Just curious, do you even own a library card? Nowadays with Kindle and e-books libraries are becoming a thing of the past.  But before you trade in your library card and sell your Ikea book-shelf be aware that there are lots of benefits to visiting a library and reading your kids a book, including sensory ones.

Take for example the sensory deep pressure input your kids get when they carry home a bag full of books home. When I was a kid I remember taking 10 books out at a time, placing them in the green public library bag and carrying it home… heavy but worth the effort!

You can perform with your kids lots of sensory activities based on the THEME of a book.

For example, read your toddler “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” by Eric Carle then have him crawl through the “fruit” by placing colored sheets over chairs… This provides Heavy Work for the joints which helps build body awareness and contributes to a calm and regulated state.  Another theme-based sensory activity is to cut a hole in the lid of an empty green “Pringles” container (i.e. the caterpillar) and have your child feed multi-colored pompoms (i.e. the fruit) to the caterpillar. Have fun swinging around in a hammock just like the caterpillar did in his cocoon. This is a vestibular activity which contributes to a calm and focused state as well…

The list is endless it’s just a matter of creativity and a library card… When you visit a library the smell, the touch and the vast array of books all come together for a sensory experience which makes you just want to sit down in a comfortable lounge and read… So if any of your kids are reluctant readers the library is your best bet on getting them into the wonderful habit of reading!

Malky Shapira, Pediatric Occupational Therapist Mother of two terrific toddlers.