Baby Storytime – Monkeys

Check out what my typical storytime looks like here. All the words to my songs and rhymes can be found here.

Opening Song
Welcome Song

Opening Rhyme/Movement
Hands are Clapping

Early Literacy Tip
Repetition is so important for little ones. One of the reasons we sing the same songs and follow the same schedule each week is because it gives children a sense of security in knowing what will happen next. You'll notice that when I stand up and turn to the table a lot of them run up to me. It's because they know Brown Bear, Brown Bear is about to happen! Or if we skip Itsy-Bitsy spider, a baby will always let me know before storytime ends. Keep in mind that when you're drastically changing their normal schedule (for vacation, a party, travelling, etc) it can affect their behavior and mood.

**The last sentence was actually said by a parent who is also a teacher. She felt like it was important to note with the upcoming holidays (this was right before Thanksgiving).**

Shape Game
Today, I hid a monkey! You can find out about this game here.

Rhyme/Movement
Roly-Poly

Book

Monkey & Me by Emily Gravett
This is such a wonderful book and it's full of repetition. I tell parents the chant before I start the book so they'll do it with me. 

Rhyme/Movement
Giddy-up, Giddy-up

Rhyme/Movement
Row, Row, Row Your Boat

Book

Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell
Pop-up books are always a winner in storytime. I wish the pictures were bigger though! I really need to make this into a flannel story like this amazing one. I also have everyone say, "No thank you!" when we send back our animals.

Rhyme/Movement
This is Big

Rhyme/Movement
Where is Thumbkin

Choral Reading
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr.

Egg Shakers
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
Baa, Baa, Black Sheep 

Rhyme/Movement
Zoom, Zoom, Zoom

Playtime!

Baby Storytime – Colors

Check out what my typical storytime looks like here. All the words to my songs and rhymes can be found here

Opening Song
Welcome Song

Opening Rhyme/Movement
Hands are Clapping

Early Literacy Tip
"Talking to your baby is one of the most important things you can do. You're building their vocabulary, and you're also increasing their knowledge of the world around them. When you leave storytime today, try to talk to your baby during your car ride about what you see outside."

Shape Game
Today, I hid a rainbow! You can find out about this game here.

Rhyme/Movement
Roly-Poly

Book

Duckie's Rainbow by Frances Berry
It was really cold this week and clearly the first time a lot of the families had left their house in a few days. I just talked about the colors on each page and then we tried to find something or someone in the room that was the same color. 

Rhyme/Movement
The Noble Duke of York

Rhyme/Movement
Giddy-up, Giddy-up

Rhyme/Movement
Where is Thumbkin

Game
Where is Brown Bear?
Exactly like Little Mouse, Little Mouse- except I used Brown Bear. You would have though I was handing out free candy and puppies the way the kids reacted. We played this 3 times and they still wanted more. I think I might replace the shape game with this during my next spring session.

Rhyme/Movement
This is Big

Choral Reading
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr.
Seriously, buy a copy of this for everyone in your storytime. It is amazing to see how kids run up to grab the book and then immediately run to their caregivers lap. Bill Martin Jr. was a genius.

Egg Shakers
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
Baa, Baa, Black Sheep 

Rhyme/Movement
Zoom, Zoom, Zoom

Playtime!

Flannel Friday – Make A Snowman!

In our "Play and Learn" center we have a flannel board that we switch out every month. This month, I was feeling very uninspired. With multiple days below 0, I felt pretty accomplished simply by not using any sick days. I decided to keep it simple and reuse a flannel I had made for a storytime activity.

Do you want to build a snowman? (Sorry, I couldn't stop myself.)

Simply cut out 2 white circles and an array of accessories. We have eyes, buttons, a carrot, twigs, and a few fun hats for good measure. I plan on adding other silly items throughout the month.

I included the fabulous book Snowmen at Night by Caralyn Buehner. This is a great way to encourage the parents to talk with their child about the snowman they're building. 

I also include some story starters in case they want to make up their own story about their snowman. 

This is a great flannel to use in storytimes too. It's fun to have the kids build the snowman with you or to but items in the wrong places and have them correct you. They LOVE to correct Miss Brooke. The best part about this flannel is that it is simple, quick, and easy! Now, I can spend my time focusing on how much I wish it was summer!

Baby Storytime – Puppies

Check out what my typical storytime looks like here. All the words to my songs and rhymes can be found here.

Opening Song
Welcome Song

Opening Rhyme/Movement
Hands are Clapping

Early Literacy Tip
It was a really cold week and it was definitely the first time most of them had been out of the house. In each session I had to cut a book short. So, my tip was: "Make reading enjoyable! If your little one doesn't want to listen then don't force them too. Let them play and pick up a book yourself. It's wonderful to promote reading at your house simply by letting your child catch you reading!"

Shape Game
Today, I hid a dog! You can find out about this game here.

Rhyme/Movement
Roly-Poly

Book

Puppies- Fiona Watt
This board book is very sweet. It is a little though and works best with a small crowd.

Rhyme/Movement
Giddy-up, Giddy-up

Rhyme/Movement
Row, Row, Row Your Boat

Book

Maggie's Ball by Lindsay Barrett George
An entertaining story about a dog who's looking for a friend and loses her ball. The expressions on the puppy's face are hilarious and the parents got a kick out of it. It is long, so I clipped a lot of the pages.

Rhyme/Movement
This is Big

Rhyme/Movement
Where is Thumbkin

Choral Reading
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr.

Egg Shakers
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
Baa, Baa, Black Sheep 

Rhyme/Movement
Zoom, Zoom, Zoom

Playtime!