This document provides information about different types of story times that libraries can offer for babies, toddlers, preschoolers, and families. It discusses where and when story times are typically held, what activities are usually included, such as telling stories, sharing rhymes and songs, and helping develop early literacy skills. It also describes how libraries provide trained staff, children's spaces, and collections of suitable books to support story time programs. The goal is to help young children and their parents develop a love of reading.

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…