How to Teach Your Young Child About the Library

A love of reading will serve your children for a lifetime. They will become a better students and writers, have a better vocabulary, and know more about the world around themselves. Libraries are a great way to get them started down this path.

Steps

Visit your local library if you haven't lately and learn about it yourself. Look around, ask questions if you want, and get a library card if you haven't yet.
Look around for a calendar of events and ask a librarian if you're not sure. Start young! Some libraries have programs even for babies and toddlers.
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regularly. Bedtime is good, but any regular time will work. Even if they're not reading yet, get them used to the idea that books have stories in them and that story times are times to sit quietly. For older kids who are reading, start reading chapter books and other materials that are a bit beyond their current reading level. For chapter books, you can read one chapter at a time.
Never allow books to be left on the floor or tossed around. Impress upon children that books are to be treated in special ways and have a special storage space just for them. A bookshelf is best, but books can also spend time on a nightstand or table if it seems more natural, especially while they are being read.
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Get your children their own library cards. In most cases, you will still be responsible for the care and return of the materials, but having their own cards makes it much more personal than if you check things out for them.
- When they are old enough, encourage them to keep track of their own books and due dates, but supervise and remind them, especially at first.
Many libraries have story times, performances, and other activities for kids. They're a great opportunity to help your kids associate the library with having fun, and many are designed to encourage reading.
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Visit the library frequently, every week or two. If the kids have their own cards, let them check books out themselves.
- Check out at least a week's worth of books at a time. Remember that a week's worth of books for young children may be quite a few.
Check out and read books for yourself when you take them.
As your children get older, bedtime story time can transition into independent reading.
Give your children freedom to select their own books. For younger kids, help them find the right section but let them choose what interests them. As they get older, let them choose their own titles and let them judge what is interesting and appropriate.
It's a great way to keep children engaged and reading over the summer, meaning that their education can advance during the summer rather than backslide. Reading is also a great antidote to summer boredom and excess television watching, even if your kids choose to read manga or adventure stories.
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Tips

Nap times are good reading times. Your child will not always have a nap time, but nap time can morph into reading time as they come of age, giving both you and your child a restful period each day even after the toddler stages.
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Most libraries have age based book lists. These books are suited for kids of that age, and are often more available. If they are advanced readers, you can use the book list for a year ahead.
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Warnings

Do not tolerate temper tantrums and other behavior that will disturb other patrons. Remind your child before going inside that libraries are quiet places. Take your children outside if they are getting out of hand.
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Supervise your child in the library at all times. Learn what your library's rules are about supervising your child and how old children must be to go to the library unsupervised.
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