Top 3 Takeaways on Visiting Your Local Library

1. Making the library into a fun place & turning reading into something that supports your children’s interests rather than against is a great way to encourage reading.

2. Modeling good behaviors & being a great role model both at home and in the library encourages your children to follow along with your good habits.

3. The library is a great way to prioritize regular family time, learn about one another’s interests, and disconnect from devices! By doing so, we teach them valuable research skills that will last their entire lives!

To reading enthusiasts, the library is a magical place packed to the brim with possibilities of new reads, new information, and new things to learn. To a child, the same things that make the library incredible to us can be overwhelming for them. Especially for children who struggle with reading, the library can quickly become daunting.

So how do we combat this and turn the library into a fun place for children?

This topic is extremely near and dear to my heart because I am an avid reader who loves the library. There are few things that excite me more than a quiet morning exploring the shelves.

Sadly, my children do not share the same enthusiasm! To them and many other children, the library is seen as a “boring” place. They’d much rather stay at home on their devices and game. When they’re glued to their screens like this, how do we get them out of the house and into the library?

With knowledge there is power, and by teaching our children how to navigate the library efficiently we give them the tools needed to enjoy it. We start by reframing the library as a place for the things they love versus a place for things they have no interest in!

There are so many benefits of taking your children to the library and making it a family trip.

1. Increased Sense of Responsibility

Owning a library card is something they’re responsible for and returning books on time teaches them valuable time management skills!

2. Valuable Family Time

Spending time actively searching for books versus passively watching TV is so helpful for families looking to bond! Some of my greatest family memories happened in the library on a rainy Saturday morning with my family.

3. Encourages Reading

Nurturing your children to be lifelong readers and teaching them that reading is fun is critical not only for their early development, but for the rest of their lives! Statistics show that very few adults ever read another book again after high school graduation because to them reading=learning and learning=boring. Encouraging reading in childhood combats this and teaches your children that reading is fun and that reading for enjoyment is a great form of stress relief!

Determine Your Child’s Reading Level

Before you step foot into a library, it’s important to know where your child stands with their reading journey. Here are some ideas to get started:

The majority of schools will have a reading assessment that is mandatory for students, so getting the results from school is a great place to start.
If your child is homeschooled or you can’t get in touch with the school, there are some great tools online that are free!

Developing a base level for your child is a good place to start because with this, you’re able to measure progress without pushing too hard. If your child is falling behind and is testing below their grade’s reading level, throwing them into a section full of books two grades above them is going to overwhelm them.

At the same time, if your child is ahead of their grade’s reading level then giving them books that are on par with their current grade’s standards may not be challenging enough for them.

Every student’s educational journey is different and so is every child’s reading journey.

Knowing where your child is at before you go into the library will give you a better idea of how to help them navigate by doing the research ahead of time.

Identify Your Child’s Interests

To create lifelong readers, teach your child that reading is a tool to learn more about the things they love. We start by teaching them how to find books about subjects they enjoy.

If your child loves video games, help them find books that dive into the logistics of their favorite characters. If they’re interested in the outdoors, the two of you can ask a librarian to point you towards adventure books with a focus on natural landscapes and nature.

Once you have a good base line and awareness of your child’s interests and reading level, you are better equipped to make library visits a regular activity for your family. Though there may be initial push back from groaning children who are attached to their iPads, they’ll soon be ready to leave the house before you on library days once a routine is set!

How to Turn Library Visits into a Weekly Family Tradition?

1. Be consistent about it

If Saturday mornings are your library days, you should be raring to go every Saturday morning! Making a special breakfast before heading out adds to the fun of the whole experience! Coming up with a time that works for your family every week is crucial in ensuring that your new library habit sticks. Kids love routine and by developing this into a weekly activity, they know what to expect!

2. Model good behaviors

If you want your children to read, you should also be reading! Why would they do something that you don’t even want to do yourself?

Checking out your own books, dedicating time in your day to read and staying off of devices, shows them the enjoyment you get out of reading and models to them what a lifelong love of reading looks like!

3. Prioritize your library time

Think of the library as your standing date with your children. This is your time every single week to spend with your family, learn about their interests, and help them find books that will help them learn and grow through the things that they love.

This time should be a priority! This means blocking the time off, saying no to other plans, and making sure they know that your family time is the most important thing to you!

The library is a magical place to many and though it may be overwhelming or boring to your child now, helping them to navigate it can change this mindset. Turn the devices off, go get a treat, and make it a family activity! One day, your children will look back and think fondly on their days at the library with you!

How to Detox Your Child From Electronics? Visit Your Local Library