I am loving our weekly baby storytimes! I am really getting to know my regulars and it is so fun to be able to see them in the library outside of storytime and say hi by name.
Here’s what we did this week:
Welcome Rhyme – Welcome, welcome
To the tune of Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.
Welcome, welcome everyone. Now you’re here, we’ll have some fun. First we’ll clap our hands just so. Then we’ll bend and touch our toes. Welcome, welcome everyone. Now you’re here, we’ll have some fun!
ASL – Hello Friends
I like to use sign language in my story time. We go over the signs for: Hello, Friends, Time and Say. Thanks to Jbrary for this one!
Movement Song – Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes by Carol Hammett & Elaine Bueffel from “It’s Toddler Time!”
I really like to get us warmed up with a song.
Movement Rhyme – Open and Shut Them
A very easy rhyme to practice using those fingers, hands and arms.
Finger Play – Where is Thumbkin
Board Books – Peek-a-WHO? by Nina Laden
I pass out individual copies of this one so we can all read together. This also allows one-on-one reading between caregiver and child, as well as letting the little one practice flipping pages.
Song – Bumping Up and Down in My Little Red Wagon by Raffi
Who doesn’t like a good bounce song!
Finger Play – Fe Fi Fo Fum
This is a new one for me but I love it! You can find some more great finger plays here.
Fe fi fo fum. (Touch each finger with thumb-one finger per syllable.) See my fingers. (Hold up four fingers.) See my thumb. (Hold up thumb.) Fe fi fo fum. (Touch each finger with thumb again.)
Bounce – I bounce you here, I bounce you there…
I bounce you here, I bounce you there I bounce you, bounce you everywhere I tickle you here, I tickle you there I tickle you, tickle you everywhere I hug you here, I hug you thereI hug you, hug you everywhere
Big Book – I Went Walking by Sue Williams
We do this one in a round. I say the line and then the caregivers repeat after me.
Lift – Going Up and Down in an Elevator
My ultimate favorite for babies!
Going up and down in an elevator. Up and down in an elevator. Up and down in an elevator. First floor, second floor, third floor, Yay!
Finger Play/Felt Board – Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed I use a felt board but I also show the caregivers how to do this rhyme on their fingers.
Song w/ Shakers – Happy Feet by Joanie Bartels from Dancin’ Magic I love this album
BUBBLES – Bubbles by Parachute Express
My group won’t let me leave without some bubble time!
RHYME – Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star
This is a good rhyme to slow things down and get ready to say goodbye.
ASL – Goodbye Friends
We learn to say goodbye in ASL and use the same signs and song as our hello.
Song – Goodbye, So long, Farewell My Friends by Music Together
Just a slow, goodbye song I always put on as I open the doors to say goodbye.
How’d it go: Oh my goodness this was a big storytime. I don’t mind around 20 babies but 30+ is a lot! That being said, it wasn’t that bad for such a big group. I was able to hold their attention and we all had fun. Note to self–do not overfill the bubble maker!
That’s all for now!
-M-