By Fredrica Syren:
Last year when we traveled in Europe, we ended up In Malmö in the south of Sweden during a few rainy days. Of course with three kids this meant we could not be out exploring, but we still wanted to have some fun. We decided to go to the library.
Malmö has one of the most spectacular libraries I have ever seen. Not only was it lots of fun just to walk around inside and admire the architecture on each floor, but we also enjoyed the children’s area. In the kids’ department, they had — of course — lots of books for all ages, so my kids thoroughly enjoyed looking though them while sitting in one of the comfy reading areas. This library also had a game area, a dress up area and a music room.
As a child, I always loved going to the library, spending hours in the aisles graced by inspiring books. I enjoyed the smell of their pages and — ahhhh! — the silence. Throughout my traveling and living around the world, I have enjoyed visiting various libraries. They usually are cultural gathering places where sometimes fun events are hosted. Many have amazing architecture; some are historic buildings; and some even have an amazing view.
But is visiting libraries in new cities or countries a fun activity for your children? Absolutely! Libraries are free, so it’s a great activity for families. They also are quiet and accessible — and many of them have AC. I have found that almost all libraries have a special children’s area with books perfect for them, and even have a play or craft area, making them wonderful places for busy tourists to take a break.
Let’s face it — for children, a trip to the library is a multi-sensory experience that has a way of engaging young ones who love to learn from the solidity of a book in their hands and the visual stimulation of colorful illustrations. It is a place for children and adults alike.
