Readers Grow With Virtual Storytimes Offered By The Mandel Public Library Of WPB

From the Mandel Public Library of West Palm Beach:

September 8, 2020

By the Youth Services Staff

The Mandel Public Library provides step-by-step Kindergarten readiness storytimes for three different age groups: Babies, toddlers, and family storytime for preschoolers up to age 5. All storytimes include stories, rhymes, songs, and movement to help children grow! Learn about each one straight from the librarians who run them:

Baby Storytime

By Kristine Techavanich

Babies are naturally curious and are born learning. Baby Storytime fosters neural connections, offering an enriching experience for babies 12-24 months and the grownups in their lives. Did you know that the traditional tune “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” is the same as the ABC song? Learning the song at an early age helps children learn their ABCs. During the program, I model strategies and offer tips that help children gain the foundations in language, thinking, and more so that they can thrive as they grow!

At each storytime, we'll sing, read books, and even learn American Sign Language that help you and your child understand each other and reduce stress. You'll find that many of the activities are repeated which helps babies practice and showcase what they've learned. As a presenter, it’s wonderful to cheer babies on and see them learning brand new skills as they attend each week!

Baby Storytimes are Fridays at 10:30 AM on Zoom! To register, visit our online calendar.

Toddler Storytime

By Jeanne Taylor

“I don’t think I ever got to mention how much my husband and daughter enjoyed your Wednesday program last fall…they absolutely loved it, and Andy asked every Wednesday if it was a library day.” - Erica Chapman

“HAPPY WEDNESDAY, my FAVORITE day of the week!” Storytime goers are greeting with this each week, along with music favorites that are welcoming and engaging, geared for kids of all ages, i.e., toddlers, moms, dads, grandmas, grandpas, and caregivers to include contemporary, diverse, and nostalgic selections! The storytime room is carefully staged with large, tactile alphabet letters scattered about the storytime rug for some“organized chaos!" Before the storytime begins, “I need help to pick up all the letters and place them in my basket!” and I don’t have to ask twice! As we pick up letters, we talk about them, find our special initial; we trace them, too! “You can trace letters and numbers all day long; it’s so much fun!”

We sing our opening song which reinforces listening skills and movement. Introducing new rhymes, books, and music each week is exciting but also repetition of favorite rhymes, music, and movement activities builds confidence. The program also includes totally toddler-friendly, hands-on STEAM activities each week! Because toddlers are on the move, creating an active, passive syllabus incorporating movement activities is essential to a successful toddler program. Toddlers are encouraged to explore, discover, and move. Combined, all these activities and nuances achieve a comprehensive, playful, and enriching program which nurtures the child’s curiosity and inspires a LOVE of learning!

Toddler Storytimes are Wednesdays at 10:30 AM on Zoom! To register, visit our online calendar.

Family Storytime

By Hyunjin Han

Every Tuesday, I greet families and invite them into the children’s small program room for the fun and excitement of stories! Family Storytime is for children up to age 5 with music, movement, songs, rhymes, art, and great books. Children will reinforce the essential skills needed for kindergarten readiness learned in baby and toddler storytimes! There is nothing that makes me happier than when I see children and their families read books with me and dance alongside each other! Please come to family storytime to enjoy wonderful time with us.

Family Storytimes are Tuesdays at 10:30 AM on Zoom! To register, visit our online calendar.

This press release was produced by the Mandel Public Library of West Palm Beach. The views expressed are the author's own.