By Diane Levin
During the long hot days of summer, it can be challenging to find new activities for your young children. A great option to consider is the local library. Libraries offer many free resources and activities for parents with young children.
From the moment children are born, their brains are developing at an incredible speed. By talking, reading, and singing to a child during these critical early years, a parent can help to develop crucial neural synapses, increase a child’s vocabulary, and establish a love for books helping that child to be successful in school and throughout life.
The neighborhood library has a wide selection of books for children of all ages to explore and discover. Every day, parents and their children can check out a stack of books, read through them together, and then do it all over again, all at no cost.
The children’s librarian can help guide the search and make recommendations on books that can lead to surprising new discoveries. There are also compact discs available to be borrowed for sing-along time at home.
Additionally, libraries offer a wide variety of free and low-cost activities and programs, such as story time, readings by children authors, arts and crafts classes, puppet shows, musical performances, science labs, book clubs, and many more. This enables children to learn new skills, socialize, and interact with others of their own age.
Visit your local library today! There are amazing benefits just waiting to help enrich your child’s life and create a life-long appreciation for reading. Find the nearest library at publiclibraries.com/California.
