Once upon a time, your toddler sat down quietly for 30 minutes and gazed enduringly at your face as you read through the always intriguing tale of The Three Little Pigs.
*RECORD SCRATCH* Wait. That doesn’t happen anymore.
Junior is, how shall we say, “full of energy.” Am I right?
Chances are your life has been inundated with story books since before your little bun popped out of the oven. Now with your short attention span toddler, storytime is starting to lose its luster as your little muffin isn’t one to sit still for as long as the story itself. What can you do to have a successful storytime?
First of all, those high energy, easily distracted offspring are telling you just that! They have some more energy to blow off or simply aren’t completely taken by what you have presented. That’s totally fine but if you want them to engage with a book at some point during the day, here’s what you both can do.
To start, try to develop a routine or something closely resembling one. For storytime at home, try creating a comfy, cozy corner with not too many other distractions around (think lots of pillows, blankets, tents, textures, etc.). No T.V., iPad or smartphones people, we’re talking good ol’ ink on paper. Sit down in your prepared space with a book Junior has selected and try reading…for a few minutes! THAT’S IT! When Junior takes off, story time is over. Build minutes on to your routine over time.
Try keeping storytime to right after a meal, along with bath time, potty time, car rides or just before bed. Let your sweet cherub choose their book(s). Routine creates something to look forward to, and helps in setting up a relaxing state. When you are both ready to sit and chill out for a book, sit your babe in your lap with their binky or woobie or stuffie for comfort.
If Junior has energy and you need to get out of the house, taking a quick trip to the mall or park before heading to the local library can help get the wiggles out to set the stage for a good experience. Some libraries have cushy areas for you to read together but they also have their own toddler storytimes scheduled. These are great because of the social interaction with other littles and it usually involves a bit more physical activity in relation to the stories being shared.
Finally, as with any storytime, let the little squirts “read” it, sing it, share it, turn the pages, name characters and end it. You can talk about the story after and take the opportunity to revisit it later in the day. Make storytime personal and special. Create a pleasant memory around books.
