Baby Story Time – July 17, 2015

Hello Song: Hello, Friends!

Tickles/Songs:

  • Baby put your pants on
  • Two little eyes
  • Head and shoulders
  • Roly poly

Book 1: Let’s Say Hi to Friends Who Fly/ Mo Willems

fly

Bounces:

  • A bouncing we will go
  • Giddyup horsey
  • You be the lemon
  • Trot trot to Boston

Book Two: If You See a Kitten/ John Butler

kitten

Movement Songs:

  • My bonny lies over the ocean
  • What shall we do with lazy Katie?
  • Zoom zoom
  • Elevator song

Soothing songs:

  • Mm-ahh went the little brown bear one day

Goodbye song: Goodbye friends!

I really like branching out and using picture books that aren’t necessarily targeted towards babies in my baby time. I think it’s helpful to model ways in which caregivers can adapt materials for their children when they’re at different ages. I know that several of the parents in my group have older children, so I like to showcase ways in which they can use the same books and songs with all of their children just by making a few adaptations. For example, the Cat the Cat books grow with children – they’re simple and repetitive enough for babies, with big bold text and colorful illustrations, and there are plenty of opportunities for fun animal noises, but they’re perfect for older children who are just learning to read.

Similarly, many of the songs we do in baby time are perfect for older children! While babies love being lifted in “zoom zoom” or “the elevator song”, older kids love jumping instead! Parents can continue using familiar material as their children grow, and can use the same material with several children, just by making a few simple changes. When you’re a busy caregiver, anything that can make life a little easier helps!

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Family Story Time – March 13, 2015

Another Friday, another set of story times! We had a smaller group at family story time today – it’s spring break, and a lot of branches take a story time break, but we decided to motor on through, even with a smaller group than normal. To be honest, though, this smaller size was just about perfect – we had about 65 people in our meeting room, and it was really nice – not too empty, not too crowded. Here’s what we did!

Welcome Song: Hello, Friends

Book 1: Ten in the Den / John Butler

ten

Hand Rhymes

  • I wake up my hands
  • Wiggle your fingers
  • Open-shut them
  • Roly poly
  • Little turtle in a shell, sitting so still…

Book 2: The Wheels on the Bus / Jane Cabrera

wheels

Action Songs

  • Zoom zoom
  • Twinkle twinkle little star
  • If you’re happy and you know it
  • The elevator song
  • Orca whale

Goodbye Song: Goodbye, Friends!

Remarkably similar to last week’s family story time, but I’m still struggling with my voice and my stamina, so I’m sticking to the old standards until I’ve got a bit more of my juice back!

Funny story – a mother came to tell me how her little girl was so upset at the part in “Ten in the Den’ when all the other animals have rolled out of the bed, and it’s just the little mouse alone in the den, missing his friends. So empathetic, and so sweet!

Baby Story Time – February 26, 2015

A very small group for this story time, only 12 in all, but what a sweet, friendly, welcoming group. They made easing back into story times so lovely!

Welcome Song: Hello, Friends!

Touching Rhymes/Tickles

  • Eyes nose cheeky cheeky chin
  • Two little eyes
  • Peter Pickle pumpernickel
  • Head and shoulders

Book 1: If You See a Kitten /  John Butler

kitten

Songs/Bounces

  • A smooth road
  • You be the lemon
  • A hippopotamus got on a city bus
  • The grand old duke of york

Book Two: Monkey and Me /  Emily Gravett

monkey

Movement Songs

  • London Bridge is falling down
  • My bonnie lies over the ocean
  • Zoom zoom
  • The elevator song

Soothing Songs

  • Rain is falling down
  • You are my sunshine

Goodbye song: Goodbye, Friends!

Baby Story Time – February 20, 2015

A story time! Over a month after my last story time, I survived a story time! After bailing on the bigger, more rambunctious family story time, I decided to try my hand at the quieter, smaller, gentler baby time. I survived, and I enjoyed every beautiful minute of it, but let me tell you, it was rough. It was very rough, and I actually had to lie down afterwards and rest, because I was so worn out!

But you know what made it so amazing? After I explained to the families that I was recovering from an extended illness and still didn’t have my full strength back, everyone supported me in the most wonderful ways. Caregivers sang their hearts out so I could rest my voice, and even helped me read the stories! I was welcomed back with open arms, and I can’t wait for next week, when I should will be back in action again!

Because I was still feeling so fragile, I decided to stick with the classics, and only pick songs and rhymes I was sure everyone would know and be able to help with. I made sure to bring the smiles and the laughs, so that everyone would know how happy I was to be with them again – even if my body isn’t quite there yet, my spirit is still strong! 🙂

Welcome Song: Hello, Friends!

Touching Rhymes/Tickles

  • Eyes nose cheeky cheeky chin
  • Two little eyes
  • Roly poly
  • Head and shoulders

Book 1: If You See a Kitten /  John Butler

kitten

Songs/Bounces

  • A smooth road
  • You be the lemon
  • A hippopotamus got on a city bus
  • The grand old duke of york

Book Two: Monkey and Me /  Emily Gravett

monkey

Movement Songs

  • What shall we do with lazy Katie?
  • Zoom zoom
  • The elevator song

Soothing Songs

  • Rain is falling down
  • You are my sunshine

Goodbye song: Goodbye, Friends!

So, friends, what are some of your favourite books for babies? I have my favourites, but I’m always looking for new titles to add to my collection!

Baby Story Time – November 21, 2014

While our family story time shrank a little today, our baby story time had its biggest crowd yet. Most of our babies are pre-mobile, though, so it’s still a very easy-going, manageable group.

Welcome Song: Hello, Friends!

Touching Rhymes/Tickles

  • Wake up, feet
  • Say hello, can you touch your nose?
  • Baby put your pants on

Book 1:Ten in the Den / John Butler

ten

Songs/Bounces

  • A hippopotamus got on a city bus
  • Bumping up and down in my little red wagon
  • Pudding on the plate
  • The grand old duke of york

Book Two: Please, baby, please! / Spike Lee

baby

Movement Songs

  • Love somebody, yes I do
  • Zoom, zoom, zoom
  • The elevator song

Goodbye song: Goodbye, Friends!

We ran out of time today! Ten in the Den was so much fun. All the parents joined in with the singing, and rolled their babies over as we sang “roll over, roll over”. But that book takes a while to sing! I had intended to do a few new soothing songs at the end, but we just ran out of time. We had quite a few new faces in the audience, so we sang everything a few extra times, just to give everyone a chance to participate and feel comfortable.

As I’ve said before, I really feel like I’m finally getting the hang of baby time, and I really look forward to it every week.

I won’t be doing story time next week, as I’ll be off at a Mother Goose training workshop, and I’m going to miss my little group so much, I hope they will miss me!