Libraries & Child Development

Science has proven that those first few years of a child’s life are the most critical times for brain development. Librarians focus their efforts on a collection of materials that will enable this development. You’ll find board books that are easy for a young child to hold, with bright and engaging pictures, and simple words in connection with objects for vocabulary building.  Some books will have sensory experiences, such as various textures or sounds, and others will have mirrors for facial recognition.  In addition to the collection, librarians create and implement infant/toddler story times based on developmental needs.  This may include but is not limited to, reading age-appropriate stories in a fun and entertaining way to develop language, playing music and singing songs to encourage listening and repeating skills, and some of those higher cognitive skills, such as games and finger plays. 

Preschoolers are generally considered children ages 3-6; they are no longer toddlers and aren’t quite ready for kindergarten yet.  This is the age when many children start grasping beginning reading and math skills.  Librarians always look for materials that invite these skills, such as alphabet and counting books.  Many library programs and story times offered for this age group focus on games, arts and crafts, puppets, and imagination. All of which help develop gross motor, fine motor, and cooperative play skills. You might also observe parachute play, dancing, jokes, basic question-and-answer sequences, simple instruction following, and demonstrations of respect and understanding.  These activities are specifically designed to address preschool developmental skills. 

Librarians want children to be successful human beings, so a concentrated effort is put into services that will help them grow and learn.  This is the age when many children want to participate in hands-on activities, often in group settings among peers.  Many libraries offer after-school clubs and programs to meet these needs. These programs might include STEAM activities, book clubs, and friendly literature-based competitions. Librarians care about developing lifelong readers, so they spend time talking with children and researching popular topics of interest. This collection must be balanced based on interest levels and community needs, as well as provide a variety of mediums that may enhance understanding. At this age, when children begin receiving homework assignments, librarians are prepared to assist parents and their children in finding the appropriate materials, databases, and information websites to aid in these assignments. 

Middle school children are developing language and cognitive skills at a faster rate.  They are also discovering who they are and looking to fit in with their peers. Librarians who work with this age group are carefully keyed into social and emotional needs, as well as protecting and encouraging self-esteem through positive programs and materials.  It’s important to note here, however, that the library is a safe space and is always receptive to conversations about individuality and peer pressure.  It can be tricky to draw this age group's attention, so librarians create or reproduce programs and attractions that often contain pop culture references, technology exploration, and Maker opportunities with correlating books and other materials.  Since this age group typically has a longer attention span, you might see longer programs offered. 

Librarians are required to tailor their resources for teens who are learning how to “adult.”  Most teen librarians balance programs, displays, and materials between preparing for college and the workforce, teaching and enhancing life skills, and other fun and inventive programs that offer peer connection and creativity opportunities.  Librarians work hard to create a safe space for all teens, which lays a foundation for building that independence.