The upcoming school year is on the horizon—and it’s important to prepare your child to return to the classroom, especially after a year of mostly remote and hybrid learning. Adjusting to a structured day after a relaxing summer can be challenging, but parents can help their young ones with the programs, resources, and materials of The New York Public Library. 

1. Read Together: Reading together with your child regularly will help them develop and build their fluency, as well as begin a routine that will help them readjust to their new school schedule. Take turns reading with your child, or if they’re able to read on their own, set a schedule for them to read at least twenty minutes a day. Need help choosing a book? Request Shelf Help or stop by your local branch library for recommendations from expert children’s librarians. Don't have a library card yet? Cards are free for all New Yorkers.

2. Attend a Library Program: All available branches of the Library are now open and in-person public programs are returning, including some that are taking place outdoors! At in-person programs, your child will have the opportunity to interact with other children and explore their interests and passions. Check out our full calendar of events, including in-person, online, and outdoor programs. Can’t make it to your local branch? Check out our online storytimes.

3. Participate in the Library’s Summer Learning Program: Summer’s not over yet—and there’s still time to participate in the Summer Learning program! Stop by your local branch to pick up or download an activity kit for your child, which they can complete at home. Parents can also download Beanstack for children to track their reading and earn badges for their accomplishments. 

4. Explore Free Digital Resources at Home with a Library Card: The New York Public Library provides free access to hundreds of digital resources available with a library card. Many of the resources provide wonderful online learning opportunities for children. Read a pair of fiction and nonfiction books on BookFlix, practice your addition and subtraction on TumbleMath, or learn a new language with Mango Languages.