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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.
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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.
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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."
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permission to reprint this article, please contact the
Capital Region BOCES Communications Service at (518)
464-3960.
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