Graduation From Storytime

A few days from now Lil Man turns 17 months. And a month from then 18 months. I don't know where the time has gone. I swear I was pregnant yesterday, so I'm not quite sure how I ended up with a toddler. The time is flying by so fast, and I feel like I've missed so much, when I know that I haven't.

For about the past month, we've been prepping for fall programming at work. And I started to get really excited about this fall's upcoming baby storytime. Over the summer, Lil Man had really started getting into the storytimes, and he participated a lot more than when he was just a bump on a log of a baby.

But then it hit me. Lil Man is going to be 18 months come September. Too old for Baby Storytime. And Ms. Kendra--the Baby Storytime librarian confirmed it, Lil Man is going to be moving up to Me and My Grown Up Storytime. And to be honest, I'm bummed.

Copyright EarlyLiteracyMama.blogspot.com

It's not that I don't like the librarian who puts on the next age group's storytime. I like her, and I know she does a great job. But, Lil Man just got adjusted to Baby Storytime and started to participate. I feel like shoving him in with the older kids, he's not going to be able to participate as well as he could in Babytime. At 18 months, he just isn't as capable developmentally as an almost 3 year old (the upper boundry of the group). Not to mention, he has friends in his group, and I'm friends with thier moms.

I'm torn. Do I take him to storytime and see how it all pans out? Do I keep him home for a bit, and let him mature a little bit more developmentally? Do I just, and I hate to use this term, hold him back in Baby Storytime? Or do I just stay home, and read some stories there?

No matter what, this fall is going to be bittersweet. I'll no longer have an infant or a baby, I'll have a toddler transitioning into a preschooler. And as much as it breaks my heart, I'm excited too, I can't wait to see how my Lil Man grows up.

FREE Online Storytime -- The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn

My poor Mother. I remember my first day of school, preschool, pre-k, and kindergarten. I screamed, I cried, I held on to my mom for dear life. And now that I'm a mom myself, I'm sure it broke my mom's heart to leave me there in the state I was in.

But the fact remains, many kids have a hard time going back to school in the fall. The separation from the fun of summertime, and getting back into a routine takes a heavy toll on their little hearts.

This apprehension about going back to school, can be even worse for kids that have never been to school, like those entering preschool or kindergarten. Separation from home and their parents can be devastating to them.

If your kindergarten bound child is feeling this apprehension, and even if they are not, there are many great stories to aid in this transitional time.

One such book is The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn. Chester Raccoon is feeling apprehensive about going to kindergarten for the first time. But, his mom knows just what will make him feel better. The (somewhat magical) kissing hand. The special bond that is created between this mother and son, eases Chester's transition, and unexpectedly ends with Chester's mother getting a kissing hand of her own.

Until the end of August, Barnes and Noble is offering a FREE online storytime featuring The Kissing Hand. The author, Audrey Penn reads the story while the child watches the illustrations on screen. To access this FREE online storytime, click here.