Beating the boredom

School’s out, the sun’s shining, and from homes all over the city comes the refrain every parent dreads, “I’m bored. There’s nothing to do!”

One answer to the boredom blues can be found at a local library. All city, county and Valley branches offer free story reading for children.

“Stories are fantastic,” said Sally Chilson, youth services coordinator for Spokane Public libraries. According to Chilson, brain research shows that being read stories is exactly what kids need to develop pre-reading skills. “Story time promotes early literacy skills,” said Mary Ellen Braks, youth services supervisor at the Spokane Valley Library.

Jill Bolon, children’s librarian at the Shadle branch said, “Story time is an opportunity for parents to bond with their kids. It’s an introduction into socializing with others, but the most important thing is it’s fun!”

From the opening action rhyme “Wiggle Fingers” to the last story, grinning faces abounded at a recent family story time at the South Hill Library. Infants, toddlers and older siblings joined parents and grandparents for a farm-themed evening.

When asked what was the best thing about stories, 3-year-old Ashley shouted, “Books! EIEIO!”

The magic of stories kept 75 children and adults enthralled and engaged at Shadle’s preschool story time on June 29. As “Miss Jill” told a flannel-board story about hungry ants that march into some black pepper, the enthusiastic crowd sneezed noisy “achoos” in unison at the appropriate time.

Seasoned storytellers mix movement, music and reading to keep even the youngest kids involved. The large group at Shadle participated in a rousing rendition of “Head and Shoulders Knees and Toes,” among other action rhymes and songs.

Tyler, age 3 1/2, attended with his dad and grandmother. Wearing a bright blue Thomas the Tank Engine shirt, he eagerly listed the books he has at home.

“I got ‘Dinosaur Stomp,’ and Auntie gots me ‘Pet Wash’!” he said. When asked his favorite story of the day, he replied, “All of them!”