During my time as a parent patron of storytime programs, I’ll admit; if I walked in to the children’s room, and it was playtime instead of storytime, I was disappointed. Who wouldn’t be? Likely it took a lot of effort to get yourself and your children out the door- maybe there were tantrums, blowouts, and last minute outfit changes. You ran a marathon this morning, and you want one of the rockstars who works in the Youth Services department to entertain you and your kids for 30 minutes! However, you probably end up having a great time at playtime- you are still out of the house, your kids are playing with new-to-them toys, and someone else gets to clean up after them. Bonus- you probably get to talk to some other adults too, maybe make some friends? Today I’m going to give you some things to love about storytime breaks, but also the reason why we take them and, who knows, maybe you’ll even look forward to the break next time!
What’s to Love About Playtime?
- You got out of the house with your baby/kids! Yay!
- We have lots of great storytime partners- maybe you’ll end up doing baby yoga, learning about sleep for your toddler, or making a fun craft with things you can find outside.
- Your little gets to play with toys they have never seen before! Maybe it’s gross motor play crawling through our tunnel, or music time playing with instruments- we will put out a great array of toys for your little’s age group.
- Playtimes are a great passive program where you can make connections with other parents/caregivers! Maybe there is another family who comes to all the same programs you do, but you have to leave right at the end of storytime to get that nap in. At playtime, you have the whole program to connect with that adult you’ve been wanting to talk to.!
Why Do We Take Storytime Breaks?
As a member of the Youth Services team at Handley Library, I now realize how vital these breaks are for the programs that we offer. If you’re used to only attending one of two library programs, you may not realize the scope of what we offer- but I can tell you, it is large! With a relatively small staff, we provide programs for children from birth until they are teenagers. These programs are not easy to put together, as they are based in research on child development and aligned with early literacy standards. In order for our staff to put on the best programs possible, the month long break is essential to step back, look at what went well and what needs improvement, and start planning the next storytime series. There are themes, early literacy tips, letters, ASL signs, songs, crafts and books to be chosen! It’s a busy month of preparation and professional development for the staff, plus a little reprieve.
When to Expect Storytime Breaks in 2025:
Break 1: month of April
Break 2: month of August
Break 3: month of December
*Coming soon in April 2025: Grow a Reader Playgroup!* Handley Library is becoming an accredited Family Place Library, which means we will be the experts in the Winchester community when it comes to early literacy and school readiness. Part of what we will offer are Playgroup series for families with kids ages 1-3 that emphasize the importance of learning through play!
These registration-required series combine a playroom of multiple toy categories and passive outside professionals to educate on topics that effect kids and families. These professionals will cover the topics of 1) early literacy/general parenting, 2) speech, hearing, and language development, 3) child development, 4) nutrition, and 5) music and movement. Best of all, these research-backed efforts will not only help you and your child thrive, but are entirely free to support growing your earliest readers. Be on the lookout for more information on this new initiative soon!
By Lydia Drown and Katie Moss