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Video

Going to the library

What to do with this activity?

Take a visit to your local library. It's absolutely free. There are over 300 libraries in Ireland and mobile libraries as well. The books will be organised for your child's age group and staff are there to help you choose.

Every Summer Irish libraries run a Summer Stars programme with rewards for every book read. Check it out here and download the suggested reading list for each age group.

Click on the video above to find out more about how a library is fun for children, and to get tips about choosing books for your child.

  • Why am I doing this?

    If you can spare 10 minutes a day to read with your child you can make a huge difference to their development. You don’t have to read a book, you could read a comic, magazine article or a story you have made up yourself. The most important thing is that you enjoy it, that way your child will too.

    Remember a good storybook is one that you the reader and your child find interesting. It might be funny or entertaining. Ask yourself whether your child would enjoy it and be able to listen to it. Are the pictures well drawn? Is it well written? Do you like it? You may be the one reading it, over and over, and over!

  • How can I do more?

    Reading aloud combines the benefits of talking, listening and storytelling within a single activity and helps to build the foundation for language development. From stories your child learns many things such as how to listen and concentrate, new words and understand why things happen. They also learn to put ideas in order, develop their memory skills, notice how spoken words relate to words on the page and learn how to predict. Reading gives your child a chance to develop their own opinions, build visual skills and learn how to handle books.

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