Storytimes of Support: How Your Library Can Help Build Resilient Kids

Public libraries provide valuable opportunities for social-emotional development.

The world is a complicated place, and it only seems to get more complex as the years go by. Unfortunately, many children don’t learn the critical social and emotional lessons they need to adapt to the world as their life goes on. Schools focus almost entirely on academics, and with electronics and the internet becoming more and more prevalent, many children don’t learn from their friend groups either.

So, how do you ensure that your children learn what they need to learn? The library may be able to help in unexpected ways.

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Social-Emotional Learning Programs

Libraries offer a variety of ways for your child to grow and develop emotionally, from chances to interact with peers to dedicated social-emotional learning (SEL) classes. Simply being in an area where they can find friends and talk to people will do wonders for their mental health and emotional maturity. The classes will help them learn about more complex emotional concepts, how to identify their emotions, and how to be kinder to themselves and others.

The library offers countless avenues for socialization, with the SEL classes only scratching the surface. Take, for example, kid-friendly activities like book clubs, library storytimes, interesting programs, and creative art events. At these events, your child can make real-life friends and share real-life experiences, nurturing their mental and emotional health.

This ultimately results in children who are much more adept at managing their emotions, understand the importance of seeking help when needed, and have a network of friends to turn to when the time comes.

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Access to Mental Health Resources

Study after study has shown an increase in rates of depression and anxiety disorders among today’s children. As third places continue to disappear and real-world interactions are replaced with the internet, mental health as a whole has declined. 

Libraries offer three important solutions to this issue: a freely accessible third place, a variety of fun activities that don’t involve screens or the internet, and mental health services where your child can take their troubles if needed.

Access to these services gives children the chance to work through complex emotional issues you may not know how to help with and gives them the skills they need to manage those issues going forward.

If you’d like to learn more about the many ways that local libraries can support you and your family, feel free to visit our Families and Health feature pages today!

Visit www.everylibrary.org to learn more about our work on behalf of libraries. 

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This work by EveryLibrary is licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0