[stella80]

Seems silly to me to be posting this but I really want to go out with DD more to story time at the library but she just walks around and distracts all the other kids or, when we are at play group, she just walks off outside looking for play things. I have tried sitting with her on my lap and encouraging her to listen. We have stories at home and she will sit in my lap no prob. I have also tried just ignoring it and listening to the story myself hoping she would join in. No good either.

Please some suggestions. Is this just something she will get the hang of the more we go to story time?? I get so disheartened when I see all the other good little children sitting quietly and having fun

[Daisy Goat]

She obviously doesn't like it. My twins had no desire to listen to a story for more than about 30 seconds till halfway through their year at Kindergarten . So they were 4.5 years old.

Story time was just not something we ever did after a couple of failed attempts.

Don't get disheartened , just accept she doesn't want to and find a more active activity for her.

The same as some children won't leave their mothers side some children don't want to sit when there are better things to do

[babychacha]

Think you will just have to accept that it doesn't interest her.

I was hoping my DS would enjoy story time at the library or similar such activities but its a big fat NO from him. Just doesn't do it for him. He also likes story time at home.

I remember when he was still crawling (maybe around 11 months old) and I took him to a gymboree type thing where they sit down for about 20 mins and listen/watch the teacher before heading off into the gym room. My DS just did laps of the room until it was time to go into the gym room. I would constantly go and get him and try to encourage him to stay put....it was really stressful as all the other kids were doing it.

I've since learnt that it is just not who he is.

[jeska~and~her~se...]

My DD was the same as yours but worse - her favourite things were pulling books off the shelves, or trying to grab the books that the librarian was actually going to read to the children! All of the other children seemed so calm and interactive and happy and I felt so frustrated she couldn't 'get' it.

I just decided we couldn't go to storytime. Instead, we go swimming, go to the park, arrange playdates and she goes to childcare twice a week. She interacted with other children a lot, and we read books to her at least three times a day. Maybe just give it a break OP, and go back a bit later? I am sorry I don't have any constructive advice, just letting you know (like PP) that not all kids are into storytime.

[bye]

Perhaps try taking her to the library for exploring, unstructured time with you. It is probably to interesting a place for her to not want to explore a bit - once the novelty wears off (if ever!) she might be happier to settle for a story.

And as the PP said, maybe she just doesn't find it interesting enough. At home she has your 1-1 attention and is probably a more active participant. Don't be at all concerned that she doesn't join in with groups at her very tender age. :-)

[chipsy]

I would say give it a rest and try again in a few months, or as PPs have said try to find some activitites that she does engage in. Its no big deal. and I have never been to a story time whwre ALL the kids just sat and listened, at least a few were always distracted or being noisy. its pretty standard.

[Kitty Fantastico]

It sounds like there are more interesting things to see at playgroup. My son's like this too. All the kids will sit there and listen while he tries to play with the toys. I usually try to sit away from things he can touch and at the back of the group so as not to distract anyone. Sitting at the back also means I can make a speedy exit if he gets too cranky.

eta: Sometimes I whisper in his ear and point to to book and say things like "can you see the frog?" to try and keep him still.

This post has been edited by Kitty Fantastico: 03/05/2012, 01:26 PM

[Luci]

I have two children and they have sometimes surprised me with not liking activities - ie we have been to various kid's activities over the years which I think will be great but some of them are a success and others they don't enjoy at all.

If you have taken your child to a certain activity several times and they don't engage with it, I am not sure if there is a lot you can do. It's hard to convince a toddler to join in and have fun.

I would look for another activity to try, and maybe give the story time another go in a few months.

Luci

[bubmakes3]

My DS is more than happy to sit on the floor and listen to a story at day care but wont have a bar of it at playgroup or the library - not really sure why!

[ForsakenTruth]

She is having fun, just not having fun the way you want her to have fun. I think you should drop the expectations on how she should behave. She is only 19 months old, going by your sig.

This post has been edited by ForsakenTruth: 03/05/2012, 01:30 PM