KIDS AND PARENTS:

A WORD FROM YOUTH SERVICES

 
Why Storytime? 

A parent’s life is full of “To Do” lists, especially these days.  So why on earth would a smart parent add one more thing to that list by signing their preschooler up for storytime?  Well you are in for a treat. 

Storytime is not just your average ordinary family outing or place to go when the weather is extreme.  Storytime is the stepping stone to how your child will view their learning experience.  Is learning fun and entertaining or boring and unimportant?  You, the parent, get to teach that very first lesson.

What was your school experience?  Did you look forward to learning something new every day?  Or were you the child who sat at the back of the class hoping no one would notice you?  You are in a place right now, where you can give your child, at this early age, that wonderful idea that “Hey, this learning thing is a piece of cake.  I can do this!”  Who in their right mind doesn’t want their child to do well in school and be successful? 

The purpose of storytime is:

• To create in children an appetite for reading, learning and using the library
• To encourage children to respect themselves by respecting other children, the storyteller, and library materials
• To stimulate children's imagination
• To help children develop language, listening, and motor skills
• To teach children social and library manners
  

How do these skills translate into the future of your child’s education?

• When your child gets bored, maybe he will reach for a book instead of eating another cookie or being destructive
  
• Books will be "cool"
  
• Your child won't be afraid to try something new and that "new" thing may lead to success in an area you may never have imagined
  
• Your child will feel comfortable at the library and may want to go to the library, art museum or any other formal environment, instead of hanging out with the "bad" kids
  
• Your child will respect themselves, you, their teachers, their friends, adults in the neighborhood, church members, everyone
  
• Your child will learn how to treat things they care about--their books, their videogams, other people's property
  
• Your child will dream about doing things they may never have been exposed to except through a book
• Your child will have a greater vocabulary and  be a better student
• Your child will learn how to act in an environment different from what they are used to and will be able to succeed ANYWHERE
  
  

Storytime is an investment for parents in their children.  Children are smart and they realize the sacrifice their parents make for them even if they cannot express it.  If you, the parent, are willing to take the time out of your busy schedule to take your child to storytime, your child will soon realize, storytime is important.  Reading is important.  Books are important.

Bring your child or a child you love to storytime.  Plant those seeds of education early, while they are paying attention, and you will reap the rewards later.