Tell Me About Storytime

[SilverSabre25]

What does storytime look like at your daycare? I hate storytime here because they talk, the little ones scream and make noise, someone always wants to sit on my lap so they ALL want to sit on my lap, someone has a comment to make on EVERY page or wants to share a story about something completely unrelated...they creep closer and closer to me until I feel claustrophobic....I give the kids a chance to pick the books and they all grab the baby-style "identify 1001 pictures!" kind and all clamor to have theirs read first.... omg I hate it.

I have great memories of sitting with my mom, cuddled up and reading book after book when I was a child but the experience of doing it with the hoard (not really, there are only 5) of daycare kids makes it the LEAST desireable activity ever.

So. What's it like at your house? Who picks the books? Do you have veto power? Who sits where? Where do YOU sit? Do you allow anyone in your lap? Do they have to sit down and shut up or do you allow them to do whatever while you just enjoy the sound of your own voice? (I'm being facetious. Kind of. I'm in a mood today and can only let it bleed through in my typing, so apologize if I sound like an ass right now, haha) AND Where do you keep the darn books anyway because no matter what I try they are getting ruined beyond all reason.

[MarinaVanessa]

Because of these same issues I don't force the wee littles to participate. I give them toys or let them wander around in the room while I read to the preschoolers. If they don't seem interested then we move on to a different story or activity. What helps me is to have books out that go along with what we're doing and I let them each pick out a story, this way the kids are more excited and interested in the stories that we're going to read.

[Play Care]

Right now it goes very well - but four of my five kids attend preschool and are used to it. I do not allow lap sitting for story time. Everyone (who wants to participate) sits in a semi circle around me. When I have younger kids, I keep it brief. Right now my group want the whole shebang (calendar, songs, finger plays, 3 books) so it's longer.

I do allow lap sitting if I'm reading a book to an individual.

[Unregistered]

There are two adults here so what we do is start them when they are really little. One of us reads and the other one manages the children. Infants either sit in a bumbo seat or on my lap,1-2 year olds sit in chairs a little in front of me but I leave room so I can see.If they get up I sit them back down.Actually I catch them before they ever get up.
When they have proven that they can stay seated without getting up or interrupting they get to sit on the floor in front,which is a big privilege around here.
We practice this daily and also at local library story time.
The parents are amazed that we can get that many children to behave at story time when they can't even get their one to sit still.
I know you are on your own so this might not help but I did the same when it was just me and six kids. Infants in bumbo seat within arms reach,the rest I pulled up chairs and they were taught they needed to sit still.I know some people will say they don't make the kids sit and let them go play.I do not,they are expected to sit,it's not like it's a punishment.I'm reading them a story and when someone is reading we are polite and listen.

Throughout the day we will read to the children as they bring books to us,they sit in our lap,if the others want to listen they usually will just stand over my shoulder.

We also teach them around one how to properly care for books.
We don't stand on,eat,rip,bend,throw,roll around on the books.We sit and read them and put them back when they are done.No books are allowed left on the floor.Even the 1 1/2 year olds learn this!
With that being said,kids still find a way to damage books and it's expected as usual wear and tear.I buy all my books at garage sales and the local library monthly sales. The books that I use for teaching the kids do not have access to those or if they do it is only for the day.
Just keep practicing,if you don't have chairs,carpetcsquares work great too!

[Mom o Col]

One thing I've done is go to the library and borrow some "easy readers" because they are short, quick, and still tell a story. I let the kids choose from these at story time because it's about all their attention span can handle.

[MrsSteinel'sHouse]

Story time looks like one or two asking if I would read them a book. Generally they will hop up in my big comfy chair with me. If others wish to listen they tend to pile on Or I scootch to the floor and they sit on/ around me and I read. I try to get them when all 6 aren't here and read to them then. Early morning/ last pick ups. Generally I find "that kid's" special time with me and we read. Sometimes if I want them all to hear a certain story I will read when they are at the table, lunch, coloring, or right before we are about to do something.

I am really trying to adjust my thinking and actions away from "circle time" etc. I try to give what each kid needs and that may look different for all of them. Book time tends to be a snuggle time.

I also have a "stage" and each kid likes taking turns "performing" so sometimes I take a "turn" and read something. But mostly I use this time to teach them little songs, fingerplays etc. because I need to feed the kids "on stage" something to perform

[jenboo]

I have 5 Dck between 2.5 and 6 months.
The baby is sleeping during story time. They each pick a book. One Dck issues picks like 2 or 3 but I only read one of them.
They all sit on the carpet with me but not in my lap. They all sit pretty well considering their age and they are all boys. If anyone picks a long book, I just skip pages (they don't know the difference). Sometimes if they are wild then we just skip straight to songs but that doesn't happen very often. I do have to shush a lot with one child but we usually get through 4 baby books each day no problem.

[taylorw1210]

My under 2 crowd is usually playing quietly, and my over 2 crowd is expected to sit at least through 1 book. I will continue with other books for the older kids (because they usually request it) but only expect the 2 yo's to sit through one short book. I don't allow anyone to sit on my lap so that solves the competing for the lap spot, and many times I have to hold my finger up to my mouth to "shhh" some of the older kids (because they want to make comments about every page) but after a while it sinks it.

[preschoolteacher]

Story time looks like one or two asking if I would read them a book. Generally they will hop up in my big comfy chair with me. If others wish to listen they tend to pile on Or I scootch to the floor and they sit on/ around me and I read. I try to get them when all 6 aren't here and read to them then. Early morning/ last pick ups. Generally I find "that kid's" special time with me and we read. Sometimes if I want them all to hear a certain story I will read when they are at the table, lunch, coloring, or right before we are about to do something.

I am really trying to adjust my thinking and actions away from "circle time" etc.

Same!!

Storyline is so informal. I have 4 two year olds. Someone asks to read a book, I sit on the floor, and whoever wants to listen comes over. They usually will all listen to several books. We sometimes read for 30-45 minutes. Someone might wander off, but they usually come back.

Lap? Yep, someone is always sitting on me. I draw the line at two kids on my lap though (can't turn pages!).

If someone is being noisy in a way unrelated to the book, I tell them they may listen quietly or continue doing that noisy activity on the other side of the room.

If someone is being noisy in a way that is related to the book, I'll let them have their say to a point. I have some kids on repeat.. Will point to a dog and say "dog, dog, dog, dog" no matter if I acknowledge it or not! After a few "dog" s, I'll say it's time to listen. Usually that works.

If the book is horribly boring, I hide it.

I let the kids pick but try to persuade their choices by rotating what's available in our book baskets.

[Leigh]

Same!!

Storyline is so informal. I have 4 two year olds. Someone asks to read a book, I sit on the floor, and whoever wants to listen comes over. They usually will all listen to several books. We sometimes read for 30-45 minutes. Someone might wander off, but they usually come back.

Lap? Yep, someone is always sitting on me. I draw the line at two kids on my lap though (can't turn pages!).

If someone is being noisy in a way unrelated to the book, I tell them they may listen quietly or continue doing that noisy activity on the other side of the room.

If someone is being noisy in a way that is related to the book, I'll let them have their say to a point. I have some kids on repeat.. Will point to a dog and say "dog, dog, dog, dog" no matter if I acknowledge it or not! After a few "dog" s, I'll say it's time to listen. Usually that works.

If the book is horribly boring, I hide it.

I let the kids pick but try to persuade their choices by rotating what's available in our book baskets.

Same way here. Kids who WANT books can have them read to them-sometimes the others come over, sometimes not. Everyone usually gets 1-3 books a day that they choose, sometimes we'll read 5 in a row, but they're often happy with 1 or 2. I only want kids who WANT to "read a book" to be there-I want books to be happy experiences...if they don't want to pay attention, that's OK with me.

[AmyKidsCo]

Same!!

Storyline is so informal. I have 4 two year olds. Someone asks to read a book, I sit on the floor, and whoever wants to listen comes over. They usually will all listen to several books. We sometimes read for 30-45 minutes. Someone might wander off, but they usually come back.

Lap? Yep, someone is always sitting on me. I draw the line at two kids on my lap though (can't turn pages!).

If someone is being noisy in a way unrelated to the book, I tell them they may listen quietly or continue doing that noisy activity on the other side of the room.

If someone is being noisy in a way that is related to the book, I'll let them have their say to a point. I have some kids on repeat.. Will point to a dog and say "dog, dog, dog, dog" no matter if I acknowledge it or not! After a few "dog" s, I'll say it's time to listen. Usually that works.

If the book is horribly boring, I hide it.

I let the kids pick but try to persuade their choices by rotating what's available in our book baskets.

Here too! I always pick the before-nap book and since I have mainly twos I'll just tell the story if there's a lot of text. The ones who are interested will listen and the others just do their own thing. As long as they're not causing a problem for anyone else I just let them be.

[Unregistered]

I'm still loving circle time - story time. I pick the books, but also do lots of flannel board stories and puppet/prop stories, which really holds their attention. For my young crowd of two's, I pick very short stories or books that are also songs.....like "The Lady With The Alligator purse". Those really hold their attention too.

I do impromptu stories whenever else they want a story and then they sit on my lap. For circle time they sit in a half circle and I'm facing them. We have a very, very short circle time. Maybe 5-7 minutes. Sometimes less.

[midaycare]

I'm still loving circle time - story time. I pick the books, but also do lots of flannel board stories and puppet/prop stories, which really holds their attention. For my young crowd of two's, I pick very short stories or books that are also songs.....like "The Lady With The Alligator purse". Those really hold their attention too.

I do impromptu stories whenever else they want a story and then they sit on my lap. For circle time they sit in a half circle and I'm facing them. We have a very, very short circle time. Maybe 5-7 minutes. Sometimes less.

Ha ha! I just read "The Lady With the Alligator Purse" today.

[midaycare]

Story time here is not so much a "time" as several times throughout the day. I have a very large children's library, and like a pp, I buy at garage sales and library sales. And used bookstores. I love our local used bookstore. I think I keep them in business :-)

I read to each child individually, with books that I pick out for their interest and reading level. I also pick out picks that match our theme we are working on and I will read those books in a group setting. The older ones listen, and the younger ones can listen or go play.

I will also bring out my iPad and read books from there, so kids get different types of reading materials. Plus magazines, cookbooks.

I also make books for the older kids - 3 and up. You can print them off the computer. They are small, simple books. They color the pages, and then they read them. They usually have 20-40 words. Once they practice a few times, they have them memorized.