Activities For Children: Library Visits

Written by Lisa on Wednesday 10 May 2006

I love our local library. Its a fun, educational place to take the kids....and even better its free! 

We got Jake his first library card when he was only two months old and Rachel was just turned two and ever since we have been regular visitors. 

Our local library is very small, but the librarian knows everyone, and always has a smile and some kind words for the children. 

On entering, Rachel and Jake make a beeline straight to the childrens tables and chairs at the back of the room, and always play first with the bead frames and jigsaw puzzles. While they are occupied Gerard and I can choose browse the shelves and choose our books, I laugh at his weird choices, and he admonishes me for picking yet another piece of 'chick lit'. 

The we settle at the back and read a few stories before letting the children pick some books to take home. 

Children model their reading behaviour on on their parents, and many studies have shown that children who don't have parents who read, often don't see any purpose in learning to read at school. 

Cultivating a love of books in your children at an early age is vital to ensuring they develop good literacy skills. Visits to the library are a great and enjoyable way to enforce their love of reading. 

I am especially grateful for the library in the winter time. The storytelling and craft sessions that they host for children are a great way to keep the family amused when the weather is too cold or wet to play outside.