Parent Corner
Young children and the library: Introducing your child to the wonderful world of literature
At first blush, young children and
the library may seem an unlikely match. Libraries are often
considered places for speaking in hushed tones and quiet reading
and research. As parents know all too well, young children are
not generally "library" quiet and calm. So why would parents
even consider taking their toddler to the library when there are
so many other kid-friendly places to go?
Children’s librarian Serena Butch says that today’s libraries
are no longer hushed places where young children are likely to
be considered a disturbance. In fact, she says more and more,
libraries are designed to meet the needs of all members of a
family, including the very youngest.
"From child-sized chairs and comfortable nooks to puzzles, games
and age-appropriate books, we’ve made real efforts to make the
children’s room a friendly, appealing space," says Butch.
Research shows that children who are read to from an early age
are quick to learn the reasoning and communication skills they
will need to succeed in school and in life. The library is a
perfect place to find a vast assortment of age-appropriate books
that can start your child on the path to becoming well-read and
ready-to-learn.
"Taking young children to the library is a wonderful way to
introduce them to the world of literature," says Butch. She says
that activities as simple as letting children look around, feel
the books, and play with a puzzle or two teach them that the
library is a place to have wonderful, stimulating experiences
long before they know what reading is all about.
Nutrition for their minds
For a lot of children, their first
visit to the library is for a story time. When it comes to jump
starting a child’s preschool education, these cannot be beat.
Most libraries offer at least some, if not all, of the following
types of programs:
Babies (under age 2) – Programs for babies include simple books,
rhymes, songs, and finger plays as ways to familiarize children
and their families with how much fun the library can be.
Toddlers (ages 2-3) – Toddler story times are generally based on
themes familiar to young children such as families or animals.
They include stories, songs, finger plays, simple crafts, and
short literature-based videos. Toddler story times are a great
place for children to learn to follow instructions from someone
other than a parent or caretaker. They let the children be part
of a group of children their own age, and develop a sense of
what types of books they do and do not like. Participation also
helps parents learn about age-appropriate literature and
activities they can do at home with their child.
Preschool (ages 3-5) – These programs build on what a child will
have experienced at toddler story times. They usually include
longer or more detailed stories, flannel board activities, songs
and crafts. Besides being fun, these activities at the preschool
level help teach children how to take turns, share, and raise
hands to ask and answer questions - all skills they will need
for kindergarten.
The wonderful world of books
Here are some tips from the
American Library Association on using the library to introduce
your child to the wonderful world of books.
Take your child to the library often. Introduce him/her to the
children’s librarian.
Take your child to story hours, even if he/she won’t sit through
an entire program. Let him/her wander through the stacks and
feel good about being there.
As soon as your child is old enough, have him/her register for
his/her own library card. Make it a special event. Call grandma
and grandpa or another special person to tell them the big news.
Let your child check out what interests him/her, not just what
you think he/she should read.
Remind your child when it’s time to return the books (this is a
great way to teach responsibility early on). An easy way to keep
track of the due dates is to mark it on the calendar as soon as
you bring new books home.
Make a special place for your child’s books and library books -
a bottom bookshelf or basket on the floor where he/she can reach
them when he/she wants.
Display books and magazines prominently in your home so they
become a part of everyday life.
Take your child to plays, puppet shows, musical performances and
other live entertainment. Programs like these are offered by
many libraries to stimulate the minds and imaginations of young
children.
Record your child’s favorite stories on cassette tapes to play
in the car or when you aren’t around. Or borrow tapes of popular
children’s books, songs and nursery rhymes from the library.
Something for everyone
In addition to books, the
children’s section of the library generally includes a variety
of magazines, pamphlets and videos on parenting. There are also
children’s videos, audio cassettes, and educational CD-ROM games
to be borrowed, as well as librarians who are readily available
to answer questions and suggest good books to share with young
children.
"People seem to have forgotten that a public library can be a
great, free form of entertainment," says Butch. "Even if a
parent never comes to an actual program, they can get a library
card and have this whole world available to them at no cost."