If you’re looking for a fun, low-pressure way to support your child’s speech and language development, your local library’s story time is a wonderful place to start! Storytime with Marissa, offered year-round at Norwell Public Library on Mondays and Wednesdays from 10:30 - 11:00 am, is designed for children ages 0–5 and their caregivers—and it’s packed with communication-building opportunities.
Storytime helps build early speech and language skills in ways that feel natural and playful. Listening to stories helps build vocabulary and comprehension, while songs and fingerplays encourage imitation, joint attention, and early expressive language. Even if your child isn’t talking yet, watching, listening, and participating in their own way are all important steps in communication development.
Group story time also gives children the chance to be around other kids and practice important social skills like turn taking, listening, and following simple routines—all skills that support both communication and social development. Caregivers can pick up helpful ideas too, such as using gestures, silly voices, or repeating favorite phrases, which are simple strategies that can be used during reading and play at home!
Whether your child is already receiving speech or occupational therapy, or you’re just looking for a fun activity to add to your week, library story time is a wonderful way to support learning through play. Best of all, it’s free, engaging, and something the whole family can enjoy together.