[Lesson #2] 9 tricks for doing story time at home

Are you missing story time at your library?

I take my two youngest almost every week and it’s such a fun part of our routine. In the summer, our library pitches a massive canopy on the sloped lawn and holds story time outside and we brought along a picnic lunch each week.

Now, of course, our library, like yours, is shut down and story time is on hold indefinitely.

If your child is also missing it, here are some tips for doing it at home for the next little while. As a former elementary school librarian, I’ve done my share of story times and sat through MANY from other librarians too.

Here are nine tips for doing story time like the pros.

How to do a Library Story time at Home

  1. Set a timer. Most library story times run somewhere between twenty to thirty minutes. If you have wiggly children, start at ten minutes and gradually move up. Setting a timer will give you a good idea of how long story time should be (so you can plan accordingly) and also make you feel fine about being finished when the timer sounds.
  2. Lay out a blanket or mat. I discovered early on that if there is a blanket spread out on the living room floor my girls feel like whatever we’re doing is extra special and important. Plus, it provides a nice boundary so they know where things are going on and where to stay.
  3. Break your story time into chunks. Very few story times are going to have thirty straight minutes of reading. Generally, there is a good rotation of songs, books, and possibly toys or a craft at the end. Our Texas library always did bubbles for the last 2-3 minutes, which was a huge hit. Usually about seven to ten minutes of each is perfect, and if your child is struggling with sitting through one section for that long, make that section shorter and gradually work your way up. Or, if there is one block that they never get enough of at library story time, make that chunk longer at home.
  4. Alternate between active and sitting activities. The very best librarians know that kids get restless and that most toddlers and preschoolers can’t sit still for 20-30 minutes. They start with a song or marching or something active, then read a book or two, then do a few more songs or activities, before returning to the books.
  5. Keep a predictable schedule. It might take you a few tries to get a solid routine down, but once you get one, try to stick to that rhythm. It’s very comforting for kids to have that structure (especially when the world feels a little crazy) and easier for them to behave when they know what to expect. Start with a certain song, read the same number of books, do a little puppet show or play with a special toy in the same order each time. You’ll notice that almost every library story time has an outline that they follow each week and this makes it easier to plan and easier on the kids.
  6. Mix it up with old and new books. At-home story time is a great time to introduce new books, but it’s good to also keep things familiar by mixing in old favorites. If your book collection is feeling stale with the libraries closed, ask a neighbor to leave a few out for you on their porch or order a couple of new titles from BookOutlet for way below the regular price.
  7. Have a few special things reserved for your story time. The baby story time we attended for the first year of Ella’s life had a parachute that the kids all LOVED. We’d never played with one elsewhere, and it was the absolute highlight for my daughter. Because it was only for story time, it remained special for the entire year. Pick a toy or two that you only bring out during story time to make it extra fun.
  8. Don’t include a snack. I’m guessing your library doesn’t pass out snacks as part of story time (and because of allergies and pest issues, most libraries discourage parents from bringing snacks to feed their children during story time). I highly recommend doing the same. You don’t want the food to be the reward of story time — story time should be its own reward!
  9. You’re the boss! Is there something you hate about story time at your library (a song you never want to hear again or crafts that your child will never let you throw away)? Is there something you WISH was part of story time? A weekly poetry recitation or more diverse book choices? This is your moment! You get to make story time whatever you want, so take advantage of that freedom to create your dream story time!

See you tomorrow for Lesson #3!