The Value of Storytime

Storytime is more than just a way to entertain preschoolers for 45 minutes! Reading to small children helps them develop six very important skills that help them later on when they are learning how to read. The six skills are:

• Print Motivation: Kids are interested in and enjoy books. That's why I try to make storytime as fun as possible!
• Print Awareness: Kids know how books work (the way you hold them and turn the pages) and understand that print has meaning. Sometimes while I'm reading I point to the print as I read each word. It helps the kids make the connection between the words and the marks on the page.
• Vocabulary: Picture books can contain some great big words! I really like the Fancy Nancy books because they have big words AND definitions in the text.
• Letter Knowledge: Kids learn that every letter looks different and stands for a different sound. Alphabet books are great for this skill.
• Phonological Sensitivity: Kids learn to distinguish the small sounds (called phonemes) that make up words. Books and songs that rhyme help develop this skill.
• Narrative skills: kids learn how a story works, and can guess what might happen next in the story.

Parents can develop all these skills at home while reading to their children - but of course we love to see you at storytimes!