1. Story Time
Where, What, How and Why

2. Where
• At the library or in the community – at a
preschool, daycare, in a kindergarten or
head start program – anywhere there are
preschoolers, babies or toddlers

3. What
• Telling stories, sharing rhymes and
helping babies, toddlers and preschoolers
develop pre literacy skills to become our
future readers.
• Teaching parents to read with their
children
• Providing a wide assortment of high
quality books for parents to share with
their children.

4. How
• Providing knowledgeable trained staff to conduct
story times and help parents select suitable
books to share with their young children.
• Providing libraries with kid focused spaces-
sometimes a room and sometimes a corner. In
smaller libraries, story time can be held before
the library opens
• Providing a wide assortment of suitable
children’s books which can be shared and/or
borrowed.

5. Why
• I will let Arwen repeat what she said
recently to a Moose Jaw reporter…..

6. Babytime / Lapsit
• Audience primarily parents and children birth to
23 months
• Programs usually include: Songs, Rhymes,
Flannel Graphs (Mother Goose) Finger Plays
• Duration: 4 weeks, sometimes outside the library
or in the library with guests. Usually the
program last 30 minutes, but sometimes moms
like to socialize after the program.

7. Todder Time
• For two year olds and younger three year olds
with their parents – number of children depends
on your space.
• Programs usually include: stories, songs,
rhymes, stretches, flannel graphs, finger plays
• Duration: 6-8 weeks for 20 minutes
• Important to orient the parents, display materials
and provide copies of rhymes, etc

8. Pre School Story Time
• For 3-5 year olds without their parents
• Programs can include: stories, stretches,
finger plays, flannel graphs, movies from
picture books, simple crafts.
• Duration: 6-8 weeks and 30 minutes
• Some parents want to stay on week one.
Again important to orient the parents –
they must stay in the library and be on
time.

9. Family Story Time
• For 2-5 year olds and their parents
• Programs usually include: stories, songs,
rhymes, finger plays, flannel graphs
• Duration: 6-8 weeks and 30 minutes
• Important to orient the parents – tell them
what to do if your child is crying – don’t be
late and no cell phones or visiting during
the program

10. Story Time FAQs
• Registration
• Like what you use
• Develop your own style
• Props
• Repetition is good
• Displays – helps circulation
• No right way to do it
• Other tips….

11. For Parents
Orientation sheet should include:
• Dates, times, and duration of programs
• Expectations of parents re removing disruptive
participants
• Parents should remain in the library
• Talk about displays, borrowing and getting your
child a card – linking cards
• Copies of the rhymes, etc
• What to do if you are late

12. I can’t do story time because..
• There are no children in my community..
• I am too busy when I am open to the
public..
• I do not have a program room…
• I am shy about performing in public…
• I can’t sing…