A mom’s simple after-school routine has captured hearts across social media, showing how a daily library visit transformed her reluctant 10-year-old son into an eager reader. Cortney Isham started taking her son Cole J and his 4-year-old cousin Fendion to the library each day after school, initially facing resistance from Cole J, who wasn’t thrilled with the idea.
The library visits began as a solution to manage the chaos of a new school year. Isham told Newsweek that the first week of school was hectic and their family dynamic had changed, leaving her unsure how to manage it all. She chose the library because it provided a healthy space that promotes curiosity while embracing silence, offering the perfect environment for the children to decompress after busy school days.
When Isham recently told the boys they were going straight home instead of to the library, “they almost had a fit,” she joked in her TikTok caption. The transformation was remarkable – Cole J, who initially wandered the aisles in frustration struggling to find interesting books, now eagerly asks about library visits when picked up from school. Meanwhile, little Fendion loved the routine from the beginning.
Research supports the benefits of regular library visits for children
The positive impact of Isham’s routine aligns with extensive research showing the benefits of library access for children. Studies spanning over 50 years across more than 60 research projects demonstrate that students with access to well-resourced libraries consistently perform better academically. Research also shows that public library use positively impacts reading time and homework completion rates for school-age children.
Libraries serve as more than quiet study spaces – they build research skills, digital literacy, and provide many students their first experience with civic engagement. The environment offers children a safe space to develop reading habits while accessing diverse materials that may not be available at home.
For families seeking to close vocabulary gaps, libraries provide crucial access to complex words and concepts through books that children might not encounter in everyday conversation. This type of screen-free parenting approach has gained attention from many parents looking for alternatives to digital entertainment.
Cole J’s reading choice reflects the quality of available library materials. He selected Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas, a prequel to The Hate U Give. Thomas, who also wrote the teen drama film adaptation that Cole J enjoyed, reached out after seeing the viral video and sent multiple signed books to encourage his reading journey. This author connection demonstrates how libraries can spark meaningful literary relationships.
The viral TikTok video has garnered almost 3 million views and over 510,000 likes, with comments praising Isham’s parenting approach. Users noted that the quiet time helps children learn self-regulation after busy school days, with many sharing their own positive library memories from childhood. The overwhelming response surprised Isham, who never expected daily library trips would generate such attention or inspire other families to consider similar routines. As with many viral parenting moments on TikTok, the authentic nature of the content resonated with parents facing similar challenges with their children.
