Toddlers: Winter

For more information on how I plan and prepare my toddler storytimes, check out this introduction post. And for a complete list of the repeating extension activities, visit this post. I starred the materials used in the plan; multiple stars indicate use for more than one session.

The Plan

Books

Cleo In the Snow by Caroline Mockford**
Jingle-Jingle by Nicola Smee*
The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
Under My Hood I Have a Hat by Karla Kushin**

Early Literacy Tip

Scientific studies of the brain suggest that a child’s natural approach to learning is through play. Songs about weather can be followed by games.

Theme Extension Activities

Featured CD: H.U.M. by Carole Stephens

Featured Track: #3 I Can Make a Snowman**

Flannelboard: “Five Little Snowflakes”**

Flannelboard: “Matching Mittens”*

Prop: “Snowflake Circles”**

Puppets: There’s Something In the Snow***
There’s something in the snow, now what can it be?
There’s something in the snow that I can’t really see.
Hear its funny sound…HOWL HOWL HOWL
A wolf is what I found! HOWL HOWL HOWL
(CAW CAW CAW, A cardinal is what I found! / GRR GRR GRR, A bear is what I found! / WADDLE WADDLE WADDLE, A penguin is what I found!)
Credit: Modified from “There’s Something In My Garden” originally found at SurLaLune Storytime

Repeating Extension Activities

• Dance Your Fingers**
• Elevator Song*
• Roly Poly**
• These Are My Glasses***
• This Is Big, Big, Big***

How It Went

Tuesday morning
They absolutely loved “Something In the Garden” today; it made a great guessing game. I had a few screamers today, which parents and caregivers took out of the room. But something about screamers just sets the tone of the room to anxiety, so we listened to “The Mitten Song” off Miss Carole’s CD too. For “Snowflakes Circles”, I passed out white tulle circles for the kids to toss up and down like snowflakes.

Thursday morning (9:30)
My younger kiddos loved the puppets! While I read “Under My Hood I Have a Hat”, I asked parents/caregivers to touch each part of their child’s body. This was a great tip that really kept my youngest group involved enough for a second group! Bravo, kids! One of my girls held my hand during “Tickle the Clouds” and another latched herself onto my legs during bubbles for a long hug…aww!

Thursday morning (10:30)
I specifically picked my “Matching Mittens” flannelboard for this group since they did so awesome with the Stoplight Sorting last week. I did have a young kiddo who tried to come to the 9:30 and cried, and then tried the 10:30 with more crying. Poor kiddo just wasn’t ready for stories. I had big hugs from two of my kids on the way. And! And! My new storytime arrangement (where I removed some tempting items on low shelves) made a huge improvement this whole week!