Many parents only take their children to bookshops at Christmas or on birthdays, but in fact Hong Kong's libraries have plenty of resources. Developing a habit of using the library is more practical than endlessly buying books.
How rich are Hong Kong's library resources?
The Hong Kong Public Libraries, managed by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, are spread across the city, with a presence in every district. Children's libraries have a very large collection, including all kinds of books, audiovisual materials and electronic resources. And everything is free — you only need a library card to borrow.
How to build the habit of going to the library
First, take your child to the library once. Let them choose the books they want to read by themselves, without limiting the scope. Even if they pick a book you consider "boring", respect their choice.
Second, turn going to the library into a regular activity. For example, go every two weeks and borrow three to five books each time.
Third, read together with your child. For the books brought home, parents can spend ten to fifteen minutes a day reading with their child to cultivate an interest in reading.
Tips for choosing books
It is very important to choose books at a suitable level. If the words are too many and too difficult, it will dampen the child's interest. You can use the "five finger rule" — open any page at random; if there is a word they do not understand, put up one finger. If more than five fingers go up, it means the book is too difficult.