What is Storytime?
Storytime is a superb early literacy and language development tool that helps children understand the world around them, build a vocabulary as they learn to name things and feelings, and develop empathy as they learn to identify with characters and situations.
A good storytime appeals to many different senses—hearing (rhymes, songs and rhythms), touch (tickles, clapping and puppets), sight (pictures, felts, puppets)—as well as movement (actions and fingerplays) and language (rhymes, lyrics and story). Narrative and comprehension skills develop as children hear and understand stories.
Storytimes contain a mix of picture books, songs, action rhymes, fingerplays and tactile objects such as puppets, finger puppets and/or stuffed animals. Not all of these elements are necessary in every storytime, but using several will appeal to children’s different senses, and help them learn as they have fun.
Above all, a successful storytime appeals to children’s sense of fun, adventure and imagination. |
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Storytime Resources
The following links suggest
appropriate books, songs, rhymes
and fingerplays on several common early childhood education themes. The books are all available through Surrey Public Library; the felt stories are simple and easily made; and the rhymes and fingerplays include instructions for accompanying actions.
Storytime Themes :
ABC | Animals | Dinosaurs
Emotions | Insects | 123
Feel free to contact your local children’s library staff for more suggestions or other assistance with storytimes.
For information on your branch library’s free storytimes, click here.
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