As a parent or nanny, one of the most important things you can do to enhance your child’s development is to read to him or her. A bedtime story about princesses and fairies or an afternoon story session with adventures of spotted dinosaurs will help develop your child’s imagination and create a bond between the two of you.
According to the Early Moments Book Club organization, reading to a child offers many benefits that span from academic excellence and improved speech skills to better communication skills and a mastery of language. Your child’s concentration and discipline is also improved through story telling.
“Toddlers may initially squirm and become distracted during story time, but eventually they’ll learn to stay put for the duration of the book,” says the experts at Early Moments. “Along with reading comprehension comes a stronger self-discipline, longer attention span, and better memory retention, all of which will serve your child well when she enters school.”
Take your story time and your child’s development to a new level by involving him or her in one of the many free story times available in Houston. From art museums and public libraries to local bookstores and restaurants, many Houston organizations offer interactive book readings the entire family can enjoy.
It seems only natural to host a story time at Houston’s Public Library where thousands of books are available to engage your child’s mind. The Heights Neighborhood library campus at 1302 Heights Boulevard in Houston features several free story time sessions for toddlers 18 months to 3 years of age and pre-K. Baby time sessions for your little ones 6 months to 18 months is also offered throughout the week. This interactive story time features books, songs and finger plays with free play after the story telling session.
For specific story times, contact the Houston Public Library’s Heights Neighborhood campus at 832-393-1810 or visit the library’s website at
www.houstonlibrary.org.
In addition to offering your child free science-related activities, the Nature Discovery Center at 7112 Newcastle Street, in Bellaire, also features Nature Story Time and Craft for preschoolers ages 2 to 5 each week. Your little one can learn about critters, birds, shells and minerals through interactive books and story time sessions.
The center is open Tuesday – Sunday from 12-5:30 p.m. For more information about story time dates and times, call 713-667-6550 or visit the Nature Discovery Center’s website at www.naturediscoverycenter.org.
Experience the excitement of the Children’s Museum and expose your children to interactive story telling sessions at the Children’s Museum of Houston, located at 1500 Binz in Houston. The museum hosts free family nights from 5-8 p.m. on Thursdays, complete with access to hands-on exhibits, a spotlight performance and story times.
For more information about hours and story time sessions, contact the Children’s Museum of Houston at 713-522-1138 or visit the museum’s website at www.cmhouston.org.
The Children’s Entertainment Specialists of Merry Makers offers several free story time events throughout the Houston Area. Sponsored by local restaurant chains, story tellers from Merry Makers, Inc. offer kids the opportunity to listen to stories, play games, complete arts and crafts, create balloon animals and receive free face painting.
The creative team hosts free story times on Saturday mornings from 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. at McDonald’s, located at 5888 Richmond Avenue in Houston and from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. on Tuesdays at Chick-Fil-A at 5005 Richmond Avenue in Houston.
For more information, visit the Merry Makers website at www.merrymakersinc.net.
What better place to experience story telling adventures than a local bookstore. The Barnes and Noble, located in Vanderbilt Square at 3003 W. Holcombe Boulevard features free story times on Saturdays at 10:30 a.m. Learn about animals, kid adventures and creative non-fiction with new titles revealed each week.
For more information, contact Barnes and Noble at 713-349-0050 or visit the Vanderbilt Square’s store website at store-locator.barnesandnoble.com/store/2582.
If you are looking for a Sunday afternoon activity that will stimulate your child’s mind and creative spirit, head over to the Museum of Fine Arts, located in the Beck Building at 5601 Main in Houston. The museum features free story time sessions from at 1:30 p.m. each Sunday for ages 2+.
For more information, contact the Museum of Fine Arts at 713.639.7300 or visit the website at www.mfah.org.
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