Neighbors | Natalie Scott.Rileigh Italiano danced to music with a scarf at the Austintown library Nov. 27. Dancing with scarves was one of the ways that librarian Nicole Pahulla allowed children to work off their energy so they could sit still to listen to stories.
Neighbors | Natalie Scott.Austintown librarian Nicole Pahulla read a story about a bear named Big at the Gotta Move storytime event Nov. 27.
Neighbors | Natalie Scott.Ian Brennaman (left) and Michael Conrad jumped and danced with noisemakers to music played by the Austintown librarian at the Gotta Move storytime Nov. 27.
Neighbors | Natalie Scott.Kelly Hovanec (front right) brought her son, Austyn (front left), to the library's Gotta Move story time Nov. 27. Hovanec is shown here doing the grizzly bear dance with her son.
Neighbors | Natalie Scott.Children were given many different types of noisemakers to dance and jump with at the Austintown library Nov. 27. Addison Pollock chose to dance with two different types of noisemakers.
By NATALIE SCOTT
The Austintown library hosted a special storytime Nov. 27 formatted for children who have a difficult time sitting still. Librarian Nicole Pahulla presented the event, which featured a bear theme, so that children could visit the library, hear a story, and play with other children even if they liked to move around.
“It’s important for kids to be exposed to stories, but a lot of them have trouble sitting still. This event is perfect for that, but it can get a little crazy in here. It’s fun,” said Pahulla.
Pahulla started off the event with a clap and participatory bear rhymes. One of the rhymes that children could act out was called Polar Bear, Polar Bear. In the rhyme, a polar bear went about its house and went through its usual routine of getting ready for sleep. Every time the bear would do something, the children were instructed to act out what the bear in the rhyme was doing.
Next, Pahulla played music and gave each child a noisemaker. Children were allowed to jump around all they wanted and shake the noisemakers. Pahulla also handed out scarfs and showed children how to participate in a scarf dance, including swirling the scarf in a circular pattern and moving it up and down to see how it moved through the air.
Pahulla ended the storytime by reading another bear themed book. Children and parents were allowed to linger after the event to play or talk.
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