Story Times can help kids' development

Recently the American Academy of Pediatrics as reported by Wired Science suggested that television consumption in children under the age of two can have negative effects on early childhood development. This may not be too surprising to most.

So television viewing fails to set a firm foundation for children. But there are options for fostering development of your child at the public library.

A traditional service offered by public libraries is story-times for preschool children and toddlers. These programs support early literacy developments and pre-reading skills through the use of a wide range of activities and multi-media. They are engaging, proactive and creative events for both children and caregivers.

Experienced library story-tellers can also supplement quality picture books with simple songs, games and puppets that are designed for young children. Story-tellers create a social space for children and families to enjoy a hands-on experience that cannot be replicated through DVDs or television series.

So what do children learn from Story-times?

At library story-times children can learn early literacy concepts and skills that form the foundation for future reading and writing ability. They provide children with space to interact and explore stories while fostering creative and social skills. In this environment the story-teller, child, caregiver and story can work together to build a culture of literacy that can last a lifetime.

Far from simply being an opportunity for stressed parents to gain a moment of respite, a coffee and a break. Story-Times provide a social element for new and emerging parents to meet and talk. They provide a venue to move away from a hectic schedule and engage en masse with their children and other parents. In this way, story-times are setting the stage of success for families and parents as well.

But what do children actually learn from story-times? Children learn that books and reading are fun and a source of entertainment and information. They build vocabulary and begin to understand how books and reading works. They develop narrative skills (how to tell a story) and how to recognize sounds and letters.

By making literacy fun and engaging; by providing an open environment for the entire community and utilizing enthusiastic staff, libraries set the early literacy foundations needed for reading success.

You can experience a Story-time at the Rapid City Public Library every Tuesday, Thursday as well as once a month on Saturday. Visit our Kid’s Page for more information about each story-time as well as other events at the library.

• Every Tuesday at 9:30 A.M. visit us Downtown for “Book Buddies,” a story-time series for preschoolers. Each story-time will feature a set of picture-books, songs, dances and possibly (if you are lucky) some puppets.
• Every Thursday at 9:30 A.M. is “Baby Bookworms” at our Downtown location is a story-time for ages Birth – 3 years. The elements are similar but simpler books and words with more pictures and rhymes with more movement. Parental involvement is necessary.
• Every Second Tuesday Downtown and Third Tuesday at North (inside General Beadle Community School) we feature “Families and Jammies” at 6:30 P.M. This story-time is crafted for families and it encourages more open reading. It is a perfect way to end an evening.
• For parents that cannot make our morning story-times we have “Saturday Story-Time” every second Saturday, 9:30 A.M. at our Downtown location. This “all-access” story-time is more accessible to all age groups.