I wanted to write an article about reading with your kids and what a great source the library is for summer reading and using that to connect with your child.
I have heard my husband talk of his experiences growing up and what a great place the local library was for him.
So, I asked him to write an article for me.
Here it is in his words: I grew up in a family of ten kids.
My father had a working wage job and mom stayed at home trying to coral ten kids and to manage the home.
Needless to say we did not have a lot of discretionary income to spend on entertainment, eating out or anything beyond the very basics of life.
I do remember one luxury we really enjoyed that didn't cost us anything.
It was not too far from our home and we could go almost anytime we needed.
It was mom taking those of us that were able to read to the local library to pick out a book to read.
We were only allowed one book each because there was a limit of five per library card and we weren't able to have a card until we were older.
Fortunately for my mom our age spread was sufficient that we didn't run into a problem with no one being able to pick out a book.
The older kids were able to check books out on their own card.
Going to the library at such a young age was a great learning experience for me as I grew.
When I had to do a report for school, I was already familiar and comfortable with how the library system worked.
I was able to focus my time on doing the research rather than wasting time trying to figure out where to look for it.
I learned it was OK to ask the librarian for help if I couldn't find what I was hunting.
I also learned the library wasn't a place for making loud noises and a lot of playing around.
Because we didn't have a lot of other forms of entertainment beyond our black and white TV with two channels and a few board games I learned to enjoy and appreciate reading at an early age.
I can still remember sitting outside on the porch reading "Last of the Mohicans", "Alice in Wonderland", "Moby Dick" and many other great stories for the first time.
All of these books came from our local library at no cost.
We just had to have them back within two weeks or pay the nickel per day late fee.
(Mom was never too happy paying that so we also learned the responsibility of how to take care of other's property.
) Later on, my first "official" job was working as a Page in the Children's department of the main library branch in our city.
The money wasn't all that great ($1.
17 per hour), but it was a lot of fun watching the children come in and get excited about picking out a book and flopping into a bean bag chair to become engrossed (at least for a few minutes) in their new found treasure.
It was there that I discovered not only were there books at the library, but you could also check out record albums, magazines, news papers, and a myriad of other periodicals.
On Saturdays we did plays that acted out the featured story as it was being read.
Today many libraries offer a far more robust source of information, access, and entertainment than when I was growing up.
Our local library has DVD's, audio books, CD's, computers with internet access, summer reading programs for different age groups, free activities for all age groups, concerts, workshops, and of course books.
If you have kids that are bored this summer (and what kid doesn't get bored during the summer) and you don't have a lot of money to spend entertaining them.
Or you simply want to expand their horizons beyond the latest video game or TV program I suggest you check out the local library.
If you haven't been in a while, I think you will be quite surprised at what you'll find there.
When the child is really young most every parent knows it is a good thing to read to them.
As they grow older and become more independent in their reading choices and habits it becomes more difficult to share in their reading.
Something I did with our son was to pick out age appropriate books for him to read over the summer.
Most of the books I chose were ones I had read at that same age.
This allowed me to relate to what he was reading and to participate as an interested observer.
Of course he picked out his own books too.
Even if I hadn't read the book I still asked him questions about it and tried to be involved in his understanding of it.
If you are on a limited budget or you really don't want to buy the books, a really great place to go is your local library.
Pick out books you can read together or maybe one you have already enjoyed when you were their age.
As they read it they can tell you what's going on and you will be able to follow along as their rendition brings it back to your memory.
Use this time to bridge to important learning lessons in life and in sharing your thoughts with each other.
Some of the best conversations I have had with my son were started with the discussion of what he was reading.