https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 10 Apr 2026 13:18:13 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddlerpreschool-story-times-what-do-you-likedislike#post-2725649 Tue, 18 Apr 2017 09:22:55 +0000 Anagram 2725649@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks all! Lots of good info here. Yes, I think the issue right now is that the new librarian isn't "commanding the room" and is really quiet and timid, so the kids are just running around the room. But then she'll turn around and try to get all the kids to sit quietly and well, they are toddlers. So.....not happening. </p> <p>Hopefully, she'll improve with practice! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddlerpreschool-story-times-what-do-you-likedislike#post-2725491 Mon, 17 Apr 2017 21:21:14 +0000 caterw 2725491@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our local children's librarian is most amazing lady- she has the cutest themes for each week (and I have never seen a repeat in the 2 years we have been going pretty regularly). She runs all of the kids programming for that branch, and it's split up by ages (registered classes are 0-24 months, 2-3, 4-5, and then there is a drop in for ages 0-3). She usually does a hello song, 3-4 stories broken up with games/ songs/ dancing, a goodbye song, and then bubbles and hugs with the library mascot stuffed animal. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddlerpreschool-story-times-what-do-you-likedislike#post-2725414 Mon, 17 Apr 2017 18:56:38 +0000 Foodnerd81 2725414@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The thing I love most is a baby safe area without a lot of distractions so it's ok for the little ones to wander a little. I try to keep them contained but when there are tons of excitement things they can see but aren't supposed to touch, it's more trouble than it's worth! </p> <p>Otherwise it's mostly just an engaging librarian who seems to enjoy it. And sing nice songs. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddlerpreschool-story-times-what-do-you-likedislike#post-2725395 Mon, 17 Apr 2017 18:23:57 +0000 daniellemybelle 2725395@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our favorite storytime is based solely on the fact that the librarian is really engaging and warm. Otherwise, LO is perfectly happy with really any kind of storytime. She likes songs &amp; interactive stuff but since she's not in preschool right now I also appreciate settings where she is actually asked to sit still and listen. One storytime we didn't keep up with was just more of an organized playgroup - the books were very short and it was more songs, bubbles, etc. Great for babies but for toddlers/preschoolers I'd actually like longer stories, as long as they are age appropriate and presented in an engaging way.</p> <p>There is a snake at our favorite library too and that's probably LO's absolute favorite part :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddlerpreschool-story-times-what-do-you-likedislike#post-2725345 Mon, 17 Apr 2017 16:36:37 +0000 SweetiePie 2725345@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sojellybean: yes to your #3. There def needs to be control (who would want to sit in a room of toddler chaos!) but some chaos is inevitable with younger toddlers. The one we went to wanted all control no chaos and that actually made it more stressful and less enjoyable. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddlerpreschool-story-times-what-do-you-likedislike#post-2725269 Mon, 17 Apr 2017 14:25:13 +0000 fancyfunction 2725269@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I take my 13 month old and like that we can attend multiple times a week if we want to. I love the woman who runs it, she's really great and patient with the kids. Her grandkids are in the same preschool class as my daughter. At our old library they were sticklers for attending once a week, showing your library card, etc. I feel like if you belong to the county library system, you should be able to attend storytime at any library in the county. Anyway, my son also loves the bubbles and balls and the songs are great for engaging the little kids. I haven't had any cons from my current library as of yet. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddlerpreschool-story-times-what-do-you-likedislike#post-2725242 Mon, 17 Apr 2017 13:48:27 +0000 sojellybean 2725242@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Children's librarian turned SAHM here, so I could write a novel but some initial thoughts about having a successful storytime.<br /> 1. Book choice: Some librarians pick books because they just loooove them but they just don't work for the age group.<br /> 2. Repetition! The same hello song, the same goodbye song. A former colleague would do the same rhymes and finger plays for a month with her baby storytime and it works amazingly well.<br /> 3. The balance between control and chaos. Difficult to do but important with a group of toddlers. Success depends a lot on the personality of the librarian. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddlerpreschool-story-times-what-do-you-likedislike#post-2725236 Mon, 17 Apr 2017 13:35:54 +0000 PinkElephant 2725236@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Some of the better story times we have attended include the following attributes:</p> <p>- broken up by age groups, but with a permissive attitude toward moms who need to bring a sibling (provided the sibling can behave, obviously)</p> <p>- 2-3 stories on a specific theme, interspersed with action songs/finger plays</p> <p>- some kind of consistent "closing" activity - whether it's bubbles or the same song, it's nice for regulars to know that when x happens, it's the end of story time.</p> <p>- attendance is limited by free tickets handed out before story time starts </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddlerpreschool-story-times-what-do-you-likedislike#post-2725234 Mon, 17 Apr 2017 13:34:30 +0000 Mrs. Sunshine 2725234@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I hate detailed activities/crafts. Coloring is fine. We've done activities where you have to match numbers or letters on round stickers to the numbers or letter on the page. Anything more involved than that is too much. My kids are 3 and 2, they're climbing on me, they both want to sit in my lap, it's crowded, the craft always happens on the floor, I like when it's kept simple. </p> <p>I like when we get to play with the parachute. And I generally like our story time. They only read one book sandwiched between very fun songs that all the kids seem to love. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddlerpreschool-story-times-what-do-you-likedislike#post-2725230 Mon, 17 Apr 2017 13:27:22 +0000 bookwormmama 2725230@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>One thing I really miss about or old library's storytimes is how they put the words to songs and fingerplays on posters and hung them up for parents to follow along during storytime. Parent/caregiver involvement is SO important and it felt like they really worked to include the parents. They always modeled the songs/fingerplays at least one time. I worked at this library as well and even though it was extra work to create the posters I loved the involvement we got from parents and kids. There was a noticeable difference between this library and another one I subbed at in the area that didn't include the posters.</p> <p>My libraries in my new area don't do either of these things and it makes it hard to follow along and/or help my son since we don't go regularly. I hate the assumption by one of the libraries that everyone makes it every week and knows the usual songs and outline. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddlerpreschool-story-times-what-do-you-likedislike#post-2725229 Mon, 17 Apr 2017 13:27:14 +0000 looch 2725229@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son used to really get into the story time that the director of a private playgroup used to put on. It had several phases. </p> <p>First, it was the story, which she typically used props and puppets for. She would recite the story from memory and depending on the mix of ages (it was a group for certain language speakers), she would hand the props out to the kids. When she was ready for them, they were invited (with their parents if needed) to come up to her chair to act out the part. My son was really into The Hungry Caterpillar at the time, so for an example one that stands out in my mind, she had wooden fruits with the holes in them and a caterpillar. </p> <p>Then there was a song and physical activity. This was huge because the kids didn't have to sit any more, they were up and moving.</p> <p>Lastly, she blew a bunch of bubbles into the air, and then there was a snack served at the tables. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddlerpreschool-story-times-what-do-you-likedislike#post-2725215 Mon, 17 Apr 2017 13:08:19 +0000 catgirl 2725215@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DD is two and we really dislike our local story time. It is for children 2-5ish - which is too big of a gap. If the activity is one the younger kids understand then the older kids are being disruptive, but if it is geared towards the older kids then the toddlers have nothing to do. I wish they separated the ages more. </p> <p>They don't have anything for the under two crowd. </p> <p>The three surrounding towns only allow residents to attend story time. So we are stuck with ours. We only go if we are really desperate for something to do. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddlerpreschool-story-times-what-do-you-likedislike#post-2725193 Mon, 17 Apr 2017 12:37:25 +0000 littlejoy 2725193@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It needs to be organized by age groups ... I also appreciated the leaders who broke up the stories with songs and some play times (with shaky eggs and silk scarves). </p> <p>Our classes are drop-in for library members. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddlerpreschool-story-times-what-do-you-likedislike#post-2725172 Mon, 17 Apr 2017 11:56:31 +0000 Anya 2725172@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The one at my closest library drives me nuts, because you have to sign up every three weeks at a time, in person or on the phone. So if I know I'm not going to make 1-2 out of the three I won't sign up because I don't want to take anyone's spot, therefore I hardly go at all. The signup time is inconvenient for me as well. I would rather it be a drop-in program, or one you sign up for each week individually like @LBee: . They also don't have anything special like snacks or crafts so I don't know why it's set up this way for just story time and rhymes. </p> <p>Luckily the next closest library has amazing programs. They're all drop-in so you don't have to commit to a whole series. They have a lapsit story time for 0-2, and right now I take my LO to the 2-4yr program which is 45mins of story time, music and movement and a simple craft. The children's librarian just has a great demeanor, it's hard to quantify, but she just gets it and the kids love her. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddlerpreschool-story-times-what-do-you-likedislike#post-2725164 Mon, 17 Apr 2017 11:50:50 +0000 LBee 2725164@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't go, but our nanny takes my son every week. </p> <p>Things she likes:<br /> 1. You have to register to go - you can't just show-up, so it's not a free-for-all. They have name tags for the kids.<br /> 2. As it relates to the registering, they have snacks provided, crafts, and goodie bags for when you leave. It's really, really well executed.<br /> 3. It's age divided so he goes at a certain time every week for his age range. (narrow age ranges as well, like 24 months to 36 months old story time)<br /> 4. The crafts are really thought out - like on Dr. Seuss' birthday they did all these crafts related to him. It's the equivalent of the crafts we get from his Mother's Day Out.<br /> 5. They have a consistent teacher who does it every week and who has taken a lot of ownership of the program. You can tell she feels passionate about it. </p> <p>The only real "con" is that while the sign-up is convenient for her, it is super annoying for me. I now have an alarm set to remind me because of the time that I forgot, she went, and they were turned away (no room).</p> <p>ETA: I just remembered that we do go to a story time at the same library a lot of Saturdays. It is not age divided (but is really just story / music time). It is also much less structured, but the guy that has been doing it for 25+ years there and is really amazing. I will say the content of the storytime (and equally the provider) can cover a whole host of other problems and keep me coming back. The only complaint I have about Saturdays is that a lot of us moms are pregnant / lazy and sitting on the floor sucks - I wish they would at least have a chair option for parents. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddlerpreschool-story-times-what-do-you-likedislike#post-2725160 Mon, 17 Apr 2017 11:48:24 +0000 stargal 2725160@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>i think how they break the age down in separating story times is something that needs to be fixed at our local library. they have their group range from 0-2 and then 2-5 year olds. i took my 2 year old to one and he could not keep up with the activity they did, it was WAYYY over his head. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddlerpreschool-story-times-what-do-you-likedislike#post-2725159 Mon, 17 Apr 2017 11:47:01 +0000 SweetiePie 2725159@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have an NYPL on the same block as us so when he got to about 18 months I tried to take him to the 18 to 24 months story time.<br /> We only went one time because they were completely unreasonable. The woman who ran the storytime was a young 20 something and she would get really irritated when the kids would run around or be loud during the story. Which was all the time. Because they were 18 to 24 month old toddlers! I know that at that age Attention span is extremely short. His preschool teachers have told us that it was something like five minutes and I think by the end of the twos program school year they wanted to get it up to about 15. I might be a little bit off on that but it something pretty short like that. His actual preschool teachers were appalled when I told them about the story time leaders expectations and reactions. Anyway I get that you want to teach them to listen and pay attention and obey. I AM A MAJOR RULE FOLLOWER and I'm pretty strict with my son on listening and respect. But it's not something that you can force from day one of turning 18 months. She wanted them all to do it for the entire 40 minutes from the beginning. It was inappropriate for the age ands when you have twenty 18-24mo kids they feed off of each other. One kid getting up and they all follow suit.<br /> It was super stressful to see her scolding my child like he did something wrong (it was typical toddler behavior. Jumping up and down during the story for example) or looking at me if he got up and Walked around the room. He was 18 months! And it was an 18 month old story time. So it's not like I took and inappropriately aged child to a story time. Her expectations were inappropriate.<br /> Sorry rambling and don't have time to go back and edit. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddlerpreschool-story-times-what-do-you-likedislike#post-2725158 Mon, 17 Apr 2017 11:45:18 +0000 Peasinapod 2725158@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For me a big point is how engaging they are with the kids, this also includes volume. If you lose kids interest they start talking / moving around. Also how the story teller handles interruptions so acknowledging the child but bringing it back in to the story is important to me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddlerpreschool-story-times-what-do-you-likedislike#post-2725156 Mon, 17 Apr 2017 11:40:33 +0000 Anagram 2725156@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>bump. anyone? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddlerpreschool-story-times-what-do-you-likedislike#post-2725073 Mon, 17 Apr 2017 09:59:37 +0000 Anagram 2725073@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If you attend a story time with your kiddo, what are some activities you really like? And what have you seen that you dislike? How old is your kiddo and where do you take them/how often?</p> <p>What about the person doing the story time--what are your likes/dislikes?</p> <p>I had an interesting conversation with my nanny because apparently our town library got a new children's librarian and I guess her first few story times were kind of a hot mess (according to my nanny). I'm a school librarian, so I'd love to hear from a wide range of parents. </p>