The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Storytime prepares children for school
The Ritter Public Library, 5680 Liberty Ave. in Vermilion, organized a program Sept. 10 that allowed young children to have a fun time and learn important skills to take with them as they head into school.
“We have our Preschool Storytime at 10 a.m. Mondays,” said Patricia Stroman-Brown, children’s library associate at Ritter. “We had a going to school theme, and I think the kids really respond well to it.”
Stroman-Brown said the themes typically are seasonal.
“Kids are going back to school, so I think this one resonates with the kids who might have older siblings who recently went back to class,” she said. “I also included stories that include counting and practicing the alphabet. I ended the program with a craft of apple trees to coincide with the letter ‘A.’ ”
Stroman-Brown said usually, the event has a big turnout.
“We usually have a good crowd of youngsters,” she said. “Parents like it for the organized activities part.
“It also gets them up and moving. It gets some of the energy out and keeps them engaged.”
Stroman-Brown said the program also teaches important skills to prepare the children for when they have to go to school.
“It helps with listening and being attentive,” she said. “Listening is so important for when they start school.
“They have to be quiet for the teacher and be ready to learn. The older kids also do a good job of modeling that behavior. The kids have to fight the urge to move around and make noise when they see the older children sitting still and paying attention.”
Judy Szuch of Oberlin said she brought her grandson to the event.
“He loves coming out to these storytimes,” Szuch said. “I’m glad the library does a great job of putting these on for kids his age.” Becky Dechoudens, of what Ritter has to offer. for the past 15 years,” grams like this are great Vermilion, said she loves “I’ve been going here Dechoudens said. “Pro- for the children.”