Toddler story time starts back up again this week, and I couldn't be more excited! Because this is such a crazy, active stage in those adorable young brains, we are focusing our themes more around concepts, like size, direction, colors, shapes, and this week's theme: starting and stopping.
Opening Songs:
We love Jbrary! We both found wonderful new opening and closing rhymes to use this story time season. I am totally looking forward to using this in story time and seeing what the kids come up with!
Bread and butter
Marmalade and Jam
Let's say hello as quiet as we can
(whisper: hello)
...loud as we can
...slow as we can
...fast as we can
...high as we can
...low as we can
...nice as we can
The only thing is... I am also really excited about another one of their opening/closing sets:
Hello and Goodbye Song Using Sign Language
Hello, friends. (x3)
It's time to say hello.
Goodbye, friends (x3)
It's time to say goodbye.
The tune is super catchy, and the sign for friends is just too adorable for words. I am either going to tack both of these onto my opening routine, or just see which one sticks. For now, I am totally embracing the crazy-long-opening-medley.
Open Them Shut Them
My version of Open Them Shut Them is a little different than Sara's. I found it on one of our favorite YouTube channels, Intellidancing and love the way it teaches kids about the parts of their bodies, and opposites like up & down and big & little!
Introduction: Since it is the first story time of the season, I prepared a little introduction for the parents, so they know what to expect (and, um, where the bathroom is...). Also, a big goal for both of us this season is getting the parents to actively participate, so in addition to finding ways to re-arrange the room to encourage parents to sit with the kids, we are also going to communicate (over and over and over) the value of their active engagement with their child. This is also where we learn about the weekly theme, and about any upcoming library programs for little ones.
Before-our-first-book-Rhyme: These Are My Glasses
We sing this together before our first book every week, not sure what is my favorite part: seeing the glasses the kids make, or hearing the collective "WHOOP" when we close our books. Either way, pure adorable. Credit due to the fabulous Laurie Berkner.
These are my glasses, this is my book.
I put on my glasses, and open up my book.
Then I read read read, and I look look look.
Then I take off my glasses, and whoop! close up my book!
Book #1: Insert something concretely educational or conceptual here!
Consistent movement activity: DICE PLAY! (pictures forthcoming)
We found these instructions for making our own super fun "Get Up & Move Dice" on the blog Growing a Jeweled Rose, and I am just so excited to start using them in story time! We made two- one with an action word on each side, the other has animals. They are interactive, silly, promote literacy, AND they ask young toddlers to do something they excel at: throwing things!
Rhyme: Preferably something that starts on their feet, and ends on the floor
Book #2: Insert a fun book here- this is the main attraction, y'all!
Dance Party/ Music Time:
This is our opportunity to let loose in the funniest, silliest ways possible. We jam to our favorites, including Jim Gill, Laurie Berkner, Eric Ode, Harmonica Pocket, Hap Palmer, Eric Chappelle- there are so many great voices in children's music! Scarves, shaky eggs, rattles, and head-banging may occur at this time.
Calming rhyme:
Usually something involving cups of tea or two little somethings. Also, I really love pulling this gem out (from Intellidancing):
Can You Find Your Lap?
The repetition is like magic. Calming, focusing magic.Book #3: Usually something super short, if anything at all.
Sometimes-activities:
We borrowed a parachute and a peek-a-boo tunnel from our administrative center, both of which I have never used, but will definitely update you on this development. There is so much potential for cute in this.
Closing Rhyme: Thanks again, Jbrary! We close with the same rhyme we started with, Bread & Butter, but instead of saying "Hello", we say (can you guess it) ....
Welcome and Goodbye Song: Bread and Butter
Marmalade and Jam
Let's say goodbye as quiet as we can
(whisper: goodbye)
...loud as we can
...slow as we can
...fast as we can
...high as we can
...low as we can
...nice as we can
Happy storytiming, friends!
--Emily
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