Tag Archives: virtual baby storytime

Bye again babies! I’m back to toddlers next week, and I am pulling out some of my favorite content in April. We aren’t sure what summer storytimes will bring yet–fewer virtual storytimes? Outdoor storytimes? No more mask requirements from the state? My question of the week: can you require social distancing in a program if your library no longer requires it overall? Or does social distancing in a program just turn into a suggestion that is encouraged by limiting attendance? What is your library doing as you consider returning to in-person programs and events?

More Baby Storytime Content:

• Baby Storytime Music Playlist
• Baby Storytime YouTube Playlist

Baby Storytime Intro Song & Rhyme – Wake Up Toes & We Clap and Sing Hello

Early Literacy Tip: Check out our new 1000 Books Before Kindergarten program!

Book Recommendation: Leo Loves Daddy by Anna McQuinn

Song: Clap Your Hands by Old Town School of Folk Music

Action Rhyme: These Little Fingers

These little fingers go
Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle,
Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle,
Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle
These little fingers go
Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle
And now they’re on my…HEAD!

Continue with: tummy, feet

Bounce: A Bouncing We Will Go

A bouncing we will go,
A bouncing we will go,
Hi ho the derry o,
A bouncing we will go.

Continue with: rocking, tickling

— Find more Baby Bounces in this post. —

Bounce/Movement: Rocking Horse

Rocking horse, rocking horse, to and fro,
Side to side and away we go,
Rocking horse, rocking horse, front and back,
Don’t fall off just like that.

Woah!

— Find more Baby Bounces in this post. —

Song: Tickle Time by Moey’s Music Party

Puppets/Animal Sounds: Do Crocs Kiss? by Salina Yoon

— Find more Book Retellings in this post. —

Manipulative: Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes by Super Simple Songs

Closing Song: If You’re Happy and You Know It by Old Town School of Folk Music

Babies, babies, babies! Continuing the storytime routine with lots of repeated favorites this week (but a new book!). I just wrapped up Brooke Newbery‘s Babies in the Library UW-Madison course, giving me some new ideas to help refresh programming for this age (and so many great play ideas…for whenever play can return!). Everything around programming is a question right now, but I’m looking forward to thinking about ways to increase services for babies in the next few years.

More Baby Storytime Content:

• Baby Storytime Music Playlist
• Baby Storytime YouTube Playlist

Baby Storytime Intro Song & Rhyme – Wake Up Toes & We Clap and Sing Hello

Early Literacy Tip: Sing during everyday activities, like changing a diaper. Singing slows down words.

Book Recommendation: Twinkle, Twinkle, Diaper You! by Ellen Mayer

Song: Row, Row, Row Your Boat by Old Town School of Folk Music

Action Rhyme: Do you Like? (adapted for babies)

Do you like to bounce around?
Bounce around, bounce around?
Do you like to bounce around?
Bounce, and now let’s FREEZE!

Bounce: Giddy Up

Giddy up, giddy up, ride to town.
Giddy up, giddy up, UP and DOWN.
Giddy up fast!
Giddy up slow.
Giddy up, giddy up, giddy up, WHOA! (lift)

— Find more Baby Bounces in this post. —

Bounce/Movement: I’m Toast in the Toaster

I’m toast in the toaster,
I’m getting very hot!
Tick tock, tick tock,
Up I pop!

— Find more Baby Bounces in this post. —

Song: The Tickle Song by Rainbow Songs

Puppets/Animal Sounds: Jump by Scott M. Fischer

— Find more Book Retellings in this post. —

Manipulative: Shakey Shaky by the Wiggles (Shakers)

Closing Song: If You’re Happy and You Know It by Old Town School of Folk Music

Hello babies! A new book and one new-to-me rhyme this week. Looking ahead at Toddler Storytime next month–have you found any great new toddler books lately? I’d love to hear about them in the comments!

More Baby Storytime Content:

• Baby Storytime Music Playlist
• Baby Storytime YouTube Playlist

Baby Storytime Intro Song & Rhyme – Wake Up Toes & We Clap and Sing Hello

Early Literacy Tip: Babies focus on word spoken immediately after their name.

Book Recommendation: I Love You, Baby Burrito by Angela Dominguez

Song: Baby 1, 2, 3 by Peter & Ellen Allard

Action Rhyme: Clap Your Feet

Clap, clap, clap your feet,
Clap your feet together.
Clap, clap, clap your feet,
Clap your feet together.

Clap them high!
Clap them low!
Clap them fast!
Clap them slow!

Bounce: Dump Truck

Dump truck, dump truck bumpin’ down the road.
Spillin’ out gravel as you travel with your load.
Bumpety, bumpety, bump, bump, bump.
Dump truck, dump truck, dump truck,
DUMP!

— Find more Baby Bounces in this post. —

Bounce/Movement: 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)..

— Find more Baby Bounces in this post. —

Song: Grand Old Duke of York by Rainbow Songs

Puppets/Animal Sounds: Brown Bear Brown Bear

Manipulative: Wheels on the Bus by Jay Laga’aia (with scarves)

Closing Song: If You’re Happy and You Know It by Old Town School of Folk Music

More babies! I’m close to a full year of virtual storytimes now–not quite there yet, but more on that soon. There are more than 50 virtual storytime outlines on this blog already! We are now officially one year since my last in-person baby storytime. (And playtime! I miss playtime.) I’m proud of the virtual work I’ve done over the last year, but I am starting to get itchy for some kind of change. I don’t necessarily know if I want things to be what they were, entirely, but I want…something? Hmmmm. Not entirely sure, but for now, more baby content.

More Baby Storytime Content:

• Baby Storytime Music Playlist
• Baby Storytime YouTube Playlist

Baby Storytime Intro Song & Rhyme – Wake Up Toes & We Clap and Sing Hello

Early Literacy Tip: Grasping objects helps build finger muscles that help with writing.

Book Recommendation: Welcome to the Party by Gabrielle Union

Song: What Shall We Do with the Sleeping Baby by Rainbow Songs

Action Rhyme: Zoom Down the Freeway

Zoom down the freeway,
Zoom down the freeway,
Zoom down the freeway,
FAST!

Continue with:
Up goes the drawbridge…a ship is going past.
Down goes the drawbridge…ship has passed at last.
Zoom down the freeway!

Bounce: A Hippopotamus on a City Bus

A hip, a hip, a hippopotamus
Got on, got on, got on a city bus
And all, and all, and all the people said,
“You’re squishing us!” (hug)

A cow, a cow
A cow got on the bus
And all, and all, and all the people said,
“Mooooove over!“ (tilt sideways

A sheep, a sheep,
A sheep got on the bus
And all, and all, and all the people said,
“Baaaack up!“ (lean back)

— Find more Baby Bounces in this post. —

Bounce/Movement: Humpty Dumpty

Rock and rock and rock on the wall
Rock and rock; I hope we don’t fall!

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall (tilt backwards or sideways)

All the kings horses and all the kings men
Couldn’t put Humpty together again!

— Find more Baby Bounces in this post. —

Song: Hands Together, Hands Apart by Rainbow Songs

Puppets/Animal Sounds: Dear Zoo

Manipulative: Stuffed Animals & Little Red Wagon by Old Town School of Folk Music

Closing Song: If You’re Happy and You Know It by Old Town School of Folk Music

Hello? Babies? I’m back! It has been a few months since I’ve planned a Baby Storytime program (at our library, that means ages 0-23 months). I’m happy to get back into the groove. Much of this week is repeated content that I am very familiar with, as I have Pigeon Storytime on Saturday (well, today by the time this is posted!), so I wanted to make this storytime as easy as possible.

More Baby Storytime Content:

• Baby Storytime Music Playlist
• Baby Storytime YouTube Playlist

Baby Storytime Intro Song & Rhyme – Wake Up Toes & We Clap and Sing Hello

Early Literacy Tip: When playing, have fun making noises like animal sounds or truck sounds. Hearing different noises and experiencing different pitches and volumes helps baby’s language development.

Book Recommendation: The Baby Goes Beep by Rebecca O’Connell

Song: Wheels on the Bus by Jay Laga’aia

Action Rhyme: Baby Hokey Pokey

You put your arms up,
You put your arms down,
You put your arms up,
And you wave them all around
You wiggle, wiggle, wiggle,
And you tickle, tickle, tickle
That’s how the baby pokey goes (clap along)
Yeah! (arms in the air)

Continue with: legs, whole baby

Bounce: Tiny Little Babies

Tiny little babies love bouncin’ bouncin’,
Tiny little babies love bouncin’ so.
Tiny little babies love bouncin’ bouncin’
Tiny little babies love bouncin’ yeah.

Bounce to the left,
Bounce to the right,
Now hug that baby nice and tight.

— Find more Baby Bounces in this post. —

Bounce/Movement: Tick-Tock

Tick-tock, tick-tock,
I’m a little cuckoo clock.
Tick-tock, tick-tock,
Now it’s almost one o’clock.
Cuckoo!

— Find more Baby Bounces in this post. —

Song: I Wake Up My Hands by Rainbow Songs

Puppets/Animal Sounds: Who’s in the Barnyard?

Manipulative: Shakers & Baby Loves Beignets by Jazzy Ash

Closing Song: If You’re Happy and You Know It by Old Town School of Folk Music

My last Baby Storytime for 2020! (Well, maybe, you never really know until the year is done.) Storytimes are a bright spot in my weeks as everything pandemic picks up here in Ohio (and around the United States and much of the world). This is a hard week. My library just reclosed to the public for browsing and computers, which takes a bit of the pressure off. Good luck to everyone out there–we all need it.

More Baby Storytime Content:

• Baby Storytime Music Playlist
• Baby Storytime YouTube Playlist

Baby Storytime Intro Song & Rhyme
(Wake Up Toes and We Clap and Sing Hello)

Early Literacy Tip: Looking for ways to keep your little one engaged? No need to purchase fancy toys—make great DIY activities from around the house objects. Check out our YouTube channel for ideas.

Book: What Is Baby Going to Do? by Laura Knowles

Song: Hands Together, Hands Apart by Rainbow Songs

Action Rhyme: Well Hello Little Baby

Bounce Rhyme: Hippity Hop

— Find more Baby Bounce Rhymes. —

Bounce: Bouncing, Bouncing

— Find more Baby Bounce Rhymes. —

Song: Shake Your Sillies Out by Rainbow Songs

Puppets: Do Sharks Bark? by Salina Yoon

— Find more Book Retelling activities. —

Manipulative: What Shall We Do With The Sleeping Baby? by Rainbow Songs

Closing Song: Skinnamarink

I’m starting to miss seeing the baby’s reactions. I know many people have been saying that for months, but I genuinely don’t mind–and in some ways really enjoy–virtual storytime. My nerves come from people staring at me, and, even though I am being seen by the internet, I can’t see the people watching, so I’m not self-conscious. The lack of feedback is hard, and it makes it difficult to really know if any of my new rhymes or books or animal activities are successful with my intended age range, but I am more willing to try new things because I won’t receive an immediate negative reaction. Does that make sense? Or am I just rambling as my brain tries to rebuild after election week 2020?

More Baby Storytime Content:

• Baby Storytime Music Playlist
• Baby Storytime YouTube Playlist

Baby Storytime Intro Song & Rhyme
(Wake Up Toes and We Clap and Sing Hello)

Early Literacy Tip & Book: Baby Loves Fall by Karen Katz

Early Literacy Tip: Babies love to take things in and out of larger containers. This helps build understanding of spatial concepts like in, out, behind, under, and over—all of which are important for brain development.

Song: She’ll Be Coming ‘Round the Mountain by Old Town School of Folk Music

Action Rhyme: These Little Fingers

— Discover more Fingerplays. —

Bounce Rhyme: The Bouncing Song

— Find more Baby Bounce Rhymes. —

Bounce: Dump Truck

— Find more Baby Bounce Rhymes. —

Song: Wiggle It! by Patty Shuka

Puppets: Seals on the Bus by Lenny Hort

— Find more Book Retelling activities. —

Manipulative: Shaky Shaky by the Wiggles

Closing Song: Skinnamarink

More Baby Storytime fun in November! I am particularly happy with adapting Jane Cabrera’s Row Row Row Your Boat into an animal sounds puppet activity. I’ve been waiting to adapt that one for a while!

More Baby Storytime Content:

• Baby Storytime Music Playlist
• Baby Storytime YouTube Playlist

Baby Storytime Intro Song & Rhyme

Early Literacy Tip: Hearing and making animal sounds helps your child hear different kinds of sounds in language.

Book: Whose Nose and Toes? by John Butler

Song: Clap Your Hands by Old Town School of Folk Music

Action Rhyme: Clap, Clap, Clap Your Hands

Bounce Rhyme: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 I Caught a Fish Alive

— Find more Baby Bounce Rhymes. —

Bounce: Here We Go Up, Up, Up

— Find more Baby Bounce Rhymes. —

Song: Put Your Baby in the Air by Caspar Babypants

Puppets: Row, Row, Row Your Boat by Jane Cabrera

— Find more Book Retelling activities. —

Manipulative: Got the Wiggles by Bobs and Lolo

Closing Song: Skinnamarink

Taking another baby storytime break after this set. I squeezed a few fall activities in this time, and I am very excited for a month of fall and spooky toddler storytimes. I was also super excited for the I Spy on the Farm activity (pictured above, video below) that I wanted to squeeze in before these all have to be filmed at work, and I can’t get quite as creative with the space.

More Baby Storytime Content:

• Baby Storytime Music Playlist
• Baby Storytime YouTube Playlist

Baby Storytime Intro Song & Rhyme

Early Literacy Tip: When talking to your baby, make eye contact. Babies learn a ton from facial expressions.

Book: The Babies and Kitties Book by John & Molly Schindel

Song: If You’re Happy and You Know It by Old Town School of Folk Music

Action Rhyme: Apples in a Bowl

Bounce Rhyme: Zoom Zoom Zoom

— Find more Baby Bounce Rhymes. —

Bounce: Here’s a Little Pumpkin

— Find more Baby Bounce Rhymes. —

Song: Grand Old Duke of York by Rainbow Songs

Puppets: I Spy on the Farm by Edward Gibbs

— Find more Book Retelling activities. —

Manipulative: Shakers (Shake It Baby, Shake It by Rainbow Songs)

Closing Song: Skinnamarink

What is the best way to label baby storytime outlines? I don’t use themes, but does the current weekly title make sense? Should I change the titles to the title of the book I used? Now that I’ve been at this for a while, I’m starting to doubt my blog organization skills. It’s starting to remind me of my closet that I reorganize once a year.

I didn’t actually present this storytime (I was sick!), but I still thought I would share the outline and videos with all of you.

More Baby Storytime Content:

• Baby Storytime Music Playlist
• Baby Storytime YouTube Playlist

Baby Storytime Intro Song & Rhyme

Early Literacy Tip: Look in the mirror and name body parts. Ask questions like “Where is baby’s nose?” Then point to your child’s nose (and your nose!).

Book: Look! Babies Head to Toe by Robie H. Harris and illustrated by Anoosha Syed

Song: Wheels on the Bus by Laurie Berkner

Action Rhyme: One, Two, Peek-A-Boo!

Bounce Rhyme: Jelly on a Plate

— Find more Baby Bounce Rhymes. —

Bounce: A Hippopotamus Got on a City Bus

— Find more Baby Bounce Rhymes. —

Song: Baby 1, 2, 3 by Peter & Ellen Allard

Puppets: Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? by Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle

— Find more Book Retelling activities. —

Manipulative: Stuffed Animals (Little Red Wagon by Old Town School of Folk Music)

Closing Song: Skinnamarink