How do/did you take your kids to storytime at 15 months?

I've seen a lot of posts about going to storytime at the library. Some even said they started around 12 months. I personally can't imagine taking mine to storytime as they wouldn't sit still or stay with me. But I would like to try new things. So if you do/did, how did you do it? Did you leave them in the stroller the whole time? How does it work?

Thanks.

 

Hey Amy,
Our storytime is held in a large open space at the back of the children's section. We've never stayed through a whole one, but we've occasionally been there when it is going on. The older kids sit down in front of the reader, and the infants/toddlers tend to wander around the edges. Everyone understands that sometimes kids make noise -- it's not like they have to be silent -- although if someone pitches a fit you are expected to remove them quickly! The area is open and safe enough that I can let mine roam a bit, while keeping an eagle eye on them. But I keep the stroller nearby so that I can bundle them up in a hurry if necessary (or be prepared to grab one up under each arm).

I don't know if they experience it as storytime, really -- but I think they are aware that someone is up there reading and that there's a group of other kids -- and that's more interesting for them than being at home, anyway.

 

We happened upon our first story time at Barnes and Noble when the kids were around 18 mos. They sat for awhile but the stories were not tailored to their age. So we have not done that one again. A couple months later, we went to a library story time that involved songs, and stories told with a flannel board and not with books. They did VERY well and we try to go to that when we can. And too short weeks ago, we went to another story time that had an 80 year old, sweet German librarian that got all huffy when her audience of two-year olds refused to sit still for a L-O-N-G text heavy story. So what I am really trying to say, is that you may have to shop around for the right program to fit your needs and the age of your kids.

We have been going to a Mommy and Me class since the kids were 8 mos old. She does story time every week (2x during the class) and MOST kids (8 mos-3 years) do NOT sit still. Mine happen to LOVE stories and so they are perfectly content to let her read several books (short, repetitive stories, pop-up books, etc.). I think that since we have been doing it from a young age, and I tried my hardest to instill in them that story time is a time to sit, listen, and to be quiet, that they are able to handle it.

I am sure if you start now, by two they will be awesome!

 

The storytime that I go to is at my local library. They have them by age group. I started taking mine when they were 15-16 mos. The were in the 2 and under class. We love it!!!
We are lucky that it is in a separate room, so the kids cannot wander away. All of the kids are the same age and don't sit still the whole time. We do songs so that they sing and clap and dance, they get a story read to them, do a craft, eat a snack etc. At their age...it is all about repetition...so they do the same schedule every week. After a few weeks, they knew to go in, get their carpet square, sit and wait for the first song.

 

We go to the "Read and Play" storytime, which is specifically for 0-24 months. It's in a large room in the library, with the door closed so kids do not go wandering off. The actual "storytime" is 20 min, and then there is 20-30 min of playtime. They bring out all these bags of toys and the kids all play. The stories are very short, like "Goodnight Moon" would be about the longest. It pretty much goes, book, then 1-2 clap along, movement songs, then a book again. No one expects the kids to sit still or be quiet. They also bring out bells and other props for the kids to use during the song or story. It's really a good time, I'm glad we started going.
Oh, about how to get in and out. I was bringing them in the stroller before Ainsley got better at walking. Luckily, our library is fairly new, so it's got all the handicapped accessible stuff (which makes it stroller accessible), and has a modern parking lot. I would wheel them into the room and then park the stroller off to the side. Check out your library's website and see what times they have storytime and if they break it down into age groups. You can also check out the library without them and scope it out to see the best way to get in and out.

 

I tried storytime at our library at 18 months with the boys. They have 18-36 months one and then 3-5 year olds. It was awful! It was in the back of the childrens section too and the librarian was very cool about the kids wandering about during the story. But my boys did more than wander. One would sit and the other would be pulling plugs out the wall for the computers. And then he would sit for a few seconds and the other went crawling up the stairs to the adult section. All this in a matter of seconds!

Fast forward 6 months. We tried it again in April at 26 months and they did MUCH better. They sat more and played more than seek and destroy!

And they do well at playgroup as well as twin playgroups! they get out more often than I do