Infant Programs are Parent Programs

Children’s librarian and author, Nancy De Salvo, points out in her book, Beginning with Books; Library Programming for Infants, Toddlers and Preschoolers, that “infant programs are parent programs. Though constantly bombarded with advice from experts, parents need to know how to choose what is right for their children. Many need help with how to interact with their children. They need assistance with selecting appropriate materials for their children. The children’s librarian, in the non-threatening atmosphere of a public library, can be the one to provide these important services.”[i]

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[i] Nancy N. DeSalvo, Beginning with Books: Library Programming for Infants, Toddlers and Preschoolers (Hamden, CT: Library Professional Publications, 1993)15.

Who Benefits?

While the children themselves are the most obvious beneficiaries of library programs and services for the very young, the programs produce other positive results. Parents and caregivers who attend storytimes for the very young “report that doing so provides quality time for them to be with their children. It makes them feel good because they know they are doing something beneficial for both themselves and their children. Adults also report that they just plain enjoy coming together with other people to share the joys of books, songs and finger games.”[i]

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[i] Debby Ann Jeffery, Literate Beginnings: Programs for Babies and Toddlers (London: New York: American Library Association, 1995) 1

Emergent Literacy

Storytimes for Toddlers and Babies include elements which encourage the development of skills associated with emergent literacy, the period between birth and the time when children can read and write, including

· Vocabulary – knowing the names of things

· Print awareness and motivation – learning basic rules of written language and showing an interest in and enjoyment of books

· Writing – making a variety of marks, lines, circles, scribbles, letters

· Phonemics – being able to hear and manipulate the smaller sounds in words.[i]

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[i] Diamant-Cohen, Mother Goose On the Loose, 3.

Storytimes for Babies

Baby storytimes are not just a simplified version of traditional storytimes. Baby storytime follows a script, starts and ends with the same songs, and includes many of the same rhymes and activities from week to week. The program includes nursery rhymes, movement activities, and reading a different and very simple book each week. Over time, many of the elements used during baby storytime have found their way into the library’s toddler and preschool storytimes, providing continuity for the children as they grow up and attend more advanced programs.

Storytimes for Toddlers

Using Judy Nichols’ book, Storytime for Two Year Olds as a guide, the Little Rock Library began to designed and offer toddler storytimes for children between the ages of eighteen and thirty-six months. These programs were shorter, simpler versions of traditional preschool storytimes, consisting of picture book readings, storytelling using flannel boards, and other visual props, and interactive songs and finger plays.

Child Development and Brain Research

A vast amount of research in the area of early child development and brain science took place in the 1990's. In the words of Judy Nichols, author of Storytimes for Two Year Olds, this “research into the brains of babies and toddlers has revealed that children learn much earlier than was once thought and early learning actually enhances the complexity of their brains. We now know that babies and toddlers need to be enriched with language (rhymes, songs, and stories), movement, and visual stimulation, all integral parts of a toddler storytime.”[i]

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[i] Judy Nichols, Storytimes for Two Year Olds (American Library Association, 2007) Preface, ix.

Timeline

Providing services for these tiny library patrons did not happen overnight. For many years a more typical storytime audience consisted of young children who could at least walk and talk.

1910
in the Library’s recently published history, From Carnegie to Cyberspace, One Hundred Years at the Central Arkansas Library System, it is noted that children’s programming began during the first year the library was opened in 1910. “Storytime sessions were held on the Saturday nearest Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. The programs proved so popular that beginning in January, 1911, storytime met every Saturday morning.”[i] To this day, the library holds storytime each Saturday morning.

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[i] Shirley Schuette and Nathania Sawyer, From Carnegie to Cyberspace: 100 Years at the Central Arkansas Library System (Little Rock, AR: Butler Center Books, 2010)33-34.

1990's
The Library launched the “Read To Me” program, funded by the Friends of Central Arkansas Libraries, in which parents of infants and toddlers were encouraged to sign their children up for library cards. Upon doing so, the child received a free board book. The Library also began conducting Toddler Programs for two year olds and began a board book circulating collection.

2006
The Library hosted a workshop to train children's librarians to do baby storytimes featuring Betsy Diamont-Cohen, author of Mother Goose On the Loose Handbook and Kit. The Library has been offering storytimes for babies using this model ever since.