Early Childhood Programming: Sensory Storytime
Early Childhood Programming: Sensory Storytime
Topic 4: Early Childhood Programming: Sensory Storytime
Sensory Storytime is an inclusive way to provide the traditional storytime experience, tailored to the needs and learning styles of children with ASD, while open to children of all abilities. Sensory storytimes often have dim lighting and quieter music than more traditional storytimes, and feature some different ways for participants to interact with the stories and activities.
Below are several resources to help you get a feel for the concept of Sensory Storytime (what it is and how to implement your own).
This YouTube video was created by SNAILS (Special Needs and Inclusive Library Services) and demonstrated by Sue Parsons, a librarian in Plainfield, IL. It provides a clear example of how to create and implement a sensory storytime.
This article from American Libraries magazine (March 2016) describes the differences between regular storytime and sensory storytime, with examples and tips.
The video below gives an example of a sensory storytime at the Akron Summit County Public Library in Akron, Ohio.
Social Schedules
Because one common characteristic of individuals with ASD is the need to know what is coming up next, sensory storytimes benefit from a visual schedule that shows participants how and when the storytime activities will occur.
- This video, "Sensory Storytime: Visual Schedule" from the Plano Public Library in Plano, Texas shows how a Velcro board can be used to remove activities that have happened, so as to minimize distractions.
- The Seattle Public Library (Washington) provides an example of a sensory storytime visual schedule on their website: https://www.spl.org/Documents/audiences/CHI/sst_visual-schedule.pdf
- Another example of how sensory storytimes might be implemented in libraries comes from the Douglas County library system: Sensory-Enhanced Storytime at Douglas County Libraries: An Inclusive Program
- A case study from Urban Libraries Council 2013 Innovations about the genesis of a sensory storytime at the Tulsa City-County Library in Oklahoma can be found here: Transforming Library Storytimes for Children with Sensory Integration Challenges
Below are some additional resources on sensory storytimes, and tips for creating your own.
- Sensory Storytime: A (brief) How-To Guide: A 2012 posting from the ALSC Blog with a sample schedule.
- Sensory Storytime Themes and Descriptions: A helpful list of songs, books, actions, and rhymes for a variety of themes from the Montgomery County Memorial Library System
- ALSC's Sensory Storytime Pinterest Board:Links to videos and articles with tips and DIYs for sensory storytimes.
- Libraries Serving Children with Autism:Website created with a LSTA grant in 2010 aimed at sharing resources and tips for librarians.
Consider making all of your library's storytimes sensory storytimes as part of your library's commitment to inclusivity. A sensory storytime takes nothing away from those children who don't need sensory adaptations, and making all storytimes sensory and inclusive makes them all available to those with ASD.
References
Akron-Summit County Public Library [AkronSummitLibrary]. (2014, April 15). Sensory story time: A program designed for families of children with autism [Video file]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/xwAT88XQsK4.
Association for Library Service to Children. (n.d.). Sensory storytime. Retrieved from https://www.pinterest.com/alsclibraries/sensory-storytime/.
Baldassari-Hackstaff, L., Kerber, S., Krovontka, R. A., & Olson, L. R. (2014, May 20). Sensory-enhanced storytime at Douglas County Libraries: An inclusive program. Public Libraries Online. Retrieved from http://publiclibrariesonline.org/2014/05/sensory-enhanced-storytime-at-douglas-county-libraries-an-inclusive-program/.
City of Plano, Plano Public Library System [Plano Public Library]. (2016, August 23). Sensory storytime: Visual schedule [Video file]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/DSXFtFyz7S0.
Clearwater Public Library Youth Services. (2014, December 17). Sensory storytime fun [Blog post]. Retrieved from https://cplsstorytime.wordpress.com/2014/12/17/sensory-storytime-fun/.
Cottrell, M. (2016, March). Storytime for the spectrum. American Libraries. Retrieved from https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2016/03/01/sensory-storytime-spectrum-libraries-add-services-for-children-with-autism/.
Libraries serving children with autism. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.readingpl.org/autismblog/category/storytime/.
Montgomery County Memorial Library System. (2014). Sensory story time themes and descriptions. Retrieved from https://secure.txla.org/secure/events/handouts/2014/361mcmlssensorystorytimethemesanddescriptions.pdf.
Seattle Public Library. (n.d.). Sensory story time visual schedule. Retrieved from https://www.spl.org/Documents/audiences/CHI/sst_visual-schedule.pdf.
[SNAILS (Special Needs and Inclusive Library Services)]. SNAILS sensory storytime demonstration [Video file]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/b5ftLKS-R4A.
Tulsa City-County Library, OK. (2013). Transforming library storytimes for children with sensory integration challenges. Retrieved from http://www.urbanlibraries.org/transforming-library-storytimes-for-children-with-sensory-integration-challenges-innovation-749.php?page_id=175.
Waring, A. (2012, March 14). Sensory storytime: A (brief) how-to guide [Blog post]. Retrieved from http://www.alsc.ala.org/blog/2012/03/sensory-storytime-a-brief-how-to-guide/.