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YouthShare
folks--
One of the questions
posed at the last YouthShare was "how to deal with mothers who talk during
storytime." I found this posting on PUBYAC to be helpful.
--Suzan
Nyfeler
CTLS Youth Services
Consultant
Date: Wed, 23 Nov 2005 15:58:30 -0800
From: "Patt Colwell"
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: [PY] storytime--how to handle noisy
babies
Often, parents come to storytime not knowing how to
behave. We've experienced parents
using storytime as a social hour, talking with each other while the story
presenter was reading! They would
allow babies to verbalize loudly, allow toddlers to bring their crackers and
cheerios and eat them in front of other children, and think it adorable when
their 3-year-old tore felt characters from the felt board. I have started doing announcements before every
storytime. I try to make them very
quick, so not to bore the young attendees, but letting parents know that there
are expectations. I try to include
the following messages:
Becoming a good listener is a process that
babies aren't born with....it's a process we learn with practice, and by
watching others. Parents, you can help in the process by sitting on the floor
with your youngsters and modeling good listening/participation. Then, you're in a position to help your
child do the fingerplays. AND if
your child gets restless, you should leave quickly and quietly, and come back
another day!
The best thing you can do to help your child become
a good listener at storytime is to read aloud to them at home. The more experience they have with books, the
more they know that the magic is in the stories. Eventually, as soon as the book comes out, they
will get quiet in anticipation of catching that magic.
OK, kids, give your snacks and your toys to Mom to
put in her purse, so your hands are free.
Put some glue on your bottom and stick it right to the floor!
Moms, please turn off your cell
phones.
Let's have a good storytime!
These announcements alone have reduced the problems
we have at storytime a lot.....maybe 80 per cent. I don't expect perfection---like I said, it's a
learning process. Most parents know
their own kids, and want to do the right thing if you tell them what it is. If I do have a crying baby, a continuing
restless toddler or misbehaving older child, I quietly talk to the Mom (I have
someone else who presents the stories) and say "We have some blocks (or coloring
pages or puzzles.....depending on the age of the child) in the
department.....would you like to bring your child out of the storytime room, and
I'll get them out for you."
Patt Colwell
Jackson County Library Services
