The Covid-19 pandemic has interrupted so many important programs, not the least of which is Patchwork Play dates.  Our pre-school program has been one of the most popular programs in our office, always with great attendance and participation.  One of our 4-H Teen Club members, Ashton Long, decided to begin reading her favorite children’s stories one evening a week.  The stories were videoed, and were posted on our Extension Service Facebook pages.  Advertising for a couple of weeks before the story times aired allowed parents to know that the story times would happen, along with notification through the Family and Consumer Sciences monthly newsletter.

              Ashton practiced her storytelling techniques in the extension office, where she was given advice and coaching on the best ways to keep the children engaged in the story.  The practice included ways to make the pictures from the books more visible for the children and ways to relate to the children better. Not only was the story time good for the children hearing them, it was also a wonderful learning experience for Ashton, teaching her techniques that made her stories more relatable and enjoyable for them.  Efforts to share stories that were not only entertaining, but also that shared lessons within them were chosen.

              The stories began in November and are planned to continue throughout the winter months, when children are less likely to able to be outside to play. The story time is shared on each of the Facebook pages in the office, which has allowed for a greater opportunity for participation.  At present, we have had 889 children in the county who have been reached, with an average of 178 children viewing per story.   

              The story time has been a valuable teaching tool for Ashton also.  She has learned a lot about how to choose an age-appropriate story for preschool- aged children, how to read a story to children with inflection in her voice in order to hold their attention, and how to present the story in a way that engages children.  The program has been a beneficial experience for all of those involved.   Many parents have expressed their appreciation for the program, and have commented their approval on the Facebook pages, and to the staff at the office. One of the pre-school teachers in the community commented that she was very impressed with Ashton’s presentation of stories, her choices of books to share, and with the fact that a teenager showed concern for young children.