Benefits of storytime

Originally published in the Ketchikan Daily News, February 2020; written by Amie Toepfer.

Growing up, I remember my great-grandma taking me to the local library near her home for storytime. We would sit very quietly in a circle on a rug and listen to another grandmotherly figure read several books to us. I honestly believe that this is one of the reasons why I became a librarian; this early introduction to books in a social setting has stuck with me and still elicits a smile.

The presentation and format of storytime has changed significantly since my childhood. No longer is it just about sitting quietly and listening to stories; nowadays you are much more likely to find a room that is full of not just books, but also laughter, music, songs and fun. This change in presentation has not changed the reasons why you should bring your child to storytime.

From the minute your baby is born, they are learning to connect meanings to sounds and symbols. This means that they are learning to talk and even to read. The more language your baby is exposed to, the more they are learning, and storytime is a great place to hear and see LOTS of fun language. During storytime your baby or child will hear stories, be introduced to new songs, words, languages, and learn new fingerplays and rhymes.

As adults we know that words are made up of smaller sounds. This skill — called phonological awareness — is something that we learn as children and is one of the key building blocks in reading success. Through stories, songs, and rhymes, storytime offers a fun way to help children hear that words are made up of smaller sounds. This also teaches them how to think spatially, which plays a huge role in math skills. Books also teach us that words rhyme and that pictures have meanings. Reading stories encourages print motivation, which is more likely to encourage children to enjoy books and to keep trying to read even when it gets too hard.

Becoming a life-long reader starts at an early age and kids have a better chance of becoming a lifelong reader if they associate reading with positive experiences. Instilling a love of reading is one of the best gifts you can give your children. But beyond all of this, storytime is fun. Singing songs, learning rhymes, listening to books, playing games, dancing, and making crafts are all regular storytime activities which teach valuable skills while making learning a fun and enjoyable experience. Most importantly, storytime lets your kids see that you love reading and value libraries and books.

We are lucky to live in a community whose library offers a wide array of storytimes for multiple age groups. Our library has a program for babies from birth to 24 months and a program for preschoolers. Each of these storytimes offers unique and age-appropriate activities that help children build early literacy skills, social skills, and school readiness skills and all in a manner that is both fun and entertaining. We hope to see you at our next storytime.