Your Local Library Has a Wealth of Resources

As school winds down for the summer, you may think driving your kids back and forth to the library will stop too.  But, if you take some time to learn about everything your local library has to offer, you may realize it is just as beneficial to your kids during the summer as it is during the school year.  Public libraries offer a variety of programs and activities for children of all ages that are both fun and educational.  These activities can be a lifesaver as the summer wears on and the novelty of vacation wears off.  Below is a list of some of the activities that may be available at your library.  To find out more about what the libraries in your area have to offer, visit their website, give them a call or stop by.

Story Time
Most libraries offer story time a few days a week for children who are in preschool, kindergarten or early elementary school.  If you have younger kids, this is a great way to incorporate reading into their lives.  Story time at the library gives youngsters a chance to see how fun reading can be and lays the foundation for a lifetime of reading.

Music and Movement
In addition to reading stories, libraries frequently incorporate music and movement into many of the activities they offer giving children a chance to sing songs, play instruments and follow simple instructions.

Arts and Crafts
If your children are a little bit older and have enough patience to sit still for an hour or so, many libraries offer opportunities for children to complete an art project or craft that they can take home with them.  These projects encourage creativity, and sometimes even incorporate your kids’ favorite books. 

Summer Reading Programs
As the school year comes to a close, it’s normal for kids to forget some of the skills they’ve learned.  But by encouraging children to read, summer reading programs offered by local libraries assist them in keeping valuable reading comprehension and critical thinking skills sharp, while helping them build their vocabulary, so they don’t have to play catch up at the beginning of the next school year.

Book Clubs
If your kids are a little bit older, they might consider joining a book club offered at your local library.  Book clubs give children a chance to read and discuss books with a group of other people.  Reading guides provided to club members and discussions generated during book club meetings will encourage your child to take a closer look at the deeper meaning of the story written by the author.  Discussions frequently center around overarching themes, character development and symbolism used in the book. 

Game and Movie Night
Just as libraries have activities like story time for younger children, they also have programs that target older kids as well.  Activities like game night and movie night give pre-teens and teens an opportunity to get together in a safe environment, socialize with their friends and have fun.