Toddler Storytime: We're Back!
Time has flown by. This coming Monday starts my second session of toddler story times. I hold "Pajama Time" and it's a storytime held Monday evenings (aimed for working parents). It will be interesting to see how many families I will have in this winter session. Even if my class is too big for this song, I do like beginning my first session with this particular song because it helps me learn names.
Opening/Welcome Song: Roll the Ball
I roll the ball to _____
______ rolls it back to me.
I roll the ball to ____
And ______ rolls it back to me.
Roll the ball, roll the ball
Roll the ball, roll the ball.
“Physical experience helps your baby notice individual sounds that make up words. It also helps use muscles for hand/eye coordination. ”
Action song: The Elevator Song
Oh the city is great
And the city is grand
There are lots of tall buildings (hands motion up)
On a little piece of land
We live way up on the fifty seven floor (make motions gowing up)
This is what we do when we go out the door (open door motion)
Take the elevator up (stand up)
Take the elevator down (kneel down)
Take the elevator up
Take the elevator down
Take the elevator up
Take the elevator down
And we turn around
Action Song: It is Snowing [tune of Frere Jacques]
It is snowing, it is snowing,
On my head, on my head
I need a hat, I need a hat,
On my head, on my head
Other verses: on my feet, on my hands, on my body
I'll be using this puppet (along with motions) for this song. Froggy will be a recurring addition to storytime for a few weeks.
Action rhyme: The Arms Go Up and Down
The arms go up and down, the arms go up and down
Hi Ho the Derry-O
The arms go up and down
Other Verses: Our feet go up and down, Our head goes back and forth,
We all go round and round, We all jump up and down
Book: Freight Train by Donald Crews
I figured I would start off storytime with a nice big colorful book!
I love that last session toddlers would get so excited by what would be hidden inside color Boxes! This time it will be a: Scarf!
Dance Song #1: You've Got the Scarf Blues
Put your scarf to the side
Then back the other way
Keep your scarf a-moving
Now you can sway
Chorus:
You've got the blues, you've got the dancing scarf blues, Yeah!
Just keep your scarf a-moving, you've got the dancing scarf blues.
Put your scarf to the front
And then to the back
Keep your scarf a-moving
Don't you give me no slack
Chorus
Bridge:
Twirl your scarf around, your head around
Your hips around, too, then FREEZE!
It's called the Dancing Scarf Blues.
Then jump up and down, and up'n'down
And up'n'down, FREEZE!
Don't move a muscle, I'm watching you!
Shake your scarf way up high
Then shake it down low.
Shake up'n'down and up'n'down
Look at you go!
Chorus
I'm so excited for this dance number! I know it's going to be so much fun.
I learned in my last sessions that caretakers loved having a lullabyesque quiet dance song they could bond and rock with their child. It helped bring a semblance of order and prepare to transition to shared reading time.
Calming Dance/Rocking Song #2: Lavender's Blue Ukulele Chords
Lavender's blue, dilly dilly,
Lavender's green
When you are King, dilly dilly,
I shall be Queen
Who told you so, dilly dilly,
Who told you so?
'Twas my own heart, dilly dilly,
That told me so.
“Walk through a book with your child. Talk about characters and predict what might happen to them. Make sure you read with expression. ”
Let's Read Together: I Went Walking by Sue Williams
Goodbye Song: Clap Your Hands Together
Clap, clap, clap your hands,
Clap your hands together.
Clap, clap, clap your hands,
Clap your hands together.
La, la, la...
Wave, wave, wave good-bye,
Wave good-bye together.
Wave, wave, wave good-bye,
Wave good-bye together.
La, la, la...
Activity craft: I Went Walking Craft Barn and Animals (from the book) stamps
Playtime: Toys
Booklist Display: Trains, Colors, and Dance
I had such a great small group! It was a completely different experience than fall. I was able to have a more personal connection with the families that visited. I even received a hug. The craft was a huge hit as parents made their own. It was a great start to the storytime season.