LIBRARY LIKE A PRO

GUEST BLOGGER: LIZ VANCE

The last few months of the year often have a lot of days off school with parent-teacher conferences, Thanksgiving, and holiday break. It can be fun having the kids home but it can also be hard to entertain them all day.  Libraries are a great and underutilized resource on such occasions! Actually, libraries are underutilized in general! So many free resources at your fingertips. Every library is a little different, so you’ll have to check out what your local library has. But here are some ideas that could help you entertain your kids on days off school.

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Audiobooks and eBooks
Are you one of the many moms that thinks grocery pick up is a gift from heaven? (Dragging your kids out to the car and all around the store can be a huge hassle!) Well if easy access is your jam, many libraries have audiobooks and eBooks available online for you to use at home without having to wrangle your kids to the library. Get each of your kids set up with an eBook of their choice to cozy up and read! Or find an audiobook that everyone would enjoy and listen to it while you all color or work on a puzzle. An audiobook is a great way to pass road trip time if you're headed to visit family during the holidays. 

Movies
Sometimes it’s hard to find new and exciting content for your kids. But your local library likely has movies your kids have never seen. And the best part is you can check them out for free! That way every member of the family can choose a movie without breaking the budget! :) 

Classes and Activities
A lot of libraries set up classes and activities that your kids can be involved with. I know that some libraries try to specifically add events on days when the local schools are off. Check in with your library and see what events they have coming up. It’s also a good way to connect with other parents while your kids are involved in the activity.

If nothing else, going to the library for an afternoon outing can be a fun adventure for kids! And if you don’t have kids, utilize the library anyway! They are a wealth of resource information. For example, if you need legal advice, sometimes libraries have access to free services! Don’t be afraid to see what your local library can offer you! It can end up saving you money along the way! 
Have fun!

Liz