storytime katie

For more information on how I plan and prepare my siblings storytimes, check out this introduction post. I starred the materials used in the plan. Some activities go unstarred because I only do this program once a week.

The Plan

Books

Show Me! by Tom Tracy (Board)*
All of Me! by Molly Bang (with some pages clipped)
From Head to Toe by Eric Carle (Board)*

Early Literacy Tip
If we always place objects in a child’s right hand, we unconsciously encourage right-handedness. By alternating hands, we give our children a chance to experience use of both hands.

Theme Extension Activities

Featured CD: The Sneezing Song and Other Contagious Tunes*

Flannelboard: “The Shape Game”*

Props: “Put Your Finger On” (bean bags)

Bounce: “A Smooth Road”*
A smooth road, a smooth road, a smooth road, a smooth road (bounce baby gently)
A bumpy road, a bumpy road, a bumpy road, a bumpy road (bounce baby faster)
A rough road, a rough road, a rough road, a rough road (bounce baby faster)
A hole! (drop baby gently between your knees)
Credit: Co-worker

Lift: “Icka Bicka Soda Cracker”*
Icka bicka soda cracker, icka bicka boo
Icka bicka soda cracker, up goes you! (lift baby)
Icka bicka soda cracker, icka bicka boo
Icka bicka soda cracker, I love you! (hugs and kisses)
Credit: Co-worker

Partnering: “These Are Baby’s Fingers”*
Toddlers were asked to first find baby’s fingers, toes, and belly button. Then they touched each body part during the rhyme and ended with a tickle for baby and a tickle from caregiver to toddler.
These are baby’s fingers (touch fingers)
These are baby’s toes (touch toes)
This is baby’s belly button (touch stomach)
Round and round it goes! (tickle)
Credit: Co-worker

Repeating Extension Activities

• Clap Your Hands
• Open, Shut Them*
• Thumbkin

How It Went

This was a great session to close out with. My toddlers are always so proud when they can identify their body parts and this theme gives a chance to partner with their baby sibling the whole storytime instead of just during the targeted baby/toddler activity. I will miss these kiddos and the program is kind of up in the air as to whether or not it will be back in the fall. Maybe of my toddlers will be old enough for our preschool time by then! Stay tuned!

For more information on how I plan and prepare my siblings storytimes, check out this introduction post. I starred the materials used in the plan. Some activities go unstarred because I only do this program once a week.

The Plan

Books

Higher Higher by Leslie Patricelli (Board)*
Not a Box by Antoninette Portis
Where is Tippy Toes? by Betsy Lewis*

Early Literacy Tip
Singing games and playing music in groups encourages social responsiveness. Such activities also help your child learn to feel comfortable in a group setting.

Theme Extension Activities

Featured CD: Kids In the City*

Flannelboard: “The Shape Game”*

Puppets: “There’s Something in the Garden”

Bounce: “A Smooth Road”
A smooth road, a smooth road, a smooth road, a smooth road (bounce baby gently)
A bumpy road, a bumpy road, a bumpy road, a bumpy road (bounce baby faster)
A rough road, a rough road, a rough road, a rough road (bounce baby faster)
A hole! (drop baby gently between your knees)
Credit: Co-worker

Lift: “Icka Bicka Soda Cracker”*
Icka bicka soda cracker, icka bicka boo
Icka bicka soda cracker, up goes you! (lift baby)
Icka bicka soda cracker, icka bicka boo
Icka bicka soda cracker, I love you! (hugs and kisses)
Credit: Co-worker

Partnering: “These Are Baby’s Fingers”*
Toddlers were asked to first find baby’s fingers, toes, and belly button. Then they touched each body part during the rhyme and ended with a tickle for baby and a tickle from caregiver to toddler.
These are baby’s fingers (touch fingers)
These are baby’s toes (touch toes)
This is baby’s belly button (touch stomach)
Round and round it goes! (tickle)
Credit: Co-worker

Repeating Extension Activities

• Clap Your Hands
• Open, Shut Them
• Thumbkin

How It Went

I really love using Higher, Higher in storytime, but particularly with babies and toddlers. The story is great for toddlers because it’s a “What do you see?” search and it’s fabulous for babies when you lift the baby up as you say “Higher, higher!” Our parents/caregivers really participate in the refrain and all of the giggling babies really make my day. During our second book, Where Is Tippy Toes?, I had almost all of the toddlers sitting at my feet waiting for me to turn the page. Since our second book is mostly for them, I didn’t mind at all!

For more information on how I plan and prepare my siblings storytimes, check out this introduction post. I starred the materials used in the plan. Some activities go unstarred because I only do this program once a week.

The Plan

Books

Rain, Rain Go Away by Caroline Jayne Church (Board)*
Butterfly, Butterfly by Petr Horacek
Dig In! by Cindy Jenson-Elliott*

Early Literacy Tip
When you enjoy a book, let your children know that you like it and why. Sharing your enjoyment gives them a positive attitude about books.

Theme Extension Activities

Featured CD: Rockin’ Red*

Flannelboard: “The Shape Game”*

Bounce: “Giddy-up, Giddy-up”
Giddy-up, giddy-up ride to town (bounce babies on knees)
Giddy-up, giddy-up up and down (lift baby up and down)
Giddy-up fast (bounce quickly)
Giddy up slow (bounce slowly)
Giddy-up, giddy-up, giddy-up, whoa! (dip baby backwards gently)
Credit: Reading With Red

Lift: “Tick Tock”*
Start by swaying baby from side to side
Tick tock, tick tock
I’m a little cuckoo clock
Tick tock, tick tock
Now I’m chiming one o’clock lift once
More verses: Two o’clock, three o’clock
Credit: My co-worker

Partnering: “Peek-a-Boo”*
Toddlers had scarves to hold between themselves and caregiver/baby to play peek-a-boo.
Peek-a-boo, peek-a-boo
I see you! I see you!
I see your button nose and your tiny toes
Peek-a-boo! I see you!
Credit: Read Sing Play

Repeating Extension Activities

• Clap Your Hands
• Open, Shut Them
• Thumbkin

How It Went

We had two visiting families stop in for storytime today! It makes me so excited when new families discover our programming. Both of our books were equally successful this week and worked well. I do want to find a great transition activity that cues my toddlers to join their grown-ups though other than me just saying, “Find your grown-up” before I can segue into “Tick, Tock”. I think would help reduce the time spent re-directing my friends instead of sharing rhymes, songs, books. (Although that interaction is also important!)

For more information on how I plan and prepare my siblings storytimes, check out this introduction post. I starred the materials used in the plan. Some activities go unstarred because I only do this program once a week.

The Plan

Books

Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown (Board)*
Baby Bedtime by Mem Fox*
A Book of Sleep by Il Sung Na

Early Literacy Tip
It takes longer for children who are learning to talk to respond to our questions. We need to be patient and wait anywhere from five to twelve seconds for children to respond.

Theme Extension Activities

Featured CD: Tickles & Tunes*

Flannelboard: “The Shape Game”*

Bounce: “Toast in the Toaster”*
I’m toast in the toaster
And I’m getting very hot!
Tick, tock,
Tick, tock
Up I pop!
Credit: Jbrary

Lift: “Zoom, Zoom, Zoom”*
Zoom, zoom, zoom, we’re going to the moon
Zoom, zoom, zoom, we’re going to the moon
If you want to take a trip,
Climb aboard my rocket ship,
Zoom, zoom, zoom, we’re going to the moon
5, 4, 3, 2, 1, blast off!
Credit: Jbrary

Partnering: “Put Your Scarf On” Tune: If You’re Happy and You Know It*
Toddlers had scarves and I sang through the verse the first time using “your”. Then, for the second time I sang the verse with the same body part as “their”, asking them to put the scarf (gently!) on their sibling’s head. This was MUCH MORE successful with the scarves than with the bean bags!!
Put your scarf on your head, on your head
Put your scarf on your head, on your head
Put your scarf on your head, put your scarf on your head
Put your scarf on your head, on your head
Credit: Modified from Co-worker

Repeating Extension Activities

• Clap Your Hands
• Open, Shut Them
• Thumbkin

How It Went

I know I already wrote about it up there under the “Partnering” section, but the scarves worked SO MUCH BETTER than the bean bags. I’m so happy that I tried again. Since we read Goodnight Moon, we had a lot of sentimental attachment to the book. At least two of the grown-ups “read” the book without looking. I was also able to talk about how wonderful it is for children to hear rhyming words like you do in Goodnight Moon.

For more information on how I plan and prepare my siblings storytimes, check out this introduction post. I starred the materials used in the plan. Some activities go unstarred because I only do this program once a week.

The Plan

Books

Trucks by Byron Barton (Board)*
Freight Train by Donald Crews
Tip Tip Dig Dig by Emma Garcia*

Early Literacy Tip
Knowing shapes lays the foundation for being able to identify letters later on as well as lays the formation for math and geometry. Use blocks or cutout shapes to have your child make something.

Theme Extension Activities

Featured CD: Wiggleworms Love You*

Flannelboard: “The Shape Game”*

Props: “Green Says Go”

Bounce: “Toast in the Toaster”
I’m toast in the toaster
And I’m getting very hot!
Tick, tock,
Tick, tock
Up I pop!
Credit: Jbrary

Lift: “Zoom, Zoom, Zoom”*
Zoom, zoom, zoom, we’re going to the moon
Zoom, zoom, zoom, we’re going to the moon
If you want to take a trip,
Climb aboard my rocket ship,
Zoom, zoom, zoom, we’re going to the moon
5, 4, 3, 2, 1, blast off!
Credit: Jbrary

Partnering: “Put Your Bean Bag On” Tune: If You’re Happy and You Know It
Toddlers had bean bags and I sang through the verse the first time using “your”. Then, for the second time I sang the verse with the same body part as “their”, asking them to put the bean bag (gently!) on their sibling’s head. This wasn’t as successful as I’d hoped, but I would be willing to try it again.
Put your bean bag on your head, on your head
Put your bean bag on your head, on your head
Put your bean bag on your head, put your bean bag on your head
Put your bean bag on your head, on your head
Credit: Modified from Co-worker

Repeating Extension Activities

• Clap Your Hands
• Open, Shut Them
• Thumbkin

How It Went

Spring break time! We make special allowances during this week for siblings and so I had a larger crowd than usual with more preschoolers. It did throw the group dynamic off a bit and Trucks didn’t work as well as the board book usually does — Tip Tip Dig Dig which let the whole group participate was definitely the better choice this week. I also had to do some bubble crowd control and make sure that the preschoolers stayed in one area to not run over my toddlers!

For more information on how I plan and prepare my siblings storytimes, check out this introduction post. I starred the materials used in the plan. Some activities go unstarred because I only do this program once a week.

The Plan

Books

Bear in a Square by Stella Blackstone (Board)*
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr.
Color Zoo by Lois Ehlert*

Early Literacy Tip
Knowing shapes lays the foundation for being able to identify letters later on as well as lays the formation for math and geometry. Use blocks or cutout shapes to have your child make something.

Theme Extension Activities

Featured CD: Wiggleworms Love You*

Flannelboard: “The Shape Game”*

Props: “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” while holding foam stars*

Bounce: “Giddy-up, Giddy-up”
Giddy-up, giddy-up ride to town (bounce babies on knees)
Giddy-up, giddy-up up and down (lift baby up and down)
Giddy-up fast (bounce quickly)
Giddy up slow (bounce slowly)
Giddy-up, giddy-up, giddy-up, whoa! (dip baby backwards gently)
Credit: Reading With Red

Lift: “Tick Tock”
Start by swaying baby from side to side
Tick tock, tick tock
I’m a little cuckoo clock
Tick tock, tick tock
Now I’m chiming one o’clock lift once
More verses: Two o’clock, three o’clock
Credit: My co-worker

Partnering: “Peek-a-Boo”
Toddlers had scarves to hold between themselves and caregiver/baby to play peek-a-boo.
Peek-a-boo, peek-a-boo
I see you! I see you!
I see your button nose and your tiny toes
Peek-a-boo! I see you!
Credit: Read Sing Play

Repeating Extension Activities

• Clap Your Hands
• Open, Shut Them
• Thumbkin

How It Went

This week’s storytime was really fun for my toddlers. They absolutely adored the book Bear in a Square and finding all the shapes in the story. I had one little group of toddlers that crowded around me and my copy of the board book and raced each other to find the shapes. I also had a toddler that wanted to be in my lap instead of sitting by their caregivers during our opening “Name…Oops” rhyme and during “Tick, Tock” — I love that they are so comfortable in class and can also have some one-on-one time.

For more information on how I plan and prepare my siblings storytimes, check out this introduction post. I starred the materials used in the plan. Some activities go unstarred because I only do this program once a week.

The Plan

Books

Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? by Bill Martin Jr. (Board)*
Peek-a-Zoo by Marie Torres Cimarusti
Say Hello Like This! by Mary Murphy*

Early Literacy Tip
Children love being able to identify animals and imitate the sounds they make. Use some stuffed animals and make up new verses for “Old MacDonald”. What noise would each animal make?

Theme Extension Activities

Featured CD: Mr. Jon & Friends*

Flannelboard: “The Shape Game”*

Puppets: “When Animals Get Up in the Morning” (jungle animal edition)*

Bounce: “A Smooth Road”*
A smooth road, a smooth road, a smooth road, a smooth road (bounce baby gently)
A bumpy road, a bumpy road, a bumpy road, a bumpy road (bounce baby faster)
A rough road, a rough road, a rough road, a rough road (bounce baby faster)
A hole! (drop baby gently between your knees)
Credit: Co-worker

Lift: “Icka Bicka Soda Cracker”
Icka bicka soda cracker, icka bicka boo
Icka bicka soda cracker, up goes you! (lift baby)
Icka bicka soda cracker, icka bicka boo
Icka bicka soda cracker, I love you! (hugs and kisses)
Credit: Co-worker

Partnering: “These Are Baby’s Fingers”*
Toddlers were asked to first find baby’s fingers, toes, and belly button. Then they touched each body part during the rhyme and ended with a tickle for baby and a tickle from caregiver to toddler.
These are baby’s fingers (touch fingers)
These are baby’s toes (touch toes)
This is baby’s belly button (touch stomach)
Round and round it goes! (tickle)
Credit: Co-worker

Repeating Extension Activities

• Clap Your Hands
• Open, Shut Them*
• Thumbkin

How It Went

This session’s Siblings class has moved into our large programming room to accommodate the amount of families registering and the strollers/car seats that they bring. We all have more space to move around now! I was split 50/50 with families from the previous session attending and families that were brand-new. Both Polar Bear, Polar Bear and Say Hello Like This! were equally successful. The partnering for today was especially sweet to watch as most of the kids dissolved into giggles. My one “whoops” moment was realizing that I need a second bubble wand since our toddler storytime was taking place at the same time in the smaller programming room. Whoops!