Do your children enjoy the library?

Libraries offer more than just books; they have storytime for preschoolers, meet the librarian days, and movies or videos to check out. This can be a weekly trip you take with your kids for a special treat. Not only will it ensure your child’s love of reading, but also teach them how to care for books. 

Before you go, be sure to look online at your library’s calendar of events. Choose a day that has an author or librarian reading their favorite books aloud. These events bring many children together for a magical experience where their minds get to go places they’ve never been before, and they get to meet other kids their age in your community.

After storytime, allow your child to peruse various children’s books and choose 1-2 books to read that week. Give them time to get started on their chosen book while at the library. “My mother used to take us to the library every month to pick out a special book we wanted to read. Our library had little nooks and crannies where I could hide with a book and read for hours undisturbed. It is still one of my favorite memories of childhood,” says Allyson Schneider, a mother of three daughters in Raleigh, NC. “I kept the tradition going with my own kids and had a hard time getting them to leave the library.”

Don’t forget to introduce your children to the most important people in the library – the librarians. Although kids may feel intimidated at first by the librarian’s tough job, if they have time, the librarian may offer to give them a tour of the library and help them get their first official library card. What’s more, every time your child comes into the library, they will receive a friendly welcome. 

While at the library, your child will learn valuable skills on how to care for books. It’s important for children to understand that books should not be harmed or damaged in any way so that they can be enjoyed by many for years to come. So, use this time to teach your child about having clean hands while touching books, as well as not to scribble in the book or tear on the pages. You can be a role model by checking out your own publication and showing them how to properly handle these items. 

Finally, you can make it a day by adding in breakfast, lunch, or a special treat before or after your library visit. They will remember spending quality time with you and look forward to your next library adventure together! Have you taken your kids to the library? What did you do to make it extra special and enhance your child’s love of reading? Connect with us on Twitter @MapsCookingKids or on Instagram @MapsCookingKids. Until next time, Agape, be kind and happy parenting!