Sensory Storytime for Children Teens and Adults Tips

Sensory Storytime for Children, Teens and Adults: Tips & Tricks Jennifer Haberkorn Tina Schmidt

Who Are We?

What is Sensory Storytime?

An inclusive storytime geared to the preschool level with added enhancements for individuals who are on the autism spectrum or have other special needs. Our purpose is to provide a safe environment where participants, along with their families and caregivers, feel welcomed and can enjoy the library and storytime.

DCL’s Sensory Storytime Who attends? Two Age Groups Families Adult/Young Adult Preschool Development Level Carryover Effect on Traditional Storytimes

Our Social Story From DCL’s website DCL. org Social stories are a great way to show patrons ahead of time what they will see and experience at story time. It can help a lot with any anxiety a patron might have about attending a story time that might be a new experience.

The Sensory Storytime Environment

The Sensory Storytime Environment, cont’d Start with a Space Free from Hazards and Distractions Temperature Fans Lighting Seating for each Age Group

Schedule Visual Schedule Outlines of Activities Repetition, Repetition Age Group Similarities & Differences

Family Story Time Plan Story Time: Colors Family Sensory Opening Song: Hi, Hello, and how are you? How are you? Hi, hello and how are you? How are you today? Name Song: Here We Are Together Name Song (pass ball) Book: Bear Sees Colors by Karma Wilson & Jane Chapman (pass out different colored bean bags) Song: Bubble Pop! Book: Wow! Said The Owl by Tim Hopgood Flannel Board: Parachute “Come Under My Umbrella” and “These are the colors over you” Movement/ Manipulative: Scarves Johnette Downing Scarf song Manipulative: Twenty Bubbles and Bubbles Floating with Bubbles Goodbye Song: Goodbye, goodbye, we’ll see you soon See you soon, See you soon Goodbye, goodbye, we’ll see you soon On another day.

Young Adult/Adult Storytime Plan Storytime Theme: Healthy Habits Hello Song – Hi, Hello and How are You? Read a Book – We Brush our Teeth (JNF) Name Song – Oh Here We are Together Sensory Fun – Giant mouth, toothbrush, dental floss, tooth paste, weights, bands Read a Book – Clarabella’s Teeth (Fiction) with laminated character pieces Scarves - Johnette Downing’s Shake Your Scarves Song – We Got the Beat (Go. Gos) with Tambourines Bubbles with Song Goodbye Song

Materials Types of Books We Love - Three R’s of text: Rhyme, Rhythm, Repetition Bubbles - Large motor Scarves - Large motor Fidgets - Fine motor Physical Therapy Bands Mats Nametags and Nameplates

Thematic Sensory Components Sensory Bins Manipulatives/Musical Instruments Show ‘n Tell

❤� Volunteers ❤�

Behavior & Expectations Safety is Key There will be Behaviors! Know their Names! Family/Caregiver Involvement Inclusive & Accepting Environment Privacy is Important Don’t Take Anything Personally!

Hands On Fun! Physical Therapy Bands Sensory Bins Sensory Bags Sensory Circles Rice Bottles Manipulatives Fidgets

Questions and Answers

Let’s Play!