We are a new family to Sanpete County. Reading books with young children has always offered numerous benefits, which I wanted to take advantage of. What are the benefits of reading to children?
• Bonding. Reading provides a wonderful opportunity for you and your child to connect. It’s a nice way to spend time together and slow down during an otherwise hectic day.
• Listening skills. Hearing a story read aloud involves some level of comprehension on your child’s part. And comprehension is dependent on paying attention—in other words, listening skills.
• Cognitive and language development. Even the youngest children benefit from hearing their caregivers read to them.
• Expanded vocabulary. Experts from the National Center on Early Childhood Development, Teaching and Learning also explain that reading books to kids helps expand the number and variety of words.
• Attention span. Dinah Castro, a bilingual family well-being educator with Cornell Cooperative Extension, shares that reading to children helps them develop key concentration and self-discipline skills.
• Creativity. Books and stories open a whole new world to your child. Yes, there are plenty of nonfiction books on dinosaurs, bugs and airplanes.
• Life lessons. Books provide an opportunity to talk about real-world situations in age-appropriate ways.
• Social and emotional development. Castro also says that reading to young children teaches them how to cope with “difficult or stressful experiences.” (“Reading to Children: Why It’s So Important and How to Start,” healthline.com)
The closest public library is a distance away from our home. Luckily, we were referred to the Sanpete County Bookmobile. The convenience and hospitality exceeded my expectations of a library on wheels.
We were able to renew books online, given wonderful reading recommendations by the librarians and given even an opportunity for the kids to get an enriched library experience by scanning the books.
The bookmobile provides on-site library service as well as mobile library service to outlying communities without immediate access to city libraries. Our bookmobile makes 23 stops, serves 15 communities and 12 schools.
There are over 5,000 items on the bookmobile. And the bookmobile offers access to interlibrary loans for those hard-to-find books. They truly are “Driven to Read!”
I would greatly dislike having the bookmobile taken from us. By doing so, the state is intentionally ruining the reputation and success of the future generations.
Megan Michie
Moroni