Top Tips for Visiting the Library with Your Toddlers

It’s important to get our kids to love reading by introducing them to books from birth. Reading to them at bedtime is one way of doing this, but it’s a good idea to teach them about where books come from. While taking a toddler to a library sounds a little daunting, fear not, it can actually be a fun experience and really well help your tots to love books. Check out these tips for parents who have toddlers and are planning a trip to the library.

Tips for Taking Your Toddler to the Library

The library is a great place to take your toddler.

Not only will you encourage a love of books but you will also save yourself money as you can borrow a wide variety of books until you discover the type of books that your little one enjoys.

Here are some of our top tips for both of you enjoying the visit.

Visit During Story Time 

One of the best times to visit the library with toddlers is during storytime or rhyme time.

This gives mom and dad a break and librarians and authors do an amazing job of interacting with kids while reading to them.

You’ll learn some new rhymes and songs as well as hearing other people’s voices reading their favourite stories helps with listening skills. It’s one of the first steps in learning to read to hear the words and sounds being made.

Prepare Them For Indoor Voices

This one may take a while to catch on to, or will be forgotten fairly quickly.

Before you visit, just teach your children about using indoor voices while visiting the library.

Thankfully the kid’s portion of the library is off to one side, so even when they do become a little noisy, they aren’t distracting other people.

Visiting during the day, or attending special toddler, rhyme time and baby activities means that you can work on the indoor voices whilst still having fun and making a noise.

Let Your Child Explore

This is your child’s experience too, so allow your child to walk around and investigate.

If they aren’t having to follow mom and dad around, they’ll be more curious to explore and find it a much more interesting place to visit.

Sit down and let them read the books, see which ones draw their attention.

Are they interested in books with specific colours, characters or just ones that you have already read?

Show Them The Layout

You know your son or daughter’s interests better than anyone.

If your son loves dinosaurs, show him where he can find the dinosaur books and point out physical objects in the room that will help remind him where they are at.

Also show them where they can check out audiobooks, music, DVDs, and games.

Have Them Pick Out Some Books

Instead of picking out all the books for them, allow your toddler to choose a couple on their own.

This makes the library experience even more personal for them, and they won’t be able to wait until the next time they get to check out a few more books.

Yes, you should throw in a few others you know they will love as well.

Make It Fun 

It may be important for your children to be quieter at the library, but if you’re in the children’s section, you don’t have to be such quiet police.

It’s wonderful that your children are excited about pictures of Clifford the big red dog and Curious George, so no big deal if they squeal in delight. 

In fact, you’ll probably see the librarian walking over to see what all the excitement is about.

Take it as an opportunity they know a lot about the books and if your child loves a certain book ask them to recommend some more.

Don’t Forget A Bookmark

Some libraries will also give your son or daughter a bookmark every time they visit.

After a while, your children may have a pretty good collection of them. This also gives them something to look forward to while visiting. 

If your library doesn’t then why not make some.

They can be fun and silly like these corner bookmarks or just a simple one that you have made together with some card and stickers.

Other Ways to Encourage a Love of Reading with Your Toddlers

Of course, one of the best ways to encourage a love of reading and therefore learning with your toddlers is to read often and include books in your daily life.

A fun way you can do that at home is by doing activities around the books that you and your children love.

More Top Tips for Visiting Places with Toddlers

These tips for going to the beach with your toddler will ensure that you have lots of fun and stay safe.

Watch the awe and wonder on your toddlers’ face as they see the animals from their books and TV with a visit to the Zoo. Check out our Top Tips for Visiting the Zoo with your Toddlers and Enjoying it!

These are a few tips while visiting the library when you have toddlers.

It doesn’t have to be an intimidating or stressful visit. Remember to have fun with them.