Encourage Your Curious Kid with Nonfiction 

Gravitation towards fictional stories seems to determine if a child “loves to read”; however, grown-ups sometimes overlook those children that prefer learning non-fiction over fiction. Subjects rooted in facts and real events occupy a space in a child’s world and can be excellent reading material for those children who do not engage with imagined tales. Non-fiction titles encourage children to expand their scope of knowledge by exposing and explaining natural phenomena, current events and rapidly evolving technology. The following are some tips to help you step up your child’s non-fiction game! 

Ask:  

Ask if your child wants to learn facts, or read a story. This can direct them to a choice they might not previously have known existed. In the Children’s department at the library, this is often the first question we ask a hesitant reader. Often, these kids will respond with “learn facts!”  

Guide: 

When a child asks a question, be it about the sky or about a current issue they might have heard, a parent can usually find a resource to help their child better understand that topic. Answering initial questions and guiding your child to more resources will take some pressure off of you. It will also teach them valuable skills, like independence and drawing their own conclusions from what they learn. Check out the Chattahoochee Valley Library’s website at cvlga.org for digital and print resources and books!

Support:  

Some children are more drawn to learning facts about things that fascinate them. Reading is for discovery – whether it is fairy tales or facts. Supporting a different kind of reader shows children it’s not always about loving stories, but that reading itself is what really matters. Non-fiction is a great outlet for those kids curious about their world. 

Books to explore together: Who Was/Who Is Series, Mama Built A Little Nest, Star Stuff, Finding Winnie, Locomotive, and more! Visit your local Chattahoochee Valley Library. 

 By: Laine Presley, Aflac Children’s Department, Chattahoochee Valley Libraries