Toddler Time and Book Babies – April 27 and 29, 2020

Toddler Time and Book Babies – April 27 and 29, 2020

Toddler Time and Book Babies – April 27 and 29, 2020

Toddler Time and Book Babies – April 27 and 29, 2020

Toddler Time for ages 10 to 23 months – 9:45 am Mondays (April 27)

Book Babies for ages 0 to 9 months – 9:45 am Wednesdays (April 29)

The rain in Spring seems to awaken the world outside and the mind of a child.

This week during online Book Babies and Toddler Time, we read books about Spring and rain. We also played with scarves. If you don’t have see thru scarves, a handkerchief, or even light fabric cut into squares will increase their sensory awareness when you play with them.

Remember to sing, talk, read, write, and play with your child every day!

Early Literacy Tip and Activity:

Tip

Scarves are a great way to “play” with your toddler and baby. It enhances their development and builds positive sensory moror skills. “Play allows children to use their creativity while developing their imagination, dexterity, and physical, cognitive, and emotional strength. Play is important to healthy brain development.”

https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/119/1/182

Activity

  • Swaying scarves along with music can encourage self-regulation skills.
  • Playing peek-a-boo helps develop object permanence.
  • Tossing scarves back-and-forth develops fine motor skills.
  • Using scarves to hide objects helps develop focus and memory skills.
  • Dancing with scarves as they follow cues enhancing listening skills.
  • Try these activities from First Things First

Welcome Songs

Here We Are Together

Here we are together, together, together!
Oh, here we are together in our library.
There’s (sing names)
Here we are together in our library!

Hello Everybody

Hello everybody let’s clap our hands*,
clap our hands,
clap our hands.
Hello everybody let’s clap our hands today!

*pat our head, stretch up high, wiggle our fingers, tickle our knees, kick our feet, bounce up high!

S, T, R, W, P

(Sing while pointing to each finger on your child’s hand.)

Sing, talk, read, write, play!
Sing, talk, read write, play!
Sing, talk, read, write, play!
Sing, talk, read, write, play each day!

Books Presented

Bears and Blossoms
by Shirley Parenteau

When Big Brown Bear and the four little bears notice that the trees are shimmering in the wind with spring blooms, they know just how to spend the day: a picnic.

Five Little Ducks
by Raffi

This lovely counting song will invoke squeals of delight from babies and toddlers. They’ll love counting down as first five little ducks, then four, then three, then two, then one go out to play, not to return.

Kitten’s Spring
by Eugenie Fernandes

It’s a bright spring day in the farmyard and Kitten is meeting all sorts of animals and their young, including frogs and tadpoles, owls and owlets and many more.

Find it in our Catalog

The Ants Go Marching
by Priscilla Burris

Preschoolers will delight in this fun, repetitious rhyme with adorable ant characters. Watch as they march one by one, two by two, and all the way up to five by five toward a surprise ending!

Find it in our Catalog

 

Baby Loves Spring
by Karen Katz

It’s springtime and Baby is taking a walk. What does Baby see?
Who is tweeting in the tree?
Look! It’s baby robins!

Find it in our Catalog

Bouncing Rhymes

Dickery Dean

What is the matter with Dickery Dean? (Bounce on knee)
He Jumped right into the washing machine. (Lift up baby).
Chug, chug,chug,chug, chug, chug, chug, chug, (Bounce with turn)
Nothing’s the matter with Dickery Dean.
He jumped in dirty (Lift up baby) and he came out clean. (Hug baby)

-Jbrary.com

Rain is Falling

Rain is falling down, splash!
Rain is falling down, splash!
Pitter, patter, pitter, patter.
Rain is falling down, splash!
Sun is peeking out, peek-a-boo!
Sun is peeking out, peek-a-boo!
Peeking here, peeking there,
Sun is peeking out, peek-a-boo!

-Jbrary.com

Scarf Songs and Rhymes

Jack in the Box

Jack in the box sits so still.
Will he come out?
Yes, he will!

-Traditional

The Rain

Pitter-patter raindrops,
falling from the sky.
here is my umbrella
To keep me safe and dry.
When the rain is over
And the sun begins to glow,
Little flowers start to bud
And grow & grow & grow.

-I’m a Little Teapot by Jane Cobb

Popcorn Kernels

(Tune: Frere Jacques)
Popcorn kernels (wave scarves overhead)
Popcorn kernels
In the pot (bunch scarves up in fists)
In the pot
Shake it, shake it, shake it (shake fists)
Shake it, shake it, shake it
Til they pop (throw scarves)
Til they pop

-Jbrary.com

Rain on the Rooftop

Rain on the green grass
Rain on the tree.
Rain on the rooftop.
But NOT on me!

Rain on the dog…
Rain on the cat…
Rain on the elephant…

~ Traditional

Craft Activities

Craft Activity

Thread scarves or cut up tights through a cardboard tube and let Baby pull it through from the other side. Show them how this is “in” & “out”. It also teaches the elementary procedure of cause and effect; if I pull this way, the end of the scarf will also move in the same direction.

Craft Activity

Cut pieces of fabric or an old shirt into squares and push them into an empty tissue box. Baby will love pulling them out and learning to put them back in. This also teaches the concept of “in” and “out” and encourages fine motor development.

Signing Songs

(tune “The Farmer in Dell”)

“Play”

We love to PLAY like this,
we love to PLAY like this.
When we’re happy and want some fun,
we love to play like this.

“Good Job”

We say GOOD JOB like this,
we say GOOD JOB like this.
When we’ve done something very well,
we say GOOD JOB like this.

Additional Books

Babybug Magazine
March 2015

Read this wonderful magazine aimed at the smallest members of the family.  This issue is all about Spring!

Click to Read This Issue

Catch a Ride on Raindrops by Storyweaver 

Little Blue Truck’s Springtime
by Alice Schertle

Celebrate the beauty of springtime with Little Blue Truck! Young fans will love finding all sorts of baby animals beneath the flaps in this delightful novelty board book.

Find it in our Catalog

Story Time – April 28, 2020

Story Time – April 28, 2020

Story Time – April 28, 2020

Story Time – April 28, 2020

10:30 am ONLINE on Facebook – ages 2 to 5

Where in the world is Cody’s hat? Spin the globe to see where it’s at.

​For the next four weeks in online storytime, we will visit four different biomes around the world. We have included a link to print off a passport so the children can keep a record of all the places we will visit.

Early Literacy Tip and Activity:

Tip

Children are born curious. From a very young age, they show interest in exploring the world around them. Tune into your child’s discoveries and use words to talk with them about the things they see, hear, and feel. 

https://talkingisteaching.org/

Activity

Go on a “Look and Find” walk either outside or in the house and collect a variety of objects. Then talk about how you can sort and categorize the items into groups perhaps by color, texture, or perhaps smell.

Books Presented

What’s the Matter, Habibi?
by Betsy Lewin

Habibi (Arabic for “my darling”) is a camel who usually seems to enjoy his work, giving rides to children. But one day Habibi lies down and absolutely will not get up. “What’s the matter?” asks Ahmed, Habibi’s owner.

Find it in our Catalog

Deserts
by Gail Gibbons

An introduction to the characteristics of deserts and the plants and animals that inhabit them.

Find it in our Catalog

Art and Max
by David Wiesner

Max and Arthur are friends who share an interest in painting. Arthur is an accomplished painter; Max is a beginner. Although Max is inexperienced, he’s courageous—and a quick learner. His energy and enthusiasm bring the adventure to its triumphant conclusion.

The Seed and the Giant Saguaro
by Jennifer Ward

A packrat, carrying fruit from the giant saguaro, is chased by various desert animals and inadvertently helps spread the cactus’s seed. Includes information on saguaros.

Find it in our Catalog

Songs, Rhymes and Fingerplays

S-N-A-K-E

I had a snake
he was so green
as green as snakes can be!
S-N-A-K-E, S-N-A-K-E, S-N-A-K-E,
he is my favorite snake!

Gina Miller

Lizard and the Bugs

5 little bugs on the desert floor
Along came a lizard, and SLURP!!!
There are 4.

4 little bugs on an aloe tree
Along came a lizard, and SLURP!!!
There are 3.

3 little bugs without a clue…..
2 little bugs soaking up the sun….
1 little bug knew he was done…..
Now there are none.

(Use fist of one hand to represent the lizard — have pointer finger move in and out of fist quickly to be the lizard’s tongue. 5 fingers of the other hand are the bugs that “disappear” as the lizard’s fast tongue “gets” them.)

-https://www.preschooleducation.com/sreptile.shtml

Five Little Coyotes

1 little coyote howling at the moon, along came a friend and joined in his tune
(Repeat with 2, 3, 4, 5)

5 Wild Coyotes watch an owl soar, one ran after it and then there were 4.

4 Wild coyotes sniffing at a tree, one chased a mouse and then there were 3.

3 wild coyotes where the clover grew, one chased a mouse and then there were 2.

2 wild coyotes sitting in the sun, one went for a drink and then there was 1.

1 wild coyote howling at the moon, he went to sleep ’cause the sun would be up soon.

~ storytiming.com/2011/11/25/flannel-friday-5-little-coyotes/

Alice the Camel

Alice the camel has 5 humps,
Alice the camel has 5 humps,
Alice the camel has 5 humps.
So go, Alice, go!
Boom, boom, boom, boom!

Alice the camel has 4 humps,
Alice the camel has 4 humps,
Alice the camel has 4 humps.
So go, Alice, go!
Boom, boom, boom, boom!

Alice the camel has 3 humps,
Alice the camel has 3 humps,
Alice the camel has 3 humps.
So go, Alice, go!
Boom, boom, boom, boom!

Alice the camel has 2 humps,
Alice the camel has 2 humps,
Alice the camel has 2 humps.
So go, Alice, go!
Boom, boom, boom, boom!

Alice the camel has 1 hump,
Alice the camel has 1 hump,
Alice the camel has 1 hump.
So go, Alice, go!
Boom, boom, boom, boom!

Alice the camel has NO humps,
Alice the camel has NO humps,
Alice the camel has NO humps.
‘Cause Alice is a HORSE,
Of course!

-Traditional

Craft Activities

Make a Saguaro Cactus out of play dough, and egg tray cup, and spaghetti noodles. Don’t have play dough? Try one of the three recipes listed on this page!

Try making jello playdough! It smells amazing and it is so smooth.

Let’s learn how to make this Easy 2 Ingredient Cloud Dough. It’s very inexpensive to make, can be colored any way you want, and smells so much better than traditional play doughs.

Here’s a recipe for homemade playdough that doesn’t require cream of tartar or cooking on the stovetop AND includes everyone’s favorite instant drink powder: Kool-Aid!

Toddler Time and Book Babies – April 27 and 29, 2020

Toddler Time and Book Babies – April 20 and 22, 2020

Toddler Time and Book Babies – April 20 and 22, 2020

Toddler Time and Book Babies – April 20 and 22, 2020

Toddler Time for ages 10 to 23 months – 9:45 am Mondays (April 20)

Book Babies for ages 0 to 9 months – 9:45 am Wednesdays (April 22)

This week we read books and sang songs about crocodiles, clocks, love, and hugs.

 We also played with homemade shakers. Baby’s and toddlers enjoy shaking things or listening to the rhythm of sound.

Welcome Songs

Here We Are Together

Here we are together, together, together!
Oh, here we are together in our library.
There’s (sing names)
Here we are together in our library!

Hello Everybody

Hello everybody let’s clap our hands*,
clap our hands,
clap our hands.
Hello everybody let’s clap our hands today!

*pat our head, stretch up high, wiggle our fingers, tickle our knees, kick our feet, bounce up high!

S, T, R, W, P

(Sing while pointing to each finger on your child’s hand.)

Sing, talk, read, write, play!
Sing, talk, read write, play!
Sing, talk, read, write, play!
Sing, talk, read, write, play each day!

Books Presented

I Spy With My Little Eye
by Edward Gibbs

Peeking through the pages, children will be able to spot a different colored animal every time, and guess what it is using a simple, factual clue.

Find it in our Catalog

Do Crocs Kiss?
by Salina Yoon

Do crocs cry? Do crocs clap? All I know is crocs go . . . SNAP!

Find it in our Catalog

Mommy Loves
by Anne Gutman and Georg Hallensleben

Animal babies are so adorable that their mommies can’t help but cuddle and love them. In this celebration of parental love, each mommy shows how much she loves her baby in her own special way.

Find it in our Catalog

Little Things Give the Loveliest Hugs
by Mark Sperring

In this tender celebration of love, you’ll find the sweetest bug hug, the cutest fox cuddle, and the gentlest elephant embrace you’ve ever seen.

Bouncing Rhymes

The Grandfather Clock

The grandfather clock goes:
“Tick tock, tick tock, tick tock, tick tock,”
(Sway baby slowly from side to side)
The kitchen clock goes:
“Tick tock, tick tock, tick tock, tick tock,”
(Sway a little faster)
And Mommy’s little watch goes:
“Tick-tick-tick-tick-tick-tick!” (Give a tickle)
Stop!

~ https://storytimerhymes.wordpress.com/tag/clocks/

Shaker and Movement Songs

Going to Kentucky

We’re going to Kentucky,
We’re going to the fair.
We’ll see a señorita with flowers in her hair,
Oh, shake it, shake it, shake it! Shake it if you can.
Shake it like a milkshake and drop it in the can!
Oh, wobble to the bottom,
Wobble to the top,
And turn around and turn around until you make a stop!

~ Traditional

Everyone Can Shake

Everyone can shake, shake, shake
Everyone can shake, shake, shake
Everyone can shake, shake, shake
And now let’s make a stop.
Everyone can tap… clap… wave.

-Jbrary.com

Muffin Man

Do you know the muffin man,
the muffin man, the muffin man?
Do you know the muffin man,
he lives on Drury Lane.
Yes I know muffin man, the muffin man,
the muffin man!
He lives on Drury Lane!
Ice cream… Fruit stand…

~ Traditional

Crocodile, Crocodile

Crocodile, crocodile
Long and green
Crocodile, crocodile
Teeth so mean
Snapping at a fly
Snapping at a bee
Snapping at a frog
But you can’t catch me!

– Traditional

I’ve Gotta Shake, Shake, Shake My Sillies Out

I’ve gotta shake, shake, shake my sillies out
Shake, shake, shake my sillies out
Shake, shake, shake my sillies out
And wiggle my waggles away!

I’ve gotta clap, clap, clap my crazies out
Clap, clap, clap my crazies out
Clap, clap, clap my crazies out
And wiggle my waggles away!

I’ve gotta jump, jump, jump my jiggles out
Jump, jump, jump my jiggles out
Jump, jump, jump my jiggles out
And wiggle my waggles away!

I’ve gotta yawn, yawn, yawn my sleepies out
Yawn, yawn, yawn my sleepies out
Yawn, yawn, yawn my sleepies out
And wiggle my waggles away!

I’ve gotta shake, shake, shake my sillies out
Shake, shake, shake my sillies out
Shake, shake, shake my sillies out
And wiggle my waggles away
And wiggle my waggles away!

-Raffi

Craft Activity

Help your child learn to tell time with these fun pretend watches made from a cardboard toilet paper tube.

Signing Songs

(tune “The Farmer in Dell”)

“Play”

We love to PLAY like this,
we love to PLAY like this.
When we’re happy and want some fun,
we love to play like this.

“Good Job”

We say GOOD JOB like this,
we say GOOD JOB like this.
When we’ve done something very well,
we say GOOD JOB like this.

Early Literacy Tip and Activity:

Tip

The use of small percussion instruments such as bells, rhythm sticks, shakers, and drums helps children with muscular development and coordination.

Activity

Find, fill, and seal a plastic egg, clean vitamin bottle, or something similar for a homemade shaker. Sing and shake familiar songs together such as, “If You’re Happy and You Know it give a shake.” You can make other “percussion” instruments at home like the bottom of a bowl, or a couple of wooden spoons or chopsticks.

Additional Books

From

Maddie Moona’s Menagerie by Book Dash

The Black and White Baby Adventure Book by Jade Maitre 

I Woke Up One Morning by Mary Luciano

Story Time – April 28, 2020

Story Time – April 21, 2020

Story Time – April 21, 2020

Story Time – April 21, 2020

10:30 am ONLINE on Facebook – ages 2 to 5

Crocodiles, clocks, and the letter “C” were our inspiration for Online Storytime this week!

 When walking outside or around your home, take a moment to point out things that begin with the letter “C” such as cat, car, and carrots.

Books Presented

Counting Crocodiles
by Judy Sierra

In this rhymed retelling of a traditional Asian tale, a clever monkey uses her ability to count to outwit the hungry crocodiles that stand between her and a banana tree on another island across the sea.

Find it in our Catalog

What Time is it, Mr. Crocodile?
by Judy Sierra

Mr. Crocodile’s plans to catch and eat some pesky monkeys do not work out and he becomes friends with them instead.

Find it in our Catalog

Open Very Carefully: A Book With Bite
by Nicola O’Byrne

A crocodile falls into a quiet storybook and wreaks havoc on the characters, in a tale that invites youngsters to slam the book shut or find the courage to take a peek inside.

Find it in our Catalog

Bats Around the Clock
by Kathi 
Appelt

Click Dark hosts a special twelve-hour program of American Batstand where the bats rock and roll until the midnight hour ends.

Find it in our Catalog

Fingerplays and Movement Songs

Crocodile

I’m a crocodile, long and green.
With the pointiest teeth that you have ever seen.
When you see me swim by like a log,
Out of the water it’s time to jog.

Tune: I’m a Little Teapot

https://www.jocolibrary.org/kids/storytime-blog/alligators-and-crocodiles-preschool-storytime

Monkeys and the Crocodile

Five little monkeys swinging in a tree,
Teasing Mr. Crocodile: “You can’t catch me!”
Along comes Mr. Crocodile
As quiet as can be and…SNAP! that monkey fell out of that tree!
Four, three, two, one.

-https://kcls.org/content/five-little-monkeys-sitting-in-a-tree/

Crocodile Crocodile

Crocodile Crocodile
(Make your arms into big jaws that open and close and do a clapping rhyme with your hands)
Long and green
Crocodile crocodile
Teeth so mean
Snapping at a cheetah (pretend to snap your jaws)
Snapping at a bee (pretend to snap)
Snapping at a hippo (pretend to snap)
but you can’t catch me! (jump back)

-https://read.poudrelibraries.org/readers/pdf/chompers.pdf

Tick-tock,Tick-tock

Tick-tock, tick-tock
goes the clock
Waiting for someone to
knock, knock, knock.
My, oh, my!
It’s a cat!* (hold sticks up like cat whiskers)

*Bunny (hold sticks up like bunny ears)
Duck (hold sticks up like duck bills)
Walrus (hold sticks up like walrus tusks)
Crocodile (hold sticks up like crocodile snout)

-Jbrary.com

Five Little Monkeys

Alligator in the Elevator

I’ve gotta shake, shake, shake my sillies out

I’ve gotta shake, shake, shake my sillies out
Shake, shake, shake my sillies out
Shake, shake, shake my sillies out
And wiggle my waggles away!

I’ve gotta clap, clap, clap my crazies out
Clap, clap, clap my crazies out
Clap, clap, clap my crazies out
And wiggle my waggles away!

I’ve gotta jump, jump, jump my jiggles out
Jump, jump, jump my jiggles out
Jump, jump, jump my jiggles out
And wiggle my waggles away!

I’ve gotta yawn, yawn, yawn my sleepies out
Yawn, yawn, yawn my sleepies out
Yawn, yawn, yawn my sleepies out
And wiggle my waggles away!

I’ve gotta shake, shake, shake my sillies out
Shake, shake, shake my sillies out
Shake, shake, shake my sillies out
And wiggle my waggles away
And wiggle my waggles away!

-Raffi

Craft Activities

Spend the afternoon learning two crazy monkey songs and making crazy monkey (and a crocodile) puppets.  Put on your own show!

Help your child learn to tell time with these fun pretend watches made from a cardboard toilet paper tube.

Make a fun alligator out of paper plates and googlie eyes.

Learn to tell the time with this online game from ABCYA!

Early Literacy Tip and Activity:

Tip

The use of small percussion instruments such as bells, rhythm sticks, shakers, and drums helps children with muscular development and coordination.

-Megan Dowd Lambert

Reading Picture Books With Children

Activity

Find, fill, and seal a plastic egg, clean vitamin bottle, or something similar for a homemade shaker. Sing and shake familiar songs together such as, “If You’re Happy and You Know it give a shake.” You can make other “percussion” instruments at home like the bottom of a bowl, or a couple of wooden spoons or chopsticks.

Additional Books

Crocodile Encounters! And More True Stories of Adventures with Animals
by Brady Barr

Follow along with National Geographic explorer Brady Barr as he crawls into a muddy hole just barely big enough for his shoulders, and comes face to face with thirteen crocodiles!

Find it the eBook at Overdrive

Toddler Time and Book Babies – April 27 and 29, 2020

Toddler Time and Book Babies – April 13 and 15, 2020

Toddler Time and Book Babies – April 13 and 15, 2020

Toddler Time and Book Babies – April 13 and 15, 2020

Toddler Time for ages 10 to 23 months – 9:45 am Mondays (April 13)

Book Babies for ages 0 to 9 months – 9:45 am Wednesdays (April 15)

In April, we will read books and have activities about things that are lost and found, Spring, crocodiles, and clocks!

We will also learn a new song about the things children need every day for to help them become a happy lifelong learners! These things are: Sing, Talk, Read, Write, and Play.

Welcome Songs

Here We Are Together

Here we are together, together, together!
Oh, here we are together in our library.
There’s (sing names)
Here we are together in our library!

Hello Everybody

Hello everybody let’s clap our hands*,
clap our hands,
clap our hands.
Hello everybody let’s clap our hands today!

*pat our head, stretch up high, wiggle our fingers, tickle our knees, kick our feet, bounce up high!

S, T, R, W, P

(Sing while pointing to each finger on your child’s hand.)

Sing, talk, read, write, play!
Sing, talk, read write, play!
Sing, talk, read, write, play!
Sing, talk, read, write, play each day!

Knee Bounces

The Grandfather Clock

The grandfather clock goes:
“Tick tock, tick tock, tick tock, tick tock,”
(Sway baby slowly from side to side)
The kitchen clock goes:
“Tick tock, tick tock, tick tock, tick tock,”
(Sway a little faster)
And Mommy’s little watch goes:
“Tick-tick-tick-tick-tick-tick!” (Give a tickle)
Stop!

~ https://storytimerhymes.wordpress.com/tag/clocks/

~ jbrary.com

Movement Activities

Sign Language

“Play”

“More”

“All Done”

Books Presented

Found
by Salina 
Soon

When Bear finds a lost stuffed toy bunny in the forest, he begins to worry. After all, the stuffed bunny must feel lonely and want to return safely to its owner and home!

Find it in our Catalog

Peek in My Pocket
by Sarah Weeks

This third collaboration between bestselling creators David A. Carter and Sarah Weeks offers toddlers a hide-and-seek guessing game with exciting, ingenious pop-ups and fun touchable features.

Hide and Seek Baby
by Fiona Watt

Baby’s blanket goes everywhere with him in these interactive board books featuring a soft blanket to feel and lift.

Three Little Kittens
by Lorianne Siomades

In this abbreviated version, the trio loose their mittens, get scolded, discover the mislaid items, and are last seen happily munching on their pie.

Additional Book

Here is an additional online book from Storyberries.com:

Baby’s First Family Photo by Book Dash

Early Literacy Tip and Activity:

Tip

Knee bounces are great activity to add to your daily play routine with your toddler. They “are a great way for children to feel the beat with their entire body in addition to hearing the rhymes. A steady beat is reminiscent of their mother’s heartbeat, a sound that provided them comfort in the womb.

~ Jbrary.com

Activity

Knee bounce to this classic rhyme, “London Bridge is Falling Down”. Keep bouncing in time to the beat, then let them “fall down” your legs at the end of the verse. Keep the same bouncing rhythm for the second verse, then lift them high at end.

Story Time – April 28, 2020

Story Time – April 14, 2020

Story Time – April 14, 2020

Story Time – April 14, 2020

10:30 am ONLINE on Facebook – ages 2 to 5

This week, we explored what happens when we get lost!

Oh, no! I’m lost! Or… maybe I’m found! Inspired by the lost boys in J.M. Barrie’s novel, Peter Pan and the letter “B”, this week’s online story time was about things that are lost and found. Talk with your child about what they need to do if they get lost and cannot find you. This article at www.kindercare.com has some excellent tips on what you can teach and practice with your child at home before they get lost.

We’ve also included links for instructions on making a lost boy hat, an I-spy game, a coloring page, and even a hidden pictures game! We also learned a new song about the things children need every day to help them become happy lifelong learners! These things are: Sing, Talk, Read, Write, and Play.

Craft Activities

Hats are a great way to add character and fun to a party, play, or dress-up game. Instead of buying hats from the store, however, consider making your own. It is a simple, fun project suitable for all ages. 

The concept is that the kids gather a bunch of stuff and glue it to a piece of paper. They can then play I Spy with their piece of art. This easy and inexpensive craft idea is great for kids age 3 and older.

Need a game for siblings to play? Check out this I-Spy tray. Endless possibilities! Hundreds of choices to spy!

Hidden pictures online games.  Brought to you by our friends at Highlights Kids Magazine!

Fingerplays and Movement Songs

Fingerplay

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, Once I Caught a Fish Alive
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, Once I caught a fish alive,
6, 7, 8, 9, 10, Then I let it go again.
Why did you let it go?
Because it bit my finger so.
Which finger did it bite?
This little finger on my right.

-https://childhood101.com/15-preschool-counting-songs-fingerplays-rhymes

S, T, R, W, P

Sing, talk, read, write, play!
Sing, talk, read write, play!
Sing, talk, read, write, play!
Sing, talk, read, write, play each day!

We’re Going on a Bear Hunt

We’re going on a bear hunt
We’re gonna see a big one
I’m not scared!
Uh oh!
Tall grass!
Can’t go around it
Can’t go over it
Can’t go under it.
We’ll have to go through it
Swish swish swish

We’re going on a bear hunt
We’re gonna see a big one
I’m not scared!
Uh oh,
A river.
Can’t go around it
Can’t go over it
Can’t go under it.
We’ll have to go through it
Splash splash splash

We’re going on a bear hunt
We’re gonna see a big one
I’m not scared!
Uh oh!
Mud!
Can’t go around it
Can’t go over it
Can’t go under it.
We’ll have to go through it
Squish squish squish

We’re going on a bear hunt
We’re gonna see a big one
I’m not scared!
Uh oh!
A cave!
Can’t go around it
Can’t go over it
Can’t go under it.
We’ll have to go through it
Step step step

What’s that?
One wet nose
Two furry ears
Two big eyes!
Uh-oh!
It’s a bear!
Quick!

Back through the cave
Step step step

Back through the mud!
Squish squish squish

Back through the river
Splash splash slash

Back through the grass
Swish swish swish

Run back home
Open the door
Run inside
Close the door
Whew!
Safe at last!

We went on a bear hunt
And we saw a big one.
And I wasn’t scared.

-Rock ‘n Learn

Little Bo Peep

Oh Where Has My Little Dog Gone?

Books Presented

Ruby Finds a Worry
by Tom Percival

Meet Ruby–a happy, curious, imaginative girl. But one day, she finds something unexpected: a Worry. It’s not such a big Worry, at first. But every day, it grows a little bigger . . .

Oliver Finds His Way
by Phyllis Root

Oliver is so intent on following a blowing autumn leaf that he doesnt even notice that hes lost his way. All alone at the edge of the woods, he starts to cry. He cries and cries…

Find it in our Catalog

Pete the Cat and the Missing Cupcakes
by Kimberly Dean

Pete the Cat and his friends are busy as can be baking cupcakes for a party, and Pete cant wait to perform with his groovy band. But some of the cupcakes have gone missing!

Find it in our Catalog

Did You Take the B From My _ook?
by Beck Stanton

OK. Two things you need to know. Firstly, your favourite thing in the whole world is the letter B. And secondly, you’re about to sneeze and all the Bs are going to be blown out of the book.

Find it in our Catalog

Additional Books

Early Literacy Tip and Activity:

Tip

The foundation of early literacy for a child before they reach kindergarten is based on five parts that a child should experience every day.

Those five elements are

1) Sing
3) Talk
3) Read
4) Write
5) Play.

Activity

Find an activity that your child engages in every day, and convert it into one of the early literacy elements described above. For example, when they brush their hair, sing, “This is the way we brush our hair, brush our hair,…” Or, at lunch, talk with your child about where their food comes from, milk from cows or apples from a tree in Washington. You can also have them play shapes on their plate by finding and naming shapes of food.