Say you're at storytime/circle time/etc with your child, and they start making noise, do you intervene straight away (further interrupting the flow of the story/activity) or do you wait for an appropriate break to dive in and tell them off?

[Bueller]

I hope that makes sense! Just wondering if I'm doing the right thing.

Was asked to leave storytime at the library today cos DD was being disruptive and feel like the world's worst mother atm.

[TwigorTreat]

straight away

[IdrisTheDragon]

If I was at a storytime and either DS or DD made a noise that disturbed others I would take them away from the other children straight away (they would probably make a lot of noise but they would hopefully make most of it further away from the other children).

[Bueller]

right, thanks. will do that from now on. must overcome my timidness!

don't think we'll be going back there again anyway!

[skidaddle]

oh you poor thing - I always find these situations really awkward.
How old is your dd?

[TwigorTreat]

why wouldn't you go back?

children get loud, if you are seen to be dealing with it it's fine .. you just didn't know / weren't sure of the protocol .. now you know go back (if you enjoyed it that is?)

what are you timid about? dealing with your own child? ... you'll get used to it ..

don't worry we all have the same experience

[Bueller]

she's only 2.5 - my PFB!

I'm afraid I rather childishly flounced out because I tried to explain that she is only little (as she is so tall she is often taken for 3.5 or older) but it must have come out wrong because the librarian got huffy with me. So I just grabbed DD and left. ho hum.

[fingerwoman]

agree with twig, don't worry about going back.
make sure you sit near your kids so that you can intervene if necessary.

how old is your DD?
we go to toddler singing/story time and it's usually totally manic but no-one minds

[fingerwoman]

oh same age as my ds. at ours hardly any of them sit still. they're too little for formal sitting in a circle story type stuff I think.

were all the other kdis well-behaved?
I do try and grab DS and quieten him if he is being particularly shouty- but think it's a bit unreasonable to expect littlies to sit quietly for a whole half hour or however long it is

[seeker]

Straight away. It might be short term more disruptive, but it's over quicker, and the other children won't be so disturbed. It also gets the lesson home to the disruptive one better.

Pretty grim for you though - I sympathize!

I was at a science fair yesterday and they had this fab giant tent thing that you sat in in the dark while they projected stars onto the ceiling and told you about them. It was completely spoiled for me because so many children wouldn't listen, and were chatting over the commentary, and even worse, deliberately making their flashing trainers light up so you couldn't see the stars properly. Their parents were there, and did nothing - even when the man running the event asked them to. They weren't little childern either - I don't think anyone was younger than 6.I used the cover of darkness to let out a very stern ex teacher "Shhhhh!!!!" which worked for five minutes or so!

[foxinsocks]

lololol

poor you

you know, it happens. It may even happen again .

Was it the under 5s storytime? We went to one where someone got asked to leave. I think it's quite hard to expect all under 5s to be quiet but it's good to try and learn so just grab her quickly next time!

[Bueller]

the librarian seemed to want absolute silence - which is no good for my DD! I think they must just want older children really.

It's a real struggle finding appropriate activities for her though, especially now the weather is turning colder. everything is geared up for either babies or 3+ around here, very little for the inbetweeners, especially if they are, shall we say, spirited!

thanks for all your replies, this is helpful for me as I don't know many other mums of 2 year olds to compare notes with!

[sandyballs]

You poor thing. Don't be put off. 2.5 is very young to keep quiet.

One of my DDs used to be awful at these type of things. I remember her going through a dreadful phase - taking great delight in knocking over all the newly walking tiny tots. She'd stroke their hair and lull them into a false sense of security then wham, they'd hit the deck and she'd laugh and laugh. I was mortified, convinced she was a devil child. The other mums agreed.

Do go back, don't let it put you off, everyone has been there.

[seeker]

I do thing 2.5 is a bit little to expect total silence though! I'd go back but have her sitting on my lap rather than with the other children - it's easier to keep control then!

[perpetualworrier]

Try a different library!

I went to parent and toddler time (run at all Essex Libraries) from when my eldest was about 7 months, until they started school.

Kids didn't all sit still and quiet of course, but they had short stories, often with flaps and rhymes they could join in. If one of mine was very disruptive, I would pick them up without speaking and take them outside for a break, but it would have to be more than just a bit of calling out.

The great part of it for me was the realisation that absolute silence is not required in libraires any more and that they're actually very welcoming for children. Let's face it, if it wasn't for the children, most libraies would be empty most of the time.

Is there another one locally you could try?

[Bueller]

LOL at your DD sandyballs

My DD was blowing raspberries at the other children! I hung back hoping she would stop, as to get to her would have involved climbing over several boxes of books, loads of parents and children. But she didn't, and the librarian lost it and told her and another boy to leave. I'm afraid I didn't deal with it very well, I should have just said sorry straight away, grabbed DD and taken her to the back of the room. Next time I will dive in straight away!

[Bueller]

There are a couple of other libraries I could try, maybe it will be more interactive and suitable for DD. I don't think she's physically capable of sitting quietly for half an hour.

[kindersurprise]

Half an hour is really long to expect a 2yo to sit quietly. I do not know any children this age who would manage that.

I give English lessons to small children and the lessons are 45 mins. We do loads of fun activities, drawing, singing, dancing, etc. I do not expect the children to sit for longer that 3 - 5 mins at one activity (except perhaps drawing or glueing). We also have a 10 - 15 minute free play time in the middle to let the children have a break.

I think that the librarian was a bit unreasonable to throw your DD out because she was blowing raspberries. I was imagining a toddler wrecking session with books thrown off shelves and really rowdy behaviour when I read your OP.

If I were you I would definately look for a different library, the one you were at seems geared to older children.