What is the difference between a "lapsit" storytime as opposed to other storytimes?

What are the main points that a librarian focuses on that makes a lapsit storytime different than other storytimes?

KatieR

• youth-services
• storytime

Comments

Answer by Debrarian

I consider "lapsit storytime" another way of saying "baby storytime." Basically in a lapsit/baby storytime one shares songs, action rhymes, and a book or two with adults and their babies (kids somewhere in the 0-18 months range, perhaps). There is often playtime and the babies rarely stay confined to laps, although it's a secure place to start, and including "lapsit" in the name highlights the concept that the storytime is fun and cuddly, emphasizing adult/child bonding and interaction.

Lapsit/baby storytime gives the babies a chance to hear lots of language, and the families opportunities to connect with each other. Basically it can have most of the typical storytime elements, but geared to babies' development, and with a bit of a focus on helping the caregivers develop skills and a repertoire. A librarian may focus on such things as:

• welcoming families to the library (for many with babies it's their first visit, or their first with children) and assuring them that we don't mind babies' chaos, noise, or propensity to chew on things
• modeling interactive language moments
• encouraging adults to share songs, rhymes and stories with their babies
• sharing the early literacy benefits of doing so
• sharing other research about babies' language and pre-literacy development (in a fun, concise way)
• supporting and encouraging caregivers' roles in baby language development
• providing age-appropriate materials such as board books (especially in black and white or with photos of babies' faces, for the youngest ones) and song sheets

But fundamentally the same principles hold true as with other storytimes: have fun, share books, develop literacy and language!

Comments