How is a Toddler Time different from a traditional pre-school story time?
A. Traditionally pre-school story times are offered for children from three to five years of age. Toddler programs are for children from eighteen months up to three years. Lap-sit programs may be for even younger children form six to eighteen months. Also parents are present, ideally one parent or caregiver per child, and the parent is expected to participate in the activities and to help his/her child to participate. Because of limited attention spans the length of the session may be shorter and a greater amount of disruption and off-topic activity is tolerated. There may be less focus on storytelling or reading, more on songs and fingerplays that involve the child. Q. Children under three are very difficult to organize into a group. Is there any real benefit in having toddler or lap-sit programs in the library? A. The younger children are when they have exposure to books, stories and literature, the more likely it is that they will be successful when they begin school and that they w
