Your children are bored and restless. It’s raining hard. There’s nothing good on TV, and they’re tired of playing with their toys. Are there any fun family activities that can preserve everyone’s sanity?

Why not go to the library? It’s the perfect place to spend a rainy (or a sunny!) afternoon. The entertainment quality is at least as good as television, and the educational quality is probably a lot higher (just don’t tell the kids they’re learning). And the price is right.

Family Ideas for Making the Most of the Library

Here are a few family ideas to make the most of the library during your children’s growing years:

  • Read to your children regularly.
  • Let the kids choose.
  • Set an example.
  • Appreciate the variety of adolescent books.
  • Don’t rush through every visit.
  • Be an explorer.
  • Know the library reading program.
  • Don’t limit yourself to the public library.
  • Model responsibility.

As they enjoy the stories, not to mention the together time, they’ll develop a love of books from the beginning. Some children even learn to read on their own; in any case, family reading time develops such pre-reading skills as attentiveness and observation.

The Most Popular Children's Books Are Ones That They Choose

Even if you’re sick of checking out the same book every month, get it if they want it. Teaching the love of reading is more important than sparing yourself a little boredom. They’ll learn what else is out there soon enough. Of course you can set a limit on the number of books to check out (the library may do this for you), and of course you shouldn’t let your children read materials that seriously offend your moral values--but within these limits, let the children choose their own books. Don’t jump to conclusions about “good” reading without examining a book yourself, and don’t make a big deal about age levels (many children read at a more advanced level than you’d think, and many easy-to-read books are appropriate for older children).

You can’t expect your children to look forward to the library if you always act bored and never check out anything yourself. Let the kids see that you enjoy books and reading. (If you don’t--look up your favorite topic!)

There’s a lot more in the library than stories and popular series. The nonfiction shelves can be as exciting as the fiction; whether your children are fascinated by astronauts, animals, or art, there are plenty of books on the subject, filled with intriguing facts and colorful pictures. And remember that not all good reading comes in books; public libraries have magazines, newspapers, CD-ROM’s, and on-site databases too.

Set aside one afternoon a month when the children can browse for hours. It beats spending the same amount of time staring at the TV.

Find Out What Kind of Library Reading Program Exists for Children

Most libraries have special programs for children--storybook readings, arts and crafts, Internet classes. Ask the librarian for a program schedule.

If you live in a populated area with multiple libraries, don’t go to the same one every time. Be sure to take the kids to the central library occasionally; it will have the largest selection of materials. You can usually return the books to one of the branch libraries.

If your church, club, or office has a library, take your children for a visit, even if you think nothing there could possibly interest them; they may surprise you. And encourage them to use their school libraries and classroom reading shelves.

Make sure your children know what can be taken home and what can’t. See to it that books are treated with care, in the library and out. Always return books on time! 

A child who enjoys the library will develop a lifelong love of reading. And you couldn’t give a child a better gift. 



Katherine Swarts is a freelance author from Houston, Texas.
This article was originally published (with slight variations in text) in the December, 1993, issue of Our Kids, a regional (San Antonio/Houston) parenting publication.