A New Weekly Story Time for Our Youngest Readers

There is something rather lovely about a library first thing in the morning. The shelves are tidy, the kettle is on, and the carpet squares have already been laid out in a hopeful circle. From this week, our village library is putting that quiet hour to good use, with a brand new weekly story time for toddlers aimed at the under-fives and the grown-ups who look after them.

Sessions run on Tuesday and Thursday mornings during term time, starting at 10.15am and finishing at about 11am. There is no booking, no charge and no membership form to fill in. Turn up, hang up your coat and settle down on a cushion — or, more realistically, sit down and then get up again four times in the first ten minutes. That is entirely normal and nobody will mind.

What Happens in a Session

Each session follows a gentle, predictable pattern, which is exactly what small children like best. Knowing what comes next helps them feel safe, join in and — eventually — start joining in from memory.

• A welcome song with plenty of waving, clapping and everyone's name sung out loud.
• Two or three action rhymes such as sleeping bunnies, the wheels on the bus and rounding up the usual assortment of spiders and ducks.
• A picture book read aloud, held up high so everyone at the back can see the pictures.
• A shorter follow-up story, often a lift-the-flap or a pop-up, to catch the ones who have started to wriggle.
• Bubbles and instruments — tambourines, shakers and a very patient drum.
• A goodbye song, after which everyone is invited to stay for refreshments.

No child is expected to sit still for the whole session. Toddlers wander, toddlers shout, toddlers occasionally lie down on the floor and refuse to participate. Our volunteers have seen it all before, and a child who spends the whole half hour running laps of the fiction section has still heard every rhyme.

Why Story Time Matters So Much

Between birth and five, a child's brain is building language at a rate it will never match again. Singing, rhyming and sharing books are among the simplest and most powerful things a carer can do to help. It does not require expensive equipment or a spare hour of peace — it requires a lap, a voice and a story.

Rhymes do a particular job. They train the ear to hear the smaller sounds inside words, which is the foundation for reading later on. Songs slow language down and stretch it out, giving little mouths a chance to copy. Picture books build vocabulary far beyond everyday conversation — a toddler who has heard a story about a lighthouse knows what a lighthouse is.

There is also the quieter benefit: the habit of sitting close to someone you love while a story unfolds. Children who grow up with that association tend to arrive at school already fond of books, and that is worth more than any flashcard set.

What to Expect on Your First Visit

If you have never been to a session like this, here is the practical picture.

• No booking required. Simply turn up a few minutes before 10.15am so you have time to park the buggy and find a space.
• Buggy parking is in the corner by the noticeboard, and there is step-free access at the side entrance.
• Dress everyone comfortably. Children sit on the floor, and so do many of the adults.
• Baby changing facilities are in the accessible toilet, and feeding is welcome anywhere in the building.
• Bring a comforter or a snack if your little one needs one. A hungry toddler is not an attentive one.
• Grandparents, childminders, nannies and friends are all very welcome. One adult with three children is fine; three adults with one child is also fine.

Refreshments and a Bit of Grown-Up Company

Once the goodbye song has finished, the real business of the morning begins: tea, coffee, squash, a plate of fruit and a tin of biscuits. There is no charge, though there is a donation tin by the urn if you would like to chip in towards the milk.

This half hour matters as much as the stories. It is a chance to meet other people who are also negotiating nap times, teething and the mysterious refusal to wear socks. Plenty of lasting friendships in this village started over a lukewarm mug and a shared look of exhaustion. If you are new to the area, this is one of the easiest places to start.

The sessions are run by a small team of volunteers, several of whom are parents and grandparents themselves. They are always glad to answer questions, and they will never ask you to do anything you would rather not.

How You Can Help Keep It Going

Story time is free to attend, but it is not free to run. If you would like to support it, there are several ways to help.

• Volunteer as a reader — one session a month is plenty, and full training in the songs is cheerfully given.
• Donate good-quality picture books your own children have outgrown. Board books in particular are always needed.
• Contribute to the refreshment fund with a few coins in the tin, or a packet of biscuits now and then.
• Suggest a book for the reading list. There is a suggestion box on the counter, and requests are genuinely read.
• Spread the word — mention it at the school gate, the play park or the surgery waiting room. Word of mouth fills more carpets than any poster.

Whether you come every week or just once when the morning has gone sideways, you will find a warm room, a spare cushion and somebody ready to sing about a spider. We hope to see you there.