Today I am Thankful for...Library Story Time
When my husband started back to work this school year, I decided I HAD to do something to get out of the house each week. Apparently I thought being a stay-at-home mom meant that I had to be home all the time. It's just so much easier to communicate via the internet and not have to pack diaper bags for two girls. I knew I needed to provide Elena with some more social opportunities and I needed some, too. I decided to start small with story time at our local library.
We went once and were HOOKED! I expected to go in, sit in the children's corner of the library and be shushing my little ones the entire time they were listening to a series of stories read by an elderly volunteer. It was nothing like I had envisioned. I followed a trail of strollers and toddlers into a room that was bustling with activity. There was a table set up with a craft for the kids to complete. Story time began with two songs. (being a former music teacher, they hooked me right there) There were cute little movement games, manipulatives for more songs, and of course the story. Everything revolved around the common theme of the story that was being told and I was even more impressed when the story time director gave me a story time schedule with their lesson themes for the remainder of the YEAR! They also had books that related to the theme sitting on a table as you left for you to check out.
I immediately began planning the activities I did with my toddler around the story time theme. Elena has started asking what we're going to learn about this week. She is in her element at story time, too. She volunteers for everything and has her eyes glued to the director at all times. She sings the welcome songs in the car during our short drive to the library. It has been such a great way for me to structure some learning activities for her AND I've had the added benefit of meeting some other moms.
Check out your local library if you haven't already. Maybe you'll find a special gem in yours like we did in ours!
What are YOU thankful for today? Check out the "25 Days of Thanks" tab at the top and link up below!
We love story time at our local library too! Most libraries do a pretty great job with storytime... and I'm not just saying that because I am a librarian!
ReplyDeleteWe love libraries. I use to work at one before my daughter was born. I really miss it some days. It was such a great place to work.
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to do that with my little Mr. Cheeks! Glad to hear that it is not the more formal version I also envisioned.
ReplyDelete