I don’t write up weekly storytime reports, as I don’t theme my storytimes, and I repeat quite a lot of content week to week and month to month. While two back to back storytimes contain different content, the first storytime of December and the first storytime of January may have many similar elements.
Generally, I think of storytimes in “seasons.” (January-April, summer, and August-December). In each season, I try not to repeat the book I use. However, the set of books used from January-April will look very similar to the set of books used in August-December. Summer is essentially a mixture of my favorite activities that work best with large crowds (especially since I will typically only present about four storytimes in the summer due to our staff size and reduced schedule). In the two longer “seasons”, I make an effort to rotate through about six manipulatives and to take about a month between reusing a rhyme or song (except for the rhymes and songs that are repeated week to week).
Some things that have changed since my last baby storytime outlines:
- For simplicity, we have changed our baby storytime name from Wee Wonders to Baby Storytime.
- The program is more clearly defined for ages 0-24 months. We used to list the ages as 0-2, and we had more two-year-olds attending the program than we do now.
- My co-presenter and I worked together to create a core outline that we use for our baby storytimes. Our powerpoint layout, opening song, opening rhyme, number of books, and activity order is always the same. We have slightly different endings because I don’t quite have the confidence to free dance at the end of my storytime (with bubbles and music), but I am hoping to get to that point in the next few weeks.
The songs, rhymes, stories, and activities I used for a 25-minute baby storytime, followed by 20 minutes of free play in January 2020 are below. Our baby storytime is for ages 0-24 months, with most children being 12-24 months old. Approximately 68 people attended this storytime, including about 35 babies.
My powerpoint is available here:
Room Setup: Doors open about 5 minutes before storytime. Powerpoint slides are displayed on a smartboard at the front of the room with words to all songs and rhymes. As folks enter, two bubble machines are hard at work in the front of the room while baby songs play from the department iTunes account.
Welcome Song: Wake Up Feet (play from 0:14 to 1:00)
Wake up feet, wake up feet
Wake up feet and wiggle, wiggle, wiggle
Wake up feet, wake up feet
Wake and wiggle in the morning.
Continue with: Legs, Arms, Hands
Welcome Rhyme: Clap and Sing Hello
We clap and sing hello,
We clap and sing hello,
With all our friends at storytime,
We clap and sing hello!
Continue with: kick and sing hello, wave and sing hello
Focused Early Literacy Tip: The shape of the human face is the first thing a baby learns to recognize. Young babies focus best of faces and objects held 8-10 inches away.
Book: Toes, Ears, & Nose! by Marion Dane Bauer
Song: Row, Row, Row Your Boat from Songs for Wiggleworms
Body Rhyme: 1 Little, 2 Little, 3 Little Finders
1 little, 2 little 3 little fingers
4 little, 5 little, 6 little fingers
7 little, 8 little, 9 little fingers
10 little fingers on my hand.
They wiggle and they wiggle and they wiggle all together.
They wiggle and they wiggle and they wiggle all together.
They wiggle and they wiggle and they wiggle all together.
10 little fingers on my hand.
Continue with: Clap, Tickle
Song: If You’re Happy and You Know It (sang without music)
Body Rhyme: Slowly, Slowly
Slowly, slowly, very slowy
Creeps the garden snail.
Slowly, slowly, very slowly
Up the wooden rail.
Quickly, quickly, very quickly
Runs the little mouse.
Quickly, quickly, very quickly
Round about the house.
Song: What Shall We Do With the Sleeping Baby by Rainbow Songs
Movement Rhymes: This portion of my storytime involves 2-3 rhymes that specifically focus on bouncing, swaying, or tilting to the rhythm of the words. I talk about how these types of rhymes help develop phonological awareness.
- Tick-Tock
Tick-tock, tick-tock, (sway)
I’m a little cuckoo clock.
Tick-tock, tick-tock,
Now it’s almost one o-clock.
Cuckoo! (lift) - Five Little Riders
Five little riders on a nice fall day (bounce)
Jumped on their ponies and rode far away.
They galloped in the meadow.
They galloped up a hill (lift)
They galloped so fast (fast)
That they all took a spill. (tip over)
- Two Little Boats
(tilt forward and backward)
Two little boats went out to sea.
All is calm as calm can be.
(tilt side to side)
Gently the wind begins to blow.
Two little boats rock to and fro.
(Bounce up and down)
Loudly the wind begins to shout!
Two little boats they bounce about!
STOP! Goes the storm, the wind, and rain. (freeze)
Two little boats sail on again. (rock forward and backward)
Puppet Time: Who’s in the Barnyard?
An oink, a moo
A cockle-doodle-doo
Who’s in the barnyard
Playing peekaboo?
This week’s friends: Cow, Pig, Horse, Dog, Cat
Manipulative Time: Shaker Eggs
- Manipulative Rhyme: We Shake and Shake
We shake and shake and shake and stop.
We shake and shake and shake and stop.
We shake and shake and shake and shake and shake and shake and shake and shake and shake and shake and STOP!
Continue with: Tap, Bounce
- Manipulative Song: Shake It Baby, Shake It by Rainbow Songs
Closing Song: Skinnamarink by Sharon Lois and Bram
Discovery Time Activities: Discovery Time is 15-20 minutes of free-play at the end of storytime that encourages parents to have time to talk to one another and for parents to interact with their children. I try to include a variety of fine motor, gross motor, and sensory activities that appeal to my wide age range as well as a mixture of purchased toys and items that parents can remake at home. This week’s activities included:
- Cereal Boxes and Straws
- Ball Pit Balls and Pool Noodle Pieces in Baby Pools
- Tumbling Mats with Soft Blocks
- Sensory Tiles
- Sensory Bottles
- Pom Pom Drop
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