What to Expect At Storytime

To the brave parent packing the diaper bag like you’re headed on a three-day trek across the Appalachian Trail. You’ve got wipes, snacks, a backup outfit, and possibly a kitchen sink. All for a 30-minute storytime.

I see you. Because not long ago, that was me.

Let me just say: I was terrified. I sat in the parking lot of the Francis Branch and let my anxieties rush in. I had visions of walking into a perfectly silent room, every child seated like a mini Zen master while mine tried to scale the librarian. I worried I’d be the only one who didn’t know the songs, or that my child would scream or be louder than the rest of the kids. But I was here, she was here, so I decided to give it a go.

I stepped out of my vehicle and started wrangling my daughter out of her car seat as she did her finest impression of a caffeinated octopus. And that’s when I noticed it: she had socks on… but no shoes.

I forgot her shoes.

How could I forget her shoes?

At that point, I seriously considered putting her right back in the car seat and driving off to try it some other time. But I noticed she wasn’t fazed by her lack of shoes, so I decided to forge ahead. We’d made it this far. And the library has carpet… right?

We walked into a room that was delightfully chaotic, like a tiny, joyful circus. My daughter immediately fell in love with the bubble machine. The librarian smiled and said “Welcome!” She didn’t say a word about my daughter’s bare feet. I decided to get ahead of any potential judgment and blurted out, “I forgot her shoes!” which earned some warm, well-intentioned chuckles. Other parents gave me the kind of look that said, Yeah. Been there.

Then we sang songs. We moved. We clapped. We listened to a story. My child wandered a bit (or… a lot), but no one batted an eye as I did my best to herd her. I even talked to another parent afterward who admitted it was her first time too.

And here’s what I learned: story time is so much more than listening to a story. It’s a time for our children to soak up language, discover rhythm, develop social skills, and more. Even when it feels chaotic, you’re helping build a foundational love for books and language. And by actively participating, you are modeling communication. Every time you sing along or whisper, “Look, it’s a duck!” you’re helping build their vocabulary and confidence.

So if you’re reading this ahead of your first babytime or storytime, here’s your sign. Do it. Show up. Sit in the back if you want. Come late. Leave early. But come.