In the fall, our library is bringing back baby storytime for the first time since before COVID and I also just had my first baby in July. Those things got me thinking about the benefits of storytime for babies. Of course I have always thought that storytimes are fun and educational for older children, but never considered why there are storytimes for babies.

According to WebMD, one benefit is developing language skills early. The more words a baby hears, the better off they will be later on. This helps to improve their early literacy skills and school readiness.

Raising Children says storytimes “help develop your child’s brain, ability to focus, concentration, social skills and communication skills” among other things like imagination and curiosity.

An ALSC article by Abby Johnson titled Storytime: What is it Good for? discusses storytimes and how they are more than just entertainment. They teach print motivation, phonological awareness, and can improve the fine motor skills of children if there are toys or crafts involved. She also shares several resources that are great for learning about the cognitive benefits of storytimes.

Finally, ED Source has an article about how baby and toddler storytime can create a lifetime of reading. Using rhythm and rhyme in songs and books can help children learn sounds and later on learn words in a new way.

There are many benefits to storytime for babies that were not mentioned here, so if you think of any more, please share them in the comments.