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Neighbors | Jessica Harker.Librarian Allison Graf taught children different yoga poses during the June 28 Gotta Move story time at the Austintown library.
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Neighbors | Jessica Harker.Children danced to the "Shake Break Exercise Song" projected on the screen at the June 28 Gotta Move story time event.
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Neighbors | Jessica Harker.Librarian Allison Graf read "Yoga Frog" to the group of children gathered for the June 28 Gotta Move story time.
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Neighbors | Jessica Harker.Allison Graf, the youth services librarian at Austintown, danced to "Shake My Sillies," with the group of children gathered at the Gotta Move story time on June 28.
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Neighbors | Jessica Harker.Peter Ledbetter danced during the reading of "Yoga Frog" at the June 28 Gotta Move story time at the Austintown library.
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Neighbors | Jessica Harker.Peter Ledbetter danced to one of the new songs he learned on June 28 at the Gotta Move story time.
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Neighbors | Jessica Harker.Allison Graf, the youth services librarian at Austintown, led the group of children in song at the June 28 Gotta Move story time event.
By JESSICA HARKER
One of Austintown libraries most popular programs, Gotta Move story time, is expanding for older children.
The original program runs weekly and is centered around children ages two to five years old.
Austintown librarian Allison Graf, who is in charge of youth services, said due to the popularity of the younger program they are also adding a version for school age children.
“A lot of children were in the program when they were younger and really liked it, but grew out of it. This allows them to come back,” Graf said.
The original program centers on encouraging children to be active and exposing them to literature in a fun way.
Children are read books, sing songs and learn dances through videos.
“They’re really getting involved in the literature, even through the rhymes and songs that we do,” Graf said, “It helps to allow them to move around.”
On June 27, the weekly story time began with the reading of “Yoga Frog.”
The children also learned songs like “Shake my sillies,” and “Shake break,” to keep them moving throughout the hour long program.
The new program is an updated version of the one for younger children with more “age appropriate,” activities according to Graf.
The main difference is, instead of learning songs, that the children watch work out videos and try to follow along.
Children are encouraged to wear light clothes, work out shoes and be prepared to sweat.
The story time for the 2-5 age group takes place every Thursday 10-11 a.m.
The first of the new program, Gotta Move 2.0, for older kids, took place June 28 and will continue monthly.