How Long Should a Toddler's Storytime Be?

Focused Attention

• Make storytime last longer by avoiding interruptions. Focused-personal time with the storyteller keeps the toddler's interest for a longer period. Constant interruptions distract your child from the book or story session and make it easy for your toddler to focus on the source of the interruption. Taking time to share a book and a chat about the tale demonstrates to your toddler that you value your storytime together. Mute your cellphone ring, shut off the television and instruct other family members not to interrupt the storytime to encourage your toddler to spend more time focused on your session.

Stage Setting

• Set the stage for storytelling by making a comfortable place to relax, such as a rocking chair or overstuffed couch. Allow space for you and your toddler to sit side-by-side, but a location that allows your child to see your facial expressions. The more your toddler feels that you enjoy the time and can see that feeling in your face, the more interest your child has in reading and telling tales. Add low light during evening reading sessions so your toddler can see the images and follow the basic page formatting when reading from a book.

Story Enjoyment

• Allow your child to select books or chose topics for storytime to make the session longer, even when the book selection or story topic is one you've both heard hundreds of times. Interest enhances the time your child wants to spend in storytime. KidsHealth, a nonprofit focused on childhood education, suggests integrating movement and song to story sessions to add interest for your toddler. Add images and graphics to the session to expand your toddler's enthusiasm for the time and focus other daytime activities on story sessions. Focus daytime craft sessions, for example, on making animals featured in the day's book for storytime.

Routines

• Setting a time, such as immediately before bedtime or after lunch, establishes a routine for you and your toddler to share stories and books. A calm period after dining or the winding-down time at the end of the day puts your toddler in a calm mood that's better suited for story-telling and reading. Interrupting toddlers during play makes a long storytime session less likely. Toddlers who have regular experience sitting down for scheduled story sessions learn to judge the length of time involved to finish a favorite book or tell a tale. Toddlers frequently notice when you skip a page or two in a book, even before your child has basic reading skills.