Stuck for things to do over the summer holiday? Want to try and keep your children engaged with reading over the summer over summer? You may find the perfect solution in the local library! Libraries are the perfect way of accessing all kinds of books for free, and make an exciting day out. Here's how you can get the most out of libraries this summer.
Finding your local library
The first step is to find your local library. Each local council has a dedicated page that lists all the libraries closest to you, along with their opening hours and contact details.
You can find your local page by visiting Local library services - GOV.UK and entering your postcode.
Getting your child their library card
Once you've found a library, getting a library card for your child is very straightforward. You'll just need to bring a proof of name and address and fill in your details. Most libraries will also allow you to sign up online before even visiting.
You can make this an exciting event for your child - beforehand, talk about how their library card will be a ticket to hundreds of books from which they are free to choose. It's a key part of growing up!
How to choose a book from the library
Let them choose! - Autonomy and freedom to choose a book themselves are important aspects of reading for pleasure. Let your child choose what they read, even if they choose the same books again. Familiarity and comfort are essential to building lifelong reading habits.
Ask the librarian - Librarians are an amazing source of knowledge of children's books, and what your child may enjoy. They are able to recommend books based on reading ability and age, but also areas of interest, and advise on that essential 'next read', when you've finished a series.
Explore their interests - whether it's animals, sports, history or anything, each library will have sections based around interest areas. Your child's interests could be a good place to start in the library.
Books they can identify with - children often engage the most with books that they can see themselves in. Books that reflect their background, culture or daily life can be a great entrance into the world of reading and storytelling.
Build on what works - once you get a sense of the kind of books your child enjoys, look for more by the same author or from the same series. Exploring shared themes can be a way of slowly expanding their horizons.
Allow freedom! - the beauty of the library is that everything's free, there's no pressure to pick the right books or to always finish them. Reading can often feel like schoolwork, so letting your child try whatever they want can help reinforce reading as an enjoyable activity.
Making the library exciting
Build it up - simply talking about the library before your first visit can make it an exciting place. Tell your child that when they get their brand-new library card, they'll be able to access anything in the library they want!
Talk about books - tell your child what you're reading, what your favourite books are, and take a book from the library yourself to read. In turn, ask about what they're reading, what they like about their favourite character, and so on. Showing that books are something you find equally exciting makes children far more likely to enjoy reading themselves. It will feel less like prescribed work and more like something you do for fun!
Make it a shared activity - read aloud to your child, even if they are old enough to read themselves, or read quietly in the same room together. Turning reading into a bonding memory will help them associate books and stories with warm memories and safety.
The value of libraries
The financial value - libraries offer access to a vast and rotating array of books for free. Your child is sure to have enough supply for summer reading and enough variety to keep things interesting.
The social side - libraries often host events over summer such as reading clubs and storytelling sessions, or the Summer Reading Challenge which introduces an element of fun and achievement to reading. Engaging with these events will make children feel part of a wider community of readers. Visit your local library's site or your local council's site to see what's on!
Nourishing curiosity - access to a library and its variety of books may lead your child to read about, or interact with, interests they never would have encountered otherwise. Libraries also often provide more than books, they can have craft areas, puzzle areas and more. The library can be a space for your child to develop their creativity and help instil a lasting interest in learning.
Libraries can be an excellent resource to get your child to fall in love with reading. They are inviting spaces that allow them to explore books with complete freedom. Take the chance to use libraries and all the events they offer this summer and help promote reading as a fun and exciting activity for your child!