or closing soon or when they're free.

Free camps? Yes, there is such a thing as free camps. We've done quite some research to find camps in and around Austin (up to a 2.5 hr radius) that are not a financial burden to families, especially families that already have enough to worry about.

Do you pack fruit pouches in your child’s lunch box? Are pretzels, chips, or granola bars a snack-staple in your house? Are infant formula and baby food on your shopping list? What do you do with broken toys that cannot be fixed or donated?

While they’re plastic and it is often assumed that all plastic can go in your regular recycle bin, none of the above actually can. However, there is a way to recycle these and other items. We’ve put together a list of recycle programs for items typically consumed or used by kids.

Great news: Austin is experiencing a record-breaking early voting turnout!

Downfall: long lines and long waiting hours, which are strenuous for parents who need to bring their children along with them to the polls.

This is where Austin based babysitter agency Babysitting Connection comes into play. In order to make it easier for families to get to the polls and get their vote and voices heard, Babysitting Connection is offering free childcare for voters in line at select Travis County polling locations during early voting as well as on Election Day. Read on for details.

Does your child like to cook or is your child interested in learning how to cook? Or do you want to involve your kids more in everyday housework and help you in the kitchen? Or are your own cooking skills rather mediocre and want someone else to take over 😉?

Here’s a way to inspire a love of healthy cooking in your child. Read on to learn more about interactive online cooking classes with Sticky Fingers cooking and how to register for free classes in August and September.

We have a new book review! These are my Pants was written by Jane & Katelyn Park and illustrated by Aniqa Ashfaq. This is a cute, colorfully illustrated book about a young squirrel named Sam who learns the importance of sharing. This book is great for 3-6-year olds.

Read the book review of a fellow Live Grow Play Austin reader and enter for a chance to win your own copy.

Listen up, bookworms and Moms and Dads of future bookworms! Does your kiddo love to read or love to listen when you read to them?

We receive many children’s book review requests and just can’t keep up with reviewing all the books ourselves anymore. We'd hate to turn the authors down since we love books and we love to support the awesome people who help educate and entertain our little ones.

We know that many of you are or have little book lovers at home, so we wanted to see if anybody would be interested in a “Read and Share” program, where you have the opportunity to receive free books in return for book reviews? Read on for details.

Many children in and around Austin participate in the free or reduced meals programs at their school. When school is over for the summer it can be an expensive time for many families.

Fortunately, many schools and organizations in and around Austin offer a Summer Food Service Program where children age 18 and under can visit a summer meal site throughout the summer while school is out of session to receive free meals, snacks and participate in fun activities. Read on for participating locations. 

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