What is Story time?
Story time is a fun and interactive learning activity that introduces your child to books; rhymes and rhythm; music and song; puppets; flannelboard stories; taking turns; and being in a group. Each session is geared toward a certain age group and will conclude with a sensory exploration and/or craft project. Story time is a great opportunity for your child to socialize with other young children while fostering early literacy and social-emotional skills that are essential for reading readiness.
Why is it important?
We have story times for every age:
They run in 8-week sessions during the fall, winter, and spring, but sometimes there are exceptions. Be sure to check our online events calendar for the latest information.
Baby Lapsit on Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. in the Hollis Room
Preschool Storytime on Fridays at 10:30 a.m. in the Hollis Room.
Please note: Registration is required for all story times and space is limited. Register on our website for each session.
How do I make the most out of my story time experience?
You are your child’s first and best teacher. Be an active participant and model what you want your child to learn. Is the librarian clapping? Clap, too, and encourage your child to clap along. Point out pictures in the book. Join the fun when we dance or bring out the large parachute. Sing along with the librarian and other parents and caregivers. Story time is a special time to spend with your child; both of you are learning together, having fun, and bonding.
Attend the story time for the right-age group. Our story times are designed so that you and your child will benefit the most when you attend the one best suited for the child’s age. If you’re unsure which group is best, please ask Jill. You can email her at jsirois@gleasonlibrary.org.
Practice good story time etiquette. Help us create a fun and welcoming story time environment for all. Please switch your phones to vibrate before the program starts and wait to chat with other parents and caregivers until after the stories (we encourage everyone to linger and socialize as an opportunity to meet neighboring families). If there are tears, we encourage you to step out of the story time area and join us again when your child is ready. If they aren’t interested in story time that morning, that’s okay! Try again the following week. Join us again another morning.
Make time to pick out books together to bring home and share. Ask us for book recommendations appropriate for your child’s interests, reading, and attention level. We love to talk about books! By reading at home, your child will continue to build important pre-literacy skills outside of the library. It can create a lifetime love of reading for you and your child. It will also make your child enjoy story time at the library that much more!
Click here to view the full schedule of upcoming story times and other children’s programs.
