I love to read. It’s one of my favorite things, I will put off doing so many other things just to curl up on the couch with a book. Luckily for me, I gave birth to a reader. Some of my favorite memories are the two of us laying at opposite ends of the couch reading.
For some children a love of reading is something they are born with, others have to be brought to reading kicking and screaming. I say it’s worth the effort. If you child reads well and enjoys it so many things in life, like getting an education, will come easier.
As a single mom I was always looking for ways to entertain Hailey that were cheap, if they were free even better. We discovered the library together when she was just a toddler. Hailey loved being able to pick out her own books and on the few occasions we were able to make it, she loved story time at the library.
If your child loves to read you are already ahead of the game but if they don’t, going to the library may help them. There is something empowering about being able to decide what you are going to read.
One of my friends was worried that her son didn’t like to read, then he discovered a series called “The Adventures of Professor Poopypants”. She wasn’t all that excited that those were the books he decided to read but she let him go and the bathroom humor was right up a nine year old boys alley. Now her son loves to read, and his tastes have expanded.
Make one night a month family night at the library. Make it something to look forward to, get the kids excited about all the books and the choices they get to make. Talk to them beforehand about using their inside voices, how many books they can choose and how to treat library books.
Hailey and I both looked forward to library night. I love to read but knowing I could take my daughter somewhere that she loved on a tight budget made it even better. Before I knew it we needed to have library night once a week instead of once a month. No matter how many times a month you go it’s a perfect activity when money is tight.