Which is that one building which is the tallest in every city?
The library, of course. Why? Because it has the most stories (storeys). Jokes apart, libraries are a national treasure, an unbreakable tie which binds history and culture with the present. The word library has been derived from the French word Librarie, and means books in Latin and its origins go back to 2600 BC. As we all know, a library is an organized collection of physical and virtual information resources made accessible for reference as a source of education and recreation for the general public with no discrimination whatsoever. They’re crucial for nations because they’re a repository for local history and encourage a sense of community by bringing people of all ages and races together under one roof. It is a soul nourishing place for people who love learning and a natural focal point for meeting of intellectual minds.
It’s undeniable that a child’s reading skills are important to their success in school, work, and life in general and they can be introduced to the beautiful world of reading at an early age by taking them to a library which will intrigue and interest their inquisitive minds and forge a lifelong friendship with books. Parents agree it is a great idea to show them libraries around the city, however it’s not feasible everyday with jobs and other responsibilities. The brilliant solution to this issue is investing in a Kid Centric homes where they have dedicated space for libraries or wonderland for books in the premises itself furnished with books catering to each age group. This assures the parents that their child is learning and having fun in a safe environment with their friends.
Here are the top benefits of spending quality time in libraries for both parents and children:
Easy access: Libraries are an amazing repository of unlimited books and information which can be accessed in physical or digital form as per our convenience. They are also easy on the pocket as one can get a membership card for a nominal fee and gain access to various books of any genre. The quiet and calm ambience of libraries encourages reading and studying and really gets the intellectual juices flowing. Nowadays we also have human libraries where you “borrow” a human instead of books and learn about their unique life experiences. This concept can help kids gain perspective on life and empathy for fellow beings.
Increased concentration and discipline: Introducing reading time, especially in a library into your child’s schedule has the immense benefit of increased discipline and concentration. Kids today get exposed to the ill-effects of smartphones and radiation even before they’re born and later on too much screen time makes them prone to stunted mental growth and discipline issues. According to com, reading in an appropriate and quiet environment leads to a stronger self-discipline, longer attention span, and better memory retention, all of which will serve the child well in their academics when they enter school.
Strong cognitive development: Reading to young children via storytime or store-telling in libraries is proven to improve the process of cognitive development which is the ability to think and understand including remembering, problem solving, and decision-making. It refers to how a person perceives and thinks about the world through areas such as information processing, intelligence, reasoning, language development, and memory. Therefore, the more teachers and caretakers read aloud to children, the larger their vocabulary will grow and fire up their imagination and creativity.
Improved language skills: Libraries are furnished with reading material in every language which may not always be available online. It is good for children to be able to read and write in their mother tongues beyond English and Hindi. This will make them multilingual which is an asset in every sphere of life, improves social skills and makes their cognitive skills sharper.
Success in academics: Research indicates that kids who are exposed to reading before preschool are more likely to do better in their formal education. They are already ahead of their peers in reading skills and this advancement helps them later on in academics when the curriculum becomes more technical and tough. Libraries have age appropriate books on traditionally tough subjects like maths and science which if the child is exposed to in his/her early years, will ignite interest and love for these subjects instead of fear and confusion.
Quality Time: Reading together in the library is a great bonding session for your child and you. They will emulate you and thus will cultivate a lifelong love for reading. Everyone knows if you love reading you’ll never be lonely because you’ll always have your book friends by your side. Even if on just weekends, it will be a shared event where you can look forward to spending time together, and your child will trust and expect that you will be there for them and the importance of trust to small children cannot be overstated.
At its core, reading fiction and non-fiction literature is one of the best ways to help kids understand something without necessarily having to experience it for themselves. Reading with them exposes them to all types of subjects and concepts, building children’s understanding of humanity and the world around them. Reading is the key for lifelong learning, and if you can instill a love of reading at an early age, then a commitment to lifelong learning is sure to follow. Libraries present books as sources of pleasant, valuable, and exciting experiences. Children who value books are motivated to read on their own, and encourage others to do the same too. The entire experience of researching will have more value and importance for children if they do so in a library instead of on their phones or smartphones where everything maybe available with the click of a button but wouldn’t have a lasting impact on a child’s holistic development. As parents, we want to expose them to the best of experiences and libraries are the perfect place for them to open up to learning mixed with the old world charm of reading a book.