• Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • FAQ
    • Disclosure and Privacy Policy
  • Subscribe
  • Community
  • Books
    • Books for Children by Age
    • Book Lists
    • Holiday Books and Activities
  • Reading Ideas
    • Babies
    • Toddlers
    • Preschoolers
    • Kindergarteners & Early Elementary
  • Writing Ideas
  • Parental Involvement: Building Partnerships
  • Start Here!
    • WELCOME TO THE GROWING BOOK BY BOOK COMMUNITY
    • Subscribe
    • Contact
    • FAQ
      • Disclosure and Privacy Policy
  • Shop
  • Home
  • Book Lists
    • Books for Children by Age
    • Book Lists
    • Holiday Books and Activities
  • Book Activities
  • Early Literacy
    • Alphabet Activities
    • Circle Time Activities
    • Phonological Awareness Activities

Growing Book by Book

  • Family Involvement
    • Start a Family Dinner Book Club
  • Start Here
  • Store
discovering with babies playing with toddlers exploring with preschoolers building with beginning readers

Bring joy and play into children's lives through books.

Yes, please!
Home » All categories » How to Start a Story Time Program

How to Start a Story Time Program

May 8, 2015 • 14 Comments

Sharing is caring!

2115 shares
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email

Several years ago I created the Under the Shady Tree Story Time in my community.  It has been a wonderful experience sharing books with families and getting to meet lots of new friends.

Many of you followed along on our reading adventures.

Tips and ideas for starting your own community story time including a free printable planner.

I’ve had lots of questions about how to start a storytime session.  So today I’m sharing how I got started and some of the issues I had to problem solve along the way.  Plus, I have a FREE printable planner to help you get started.  My hope is that you will be inspired to start your own storytime in the park in your community!

How Do I Start a Story Time Program

Full Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.

The Basics

Who:  What age group do you want to target?  I chose ages 2-5 because my kids fell in this age range.  You will most likely have older and younger siblings that attend too.  But, you want to gear the activities to a specific group.

Will the sessions be open to the community or to select invited group?  We do an open group.  Anyone in the community is invited to attend.  The challenge with this is that you never know how many will show up each time.  I’ve had anywhere from three families to thirty families arrive to hear a story.

Where:  Decide where the group will meet.  If you don’t personally know the families, you will want to make sure you are meeting in a public space.  We meet at a local park.

If you are meeting with a small group of people that you know, you may choose to meet at your house or alternate houses.

When:  Will the group meet weekly, monthly or for special holidays?  During the summer we meet for nine weeks straight. I’ve also done a five-week fall session.  We tried a spring session but the weather wasn’t very cooperative.  If you are holding sessions outside, you have to take the weather into account.

Time:  Aim for your sessions to last 20 minutes to 1 hour.  We have about a 20-30 minute session followed by a free play time at the playground.  Mornings generally work best.  The sweet time for us is 9:30am.

The Nitty-Gritty

Planning Sessions: This is the part I love the most!!  Select the book(s) you will use each session.  I like to have a theme for several sessions.  Last summer we did books that took place outdoors.  During the fall we did all autumn theme related books.  This summer we are doing colors, bears, fairy tales, classic and new releases, and rhythm and rhyme topics.

Her is what a typical session schedule looks like for us.

Opening Song

Story

Second Song

Activity 

Closing Song

Giveaway

There are lots of resources to help you figure out themes, book choices and activities.  Jbrary and Mommy and Me Book Club (no new posts but you can access the archives that are full of great ideas) are two of my favorites!

Here is a peek at our schedule for this summer!

story time schedule

Getting the Word Out:  If the sessions are open to the public, make flyers to hang at local libraries and grocery stores. Once people start attending, word will spread!

Talk to families in your neighborhood or church to create a smaller intimate group if you prefer.

I find it very helpful to create a Facebook group to send out weekly reminders and cancellations if necessary.

Cost:  It doesn’t have to cost much to host a storytime program.  You can check the books out from the library.  There are lots of activities and games that can be played with minimal supplies.

I have had success in getting local businesses and community members to donate money for supplies and book giveaways.

I do offer a book giveaway each week.  This is a nice perk but not necessary!

Expectations:  Be clear with participants about what you want them to bring and do.  I ask all families to bring a blanket to sit on each week.  Also, let caregivers know if you want them to participate in the songs and activities.  I highly encourage you to do so!

What You Need:  Here is a checklist I use to make sure I have what I need each time we head to the park for storytime.

supplies for story time

I use a handy dandy rolling cart to keep everything neat and organized.

Book

Activity Supplies

Handouts of the Songs

Blanket

Small Chair

Tickets and Container for Giveaway

Free Book for Giveaway

Tips and Tricks

gathering for story time

  • Sun and wind can be enemies to you as you read.  Try to pick a shady spot to read so everyone can see.
  • Then there is rain and cold temperatures.  Have a back up plan for moving to a covered pavilion or cancel.  You may need park permission to use a covered area.
  • Plan activities that don’t have lots of pieces that can blow away.  Think gross motor whole group games.
  • Don’t share a book you haven’t read several times.  All eyes will be on you.  Read with expression and enthusiasm and make sure the kids can see the pages as you read.  I invite little ones to sit on a blanket right in front of me if they can’t see.
  • Start on time!  If you get around for everyone, your start time will get pushed later and later.  It’s not fair to those who arrive on time.
  • I’m thinking of investing in a set of clipboardsthis year to hold our song sheets so they don’t blow away.

Planning Sheet

Because I want you to be successful in this new venture, I created a set of planning sheets for you!  You can download this FREE resource to help you make each storytime session successful!

Click Here to Download Your Story Time Planning Sheets

I hope you are inspired to start your own storytime in the park!

P.S. Never miss a great idea from Growing Book by Book!  Sign up for our FREE newsletter.

 

Did you get your free list of Books Kids Will Beg You to Read?

Get It

Sharing is caring!

2115 shares
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email

14 Comments Filed Under: All categories, Literacy Projects

About Jodie Rodriguez

Jodie Rodriguez is a mom of two young boys and an early childhood/elementary educator with over 20 years of experience. Jodie's passion is helping parents, teachers, librarians and anyone else interested in nurturing and reaching ALL of our youngest growing readers.

Comments

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published.

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  1. ayesha says

    June 6, 2022 at 4:53 pm

    This is such a wonderful and comprehensive plan for story time! thank you for sharing 🙂

    Reply
    • Jodie Rodriguez says

      June 7, 2022 at 7:55 am

      My pleasure, Ayesha.

      Reply
  2. Sylvia Howse says

    August 19, 2021 at 9:55 am

    This is ” Amazing ” is the only word I can say

    Reply
  3. Jeanine Albiges says

    October 16, 2019 at 11:15 am

    Hi,
    Have you ever thought of asking parents or businesses to oay you to do the story times?
    If so, how much do you ask for?
    Thanks

    Reply
    • Jodie Rodriguez says

      October 19, 2019 at 8:16 am

      I haven’t done a paid storytime yet, but it is definitely a possibility.

      Reply
    • Ayesha says

      June 6, 2022 at 4:51 pm

      I was wondering the same Jeanine…did you get around to doing a paid story time?

      Reply
      • Jodie Rodriguez says

        June 7, 2022 at 7:56 am

        I’m actually doing a paid story time this fall for the first time. It will be hosted at a local community center once a week.

        Reply
  4. Querida Jordan says

    June 28, 2018 at 9:55 am

    Great advice, creating a story time program has been one of my goals. Thank you

    Reply
  5. Michelle TIppetts says

    March 6, 2018 at 3:22 pm

    I loved all of the great advice for starting a story time. I have been doing a Spanish story time for a few months now. I was wondering what kind of activities you do during story time.

    Reply
  6. Steph says

    May 11, 2015 at 8:57 am

    Popped in from Link & Learn, and glad I did! Thanks for sharing your process, this is an activity I’ve considered adding to my schedule, and having the guidance will be very helpful.

    Reply
    • Jodie Rodriguez says

      May 11, 2015 at 4:16 pm

      Glad it can help Steph!

      Reply
  7. Natasha Daniels says

    May 9, 2015 at 2:10 pm

    What a great idea! Thanks for sharing the guidance on how to develop one!

    Reply
    • Jodie Rodriguez says

      May 10, 2015 at 1:55 pm

      My pleasure Natasha. I hope it helps lots of people set up community story times!

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Interesting Links of the Week (5/8) | Ready, Set, Read! says:
    May 8, 2015 at 12:54 pm

    […] How to Start a Storytime Program via Growing Book by Book […]

    Reply

What can we help you find?

Subscribe to Growing Book by Book

lead magnet for growing book bybook
Welcome to Growing Book by Book!  Learn about the creator, Jodie Rodriguez.

Find More

alphabet activities
book lists for children
circle time button

Set Up for Circle Time Success

month by month circle time songs


Copyright ©2023, Growing Book by Book. All Rights Reserved. Custom design by Pixel Me Designs | Privacy Policy