Tuesday, February 4, 2025

January Toddler Storytimes


Toddler storytime

Rather than writing up individual storytimes, I decided to write a whole month's worth in one post, since I use the same songs all month and don't really have over-arching themes. [For more details about how I structure toddler storytime and why, see my basic toddler storytime plan.]

This month's songs/rhymes were:

  • Welcome: "Hello My Friends"
  • Warm-Up: "The Wheels on the Bus"
  • Movement 1: "Shake Your Shakers" w/egg shakers
  • Movement 2: "Colors" w/egg shakers
  • Lead-In: "If You're Ready for a Story"
  • Movement 3: "Roly-Poly"
  • Movement 4: "Ten Little Bubbles" with bubbles
  • Good-bye: "Storytime Is Over"

The books and activities for each week (only 3 because of snow cancellation one week):
  1. Book: Bear Has a Belly by Jane Whittingham. A great book for toddler storytime written by a fellow children's librarian! It has photographs of animals for kids to identify and imitate, naming body parts, as well as tips for caregivers. Love it!

    Activities: Animal pop beads, rabbit builders, fish builders, sensory balls & tubes, markers & paper.

  2. Book: Mouse's First Snow by Lauren Thompson & Buket Erdogan. Join little Mouse and his father as he explores a winter wonderland for the first time. This "Mouse's First" series is great for toddlers and younger preschoolers, who are also experiencing many "firsts" of their young lives. 

    Activities: Felt snowflakes and snowmen on the flannel board, giant pom-pom snowballs & buckets to toss into, foam blocks, sensory tubes & balls

  3. Book: Everything a Drum by Sarah Warren & Camila Carrossine. This is a perfect book for toddler storytime or a music & movement program. The story is narrated by a caregiver, and pictures a toddler using everyday items like a drum. After I read the book I led the kids through a few listen-and-repeat simple clapping patterns. While I clapped my hands, I told them they could clap their hands, pat their tummy, or slap their thighs.

    Activities: Assorted musical instruments along with bowls, pots, boxes, bins, and spoons. It was quite the cacophony, but the kids loved it! 


How It Went

These all went really well, though I've had to really dig to build up a list of good books for toddler storytime without repeating to often. I know repetition is good for toddlers, but I also feel that in addition to supporting developing early literacy skills, storytime should also expand caregivers' awareness of a variety of children's books, particularly those in the library's collection.

1 comment:

  1. I'm the same when it comes to story times - I reuse the same songs, and just switch up the books. I've always found themes too restricting, especially when finding good toddler-time books can be a challenge already!

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