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SENSORY STORYTIME(for 3- 5 year olds)
AT
THE FERGUSON LIBRARY
STAMFORD, CT
What is Sensory Storytime?
• A program that combines the books, songs and movement activities of a typical preschool storytime with therapeutic activities from Sensory Integration.
• Includes “sensory diet” activities, but this is not therapy
• Sensory Storytime is good for ALL kids, not just kids with autism or sensory processing issues
Important ElementsPre-Program
Parent Participation
Predictability (and Repetition)
Personalized
Peer Inclusion
Preparation
Program Plan (Picture Schedule)
Pre-Program
• Provide Social Story
• Encourage use of Sensory Diet– Alerting, organizing and calming
activities before program
• Library Visit Brochure
http://www.fergusonlibrary.org/sites/default/files/pdf/ASDVisit.pdf
Parent Participation
• Regular programs for 3-5 year olds can have one adult for many children
• Sensory Storytime has close to one-to-one ratio: – Models activities for parents/caregivers– Gives librarian assistance from adults who
know children well, so program leader doesn’t have to be an expert
– Provides opportunity for parents to network
Predictability (Repetition)
• Most activities and sequence of activities repeats each week
• Book for the next session is introduced
Personalized
• Goal is to make the children feel comfortable and safe. Success is greater participation, not mastery.
• Many of these families are used to apologizing for their children and trying in vain to control their behaviors.
WE WELCOME AND ACCEPT THEM AS THEY ARE!
Peer Inclusion
• Mix of children with special needs and typically-developing peers
• This is preparation for included school programs
• Provides disability awareness for “typical” kids
• Members of both groups learn from the other children
Preparation• Participation in Sensory Storytime helps
make the library available to families:• Prepares some children to join in other programs
• Prepares children with ASD for regular library visits with family members or school group
• Leads to decrease in negative behaviors as children become familiar with the library and staff and feel safe and welcome
Program Plan(Picture Schedule)
Shows children what will happen and the order of activities
We use Boardmaker from Mayer-Johnson to make schedule and pictures for flannel board
The Program Begins With: Sit In A Circle
Children sit on EducubesParents sit behind children on stools
The leader is in front, next to a flannel board
Welcome
Shirt Song:____ is wearing a_____ shirt,_____ shirt,_____ shirt,___ is wearinga ____ shirt,and he/sheIs here today.
Color discrimination, learning names, self-identification, texture of flannel, following directions
Stretch Song
Pull on therabands to classic songs (Itsy, Bitsy Spider; Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes; Row, Row, Row Your Boat)
We use the yellow (lowest resistance). Heavy muscle work while learning common preschool songs
Brush Your Teeth• Oral motor stimulation (and teeth brushing
practice) to Raffi “Brush Your Teeth” song
We use individually wrapped toothettes, available from Amazon.com
Bean Bag Parade
• Weighted bean bags (one-half pound each) give proprioceptive input as we march around the room to “Beanbag Parade” by Tumble Tots
Bean bags from funandfunction.com
Balance BeamWe walk on the oval tactile path to Laurie
Berkner’s “Balance Beam” song
Read a StoryWe use multiple board books when possible
Book-related Sensory Activity
For example: Mouse Paint by Ellen Stohl Walsh (mix colors using cool whip and food colors)
Ends With Free Play Time
• Kids can play in a less structured way
• Parents can use this time to talk to program leader or each other
For More Information
Contact :
Barbara KlipperYouth Services Librarian
The Ferguson Library
1 Public Library Plaza
Stamford, CT 06904
(203) 351-8243
June, 2011
