LEARNING
have access to their resources,” says Caitlin Siciliano, Mahwah’ s children’ s librarian.“ They provide athemeand clip art, but each library gets to interpret and run it in their own way.”
Mahwah’ slibrary has kids log their reading online to get points based on how many pages or books they’ ve read.“ When theyhit aprize point they get anotificationtelling them they’ ve won something and they can come to the library to pick it up,” Siciliano says.“ But there’ s not acertain number of books kids have to read. It’ s about settingpersonal goals.”
And those personal goals are what keeps the program exciting, Sicilianobelieves.“ Kids get so much satisfactionfrom setting goals and reaching them,” she says.“ And children really do love reading, so they naturally want to participate in something that nurtures that.”
West Milford children’ s librarian Theresa McArthur runs apopular Winter Reading Clubfor her school-aged children, where kids read books from five categories, including one published the year they were born, one about their favorite topic and amystery book. Eachchild gives McArthur areportonthe books they’ ve completed, which enters them into adrawing to win tickets to a show at Morristown’ s Mayo Performing Arts Center.
The motivationsfor joiningthe challenge, she feels, are mixed.“ Some kids just get excited about the incentives but Itrulythink most of the kids who join really love to read,” says McArthur, who believesthe key to getting kids reading is not in the prizes but instead starts at home.
“ Parents who prioritize reading and bring their kids to the library are the real reason why these programsare popular, because without that guidance those kids wouldn’ t be here, whetherthere are prizes or not,” McArthur says.“ I really believe kids love the library programsbecause they have parents who encourage them to read.” ●
FIVE WAYS TO ENCOURAGE YOURKIDS TO READ
• Make reading a family affair: Reading together is a powerful motivator for children.
• Sneak it in under theradar: Set your TV to closed-captioning or leave kids little notes to find throughout the day.
• Make reading fun: Create book-related activities like little games and mini-plays based on the stories.
• Create a chart: Let your kids record their achievements and build a sense of accomplishment.
• Talk about books: Tellyour kids about books you love, books you think they’ ll love and even let them write aletter to their favorite author.
From ReadingRockets. org
“ THELIBRARYEVENTSOFFERASENSEOF COMMUNITY AND CONNECTION WITH OTHER PEOPLE THAT YOU CAN’ T GET FROM SOCIAL MEDIA.”
Ashley Loria
Ridgewood library children’ s department supervisor
WINDU JEDI / GETTY IMAGES / ISTOCKPHOTO
26 FEBRUARY / MARCH 2017 |( 201) FAMILY 201magazine. com