Read outside the lines / LJWorld.com

Archive for Monday, November 9, 2009

Mix it up to be a better storyteller for children

By Lauren Beatty

November 9, 2009

After snipping away at a piece of construction paper, library assistant Linda Clay unveils a jack o’ lantern after telling a story about a little witch building a home for herself during story time at the Lawrence Public Library.

Little Folks Storytime, 0-3 years, 7 p.m. Thursdays

Books and Babies, 8-23 months, 9:30 a.m., 10 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Wednesdays

Toddler Storytime, 2 years, 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays and Fridays

Imaginators, 7-12 years, 3:30 p.m. Wednesdays (through Nov. 18)

Library Storytime, all ages, 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays and Fridays

Thursday Storytime, all ages, 7 p.m. Thursdays

Family Storytime, all ages, 3:30 p.m. Sundays

Spanish/English Storytime, all ages, 4 p.m. Wednesdays

*Adults are expected to accompany small children.

Sit still, be quiet and listen — those directives just aren’t going to fly with your average preschooler.

So how can parents get their children to pay attention during story time? An article in the September issue of the School Library Journal calls story time the “perfect skill-building activity” for kindergarten readiness. But often, moms and dads find reading to active tots frustrating.

Kim Fletcher, acting youth services coordinator at Lawrence Public Library, 707 Vt., says there are several ways to capture kids’ attention during story time. It starts with choosing the right book.

“First, know your audience,” she says. “Choose age-appropriate stories. Be energetic and enthusiastic.”

But it takes more than just adopting an animated voice. Fletcher suggests incorporating activities that are more hands-on to story time to keep kids engaged. The Lawrence Public Library hosts story time several times a week for all age groups, and the events not only include the reading of a book but also songs, poems that rhyme, puppets and other visually oriented activities.

“You can’t just read,” says Linda Clay, a library assistant who’s been a storyteller at the Lawrence Public Library since 1996. “It’s not that simple.”

Clay suggests adding discussion to story time. She often prepares questions in advance and incorporates them into the stories she’s telling.

“I really enjoy helping the children learn early literacy skills,” Clay says. “We have very smart kids here in Lawrence.”

Fletcher notes that having children hold the book and turn the pages can keep them interested as well.

“Learning how to hold a book and talking about it — these type of skills also help kids get ready for school,” she says.

Lawrence mom Tresa Cope reads to her 4-year-old son and her 2-year-old daughter at least once a day and visits the public library weekly. For her, the key to keeping her little ones focused is simple.

“It just has to be a good story,” she says.