Have You Tried the Library

Summer break is coming or even here for many families. With that comes the eternal whine: Im boooored!

There are a lot of ways you can battle summertime boredom, but one of my favorites is the library. Theres plenty to do at most local libraries, and its not all about checking out books.

For younger children theres story time. Many libraries have a time where someone will sit and read to the children. They may even have different times for different age groups.

Libraries generally have a wonderful selection of childrens books. This is a wonderful way to keep from needing to buy more and more books for your kids. You can introduce them to the classics you enjoyed as a kid as well as the currently popular titles without destroying your budget.

And of course there are plenty of books for older children too.

If your kids arent the sort to reread books you may be able to provide them with some great choices without going to the book store. And if they have a particular interest or hobby theyre pursuing, the library can be a great resource.

Regular access to books is one of the best ways to bring a child up to be a reader. It doesnt really matter what kinds of books your child likes to read. Even reading comic books can encourage the reading habit. Rather than spend a lot of money on the habit you can borrow the books your children will love.

Many libraries even carry movies on DVD now. You can save some serious money on your movie rentals if you have a library card.

One of the best things about modern libraries is that they may even contact you to remind you when books are due, and you may be able to request a book from another branch online. This is a huge time savings, and if you pay attention to the reminders, a savings on late fees too.

And of course most have computers now too. While computer time is generally limited, it can be a fun place for the kids to play on the computer if they dont already do so at home.

Dont assume that your children will be bored at the library. Even people who say they dont like to read may find something of interest at the library. Its often not a dislike of reading, after all.

Its more likely in my opinion to be a dislike of the topic being read. Give your kids a chance to enjoy themselves at the library.

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About the Author (text)Stephanie Foster runs http://www.homewiththekids.com/ as a resource for stay at home parents. Subscribe to her free newsletter to get more tips on keeping the kids busy rather than bored at http://www.homewiththekids.com/newsletter/subscribe.php

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