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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To not think my toddler got anything from his library visit?

26 replies

Autumnsunset22 · 13/10/2022 17:15

He threw a few books around but apart from that …

I have read that going to the library with them is meant to be a good thing but it really wasn’t - any tips?

OP posts:

HotToddyColdSauvignon · 13/10/2022 17:17

New environment, meeting new people, seeing new things - a lot of libraries also have rhyming sing sessions or whatnot.
also - did you read to him?, or just let him walk around?

Tomorrowisalatterday · 13/10/2022 17:18

Mine love the library. We have lots of books at home but they enjoy a different environment, getting to choose some books for me to read to them and take home.

But you don't have to do it if you don't get anything out of it.

Revolvingwhore · 13/10/2022 17:19

Everything with a toddler is ten times shitter than you hope it's going to be.

groeggmeg · 13/10/2022 17:20

I think this is likely one of those expectations vs reality type parenting situations. You imagine sitting there whilst your child sits patiently listening to every word of the book you're reading, in reality they aren't interested at all as they are like a kid in candy shop picking up book after book and discarding them for the next one.

We pop to the library once or twice a week, we know we will likely only be there ten or fifteen minutes each visit, she gets book after book out and listens to about one page of each but it's all led by her and she's enjoying it in her own way.

Original poster

Autumnsunset22 · 13/10/2022 17:21

He wouldn’t let me read to him, just wouldn’t sit down. It was a rhyme time but only one other child there and he wasn’t engaged at all.

OP posts:

APlanetFarFarAway · 13/10/2022 17:22

Toddlers develop rapidly so he may not be interested right now but could be in a few weeks or months.

Take him every now and then.

Technosaurus · 13/10/2022 17:25

Took our toddler every six weeks from about 18 months. Exactly as you described for about the first 5 or 6 visits, but I needed something free and indoors during the winter months.

Then a penny dropped when they turned 2ish, they'd go and get some books and ask me to read them (usually baby books that they'd get bored of easily at home but for some reason always picked them at the library)

4 now, loves the library. Sits and "reads" to themselves like the older children even though they can't really read properly, but then find an age appropriate book and ask me to read it. Then we pick 4 or 5 to take home together, just as I envisaged would happen on that first visit! It's just a case of conditioning!

Technosaurus · 13/10/2022 17:27

Should add that there was a few months gap due to covid. And it was DS who asked me "when can we go to the library again" even though I was convinced they didn't care for it!

YellowTreeHouse · 13/10/2022 17:28

Why does he have to sit with you?

Reading to your toddler doesn’t have to mean the two of you sitting together. Why don’t you read to him as he’s running around playing? He’s still listening and getting a lot out of it.

Tomorrowisalatterday · 13/10/2022 17:29

Do they like being read to at home?

batshitballs · 13/10/2022 17:36

I don't really get whY a toddler would love
Libraries

Surely they like soft play, parks, making a mess snd running around

CuriousCatfish · 13/10/2022 17:40

Perhaps he is too young. He doesn't know it's a library. It's just somewhere new to run around.

I'd wait until he was a little older.

toomuchlaundry · 13/10/2022 17:45

DS liked rhyme time at the library, but he was quite a passive (lazy) toddler so was quite happy sitting on my lap!

MrsMiddleMother · 13/10/2022 17:46

My 3 year old loves the library but we only go to borrow books to read at home, maybe read 1 every so often when there. I've never been to rhyme time as the few baby/toddlers groups I have tried the child in question did not give a shit

YellowTreeHouse · 13/10/2022 17:47

batshitballs · 13/10/2022 17:36

I don't really get whY a toddler would love
Libraries

Surely they like soft play, parks, making a mess snd running around

Because they love books. My toddler loves soft play and running around too but she also likes to look at various different books and colour in.

houseargh · 13/10/2022 17:49

Honestly I just treat it as a new environment for her to wander around in while I pick some books for us to read at home. Once in a blue moon she's happy to sit and read one at the library, but even then it rarely lasts a whole book. They also do messy play at ours on Saturdays, which means my husband or I makes a paper drum/windmill/colours something in while she runs around (see above). It's a changes of scene though

Hugasauras · 13/10/2022 17:50

Some kids are sit and listen to stories and songs types and some are run around and wreck the joint types. It's just the way things are. If you have the latter, then there are probably less stressful places to take them.

KitchenSupper · 13/10/2022 17:51

Just drop in for ten minutes. It’s about the habit rather than specific benefits of a particular visit.

ChakaKhanfan · 13/10/2022 17:52

YeH don’t worry, I’m a childminder and we go to the library semi frequently and I would say 1 out of 3 of the kids just aren’t interested some times. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Original poster

Autumnsunset22 · 13/10/2022 17:54

He does like some books at home but tends to go for the same ones over and over. I know children like what’s familiar though.

OP posts:

KindergartenKop · 13/10/2022 17:54

The benefit of the library isn't in just one visit. It's about being able to choose new books to read with your child when you're bored of the ones at home. It's about having access to loads of early reader books once they are ready to read. It's about being able to investigate non fiction books on hundreds of subjects from hedgehogs to outer space!

I'd suggest just going to borrow books for now. Eventually your child will want to choose for themselves and you can follow their lead.

Original poster

Autumnsunset22 · 13/10/2022 17:56

Hmm but that seems to be something he’d get to the library in a year or so rather than now?

OP posts:

KindergartenKop · 13/10/2022 17:56

Just to add, my kids also like what's familiar and take the same non fiction books out lots of times (there's a particular one about apes he loves). He's 10 now and he's been taking it out since he was 3!

KindergartenKop · 13/10/2022 17:58

You can also get books from the library! It's not just for the kids.

Original poster

Autumnsunset22 · 13/10/2022 17:59

I can completely see libraries as beneficial to ten year olds , just not sure to 2 yos!

OP posts:

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