“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.”