OCTOBER Book Babies + Toddler Time: Opposites

by | Oct 4, 2023 | Blog, Book Babies, Kid's Corner, Toddler Time | 0 comments

Children love learning about the world around them, and using concept words with compare/contrast are a great way to help them see things differently. So, try talking about movement, textures, feelings, etc. with its conceptual opposite such as, “Look at the car speeding by! It’s fast! And we are walking slow, so we can be careful. Fast and slow! Oh, there’s so much we can know!”

Book Babies: Wednesday @ 9:30am in Community Room

Ages 0 – 10 months

Toddler Time: Monday & Tuesday @ 9:30am in Community Room

Ages 11 – 23 months

 

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!

Sing, Talk, Read, Write, Play

TIP

Using concept words with your children helps to expand their vocabulary. Children need a large vocabulary to be able to learn to read and, just as important, to understand what they read. We want them to learn not only ice is cold and fire is hot, but also that hot and cold are opposites. Concept words show relationships between things.

Activity

Sing, “The Grand Old Duke of York.” You can do it as a knee bounce lifting baby up for “up” and sliding baby down on your legs for “down. Or you can read a book together that introduces concepts such as size, opposites, etc.

Books Presented

Cover of Opposites by Robert Crowther.

Opposites by Robert Crowther

Happy or sad? Old or new? Empty or full? Pull a tab, and a bright green crocodile’s jaws go from shut to open, revealing a huge pink mouth lined with sharp white teeth. See that pretty little hummingbird? Flip a flap and a big long-necked ostrich takes its place. Now turn a wheel, and you’re in for a carnival ride, circling up and down. From noted novelty-book artist Robert Crowther comes a hands-on book that makes the concept of opposites crystal clear to even the youngest readers.

Cover of Where is Green Sheep by Mem Fox.

Where is the Green Sheep? by Mem Fox

A story about many different sheep, and one that seems to be missing.
Opposites by Sandra Boynton

Opposites by Sandra Boynton

Takes a child through pairs of opposite words.

Up, Up, Up, Down by Kimberly Gee.

Up, Up, Up, Down by Kimberly Gee

Illustrations and easy-to-read text follow a baby and father through a day filled with ups and downs, ons and offs, and plenty of fun.

Olivia's Opposites by Ian Falconer.

Olivia's Opposites by Ian Falconer

Olivia the piglet introduces the concept of opposites by demonstrating word pairs.

Quiet, Loud by Leslie Petricelli.

Quiet, Loud by Leslie Petricelli

Some things are quiet. Some things are loud. But everything is fun!

Big Fish, Little Fish by Jonathan Litton.

Big Fish, Little Fish by Jonathan Litton

Different species of fish introduce opposites to readers.

What's Up, Duck? A Book of Opposites by Tad Hills.

What's Up, Duck? A Book of Opposites by Tad Hills

 
In this ALA-ALSC Notable Children’s Book, Duck carries an oh so heavy Goose, while Thistle easily balances a light-as-a-feather feather. Thistle is one fast bird, but Duck is slooo-w. And when Duck is sound asleep, Goose is wide awake. With a simple text and colorful illustrations–plus the inimitable characters, of course–here’s a wonderful, and humorous, introduction to an important concept.

Songs, Rhymes, and Fingerplays

Bouncy, Bouncy Baby

Bouncy, bouncy baby. Bouncy, bouncy baby
Up and down, up and down.
Bouncy, bouncy baby.
Hippity hop little one. hippity hop little one
Back and forth, back and forth.
Hippity hop, little one.
Bippity bop, baby.  Bippity bop, baby
Jiggity, joggity, jiggity, joggity
Bouncy, bouncy…BOOM!

Credit: Pawling Free Library

Roly Poly

(Tune: “Are You Sleeping?”)
Roly poly, roly poly
Up, up, up,  up, up, up
Roly roly poly roly roly poly
down, down, down
down, down, down

Roly poly, roly poly
out, out, out, out, out, out
Roly roly poly, roly roly poly
in, in, in
in, in, in

Roly poly, roly poly
fast, fast, fast, fast, fast, fast
Roly roly poly, roly roly poly
slow, slow, slow
slow, slow, slow

Credit: Verona Storytime: Opposites Story Time – Baby

This is Big, Big, Big

This is big, big, big. (Move arms out to side)
This is small, small, small. (Move arms back to center)
This is short, short, short. (Hold hands with palms facing each other)
This is tall, tall, tall. (Reach one hand above head)
This is fast, fast, fast. (Circle fists quickly)
This is slow, slow, slow. (Circle fists slowly)
This is yes, yes, yes. (Nod)
This is no, no, no. (Shake head)

Credit: Storytime Katie

The Grand Old Duke of York

The Grand Old Duke of York 
He had ten thousand men
He marched them up to the top of the hill 
And he marched them down again. 
And when they’re up, they’re up. 
And when they’re down, they’re down.
And when they’re only halfway up 
They’re neither up nor down.

Credit: All Nursery Rhymes

 

Two Little Blackbirds

Two little blackbirds sitting on a hill.
One named Jack and one named Jill.
Fly away Jack, fly away Jill.
Come back Jack, come back Jill.

Two little blackbirds flying in the sky.
One named Low and one named High…

Two little blackbirds sitting on a pole.
One named Fast and one named Slow…

Two little blackbirds sitting on a gate…
One named Early and one named Late…

Credit: Jbrary

Spots

(tune: 99 bottles)
Spots, spots, spots, spots, spots, spots, spots, spots
A leopard has lots of spots
What a lot of spots he got
A tiger’s stripes are always nice
But a leopard has lots of spots
Spots, spots, spots, spots, spots, spots, spots, spots

Credit: Jbrary

Baby Sign Language

More Book Babies

APRIL Book Babies + Toddler Time: Walking Together

As you look forward to the first steps of your infant, don’t forget the benefit of walking outside with your child. Not only is it a great self-care activity for you as a caregiver, but it opens up the world to your child as they develop and find themselves in a...

MARCH Book Babies + Toddler Time: Eric Carle

If you haven’t discovered the bold, colorful world of Eric Carle, you are in for a enchanting experience. “Eric Carle (1929-2021) was the creator of The Very Hungry Caterpillar. But that’s not the only reason why he received nearly 10,000 fan letters every year. Carle...

FEBRUARY Book Babies + Toddler Time: Music & Movement

Music and movement can improve a child’s mood and help to reduce stress all while stimulating the formation of important brain connections. So, sing those lullabies, dance in the kitchen, play an instrument, and sing a book with your baby each and every day! ​ ​ Book...

JANUARY Book Babies + Toddler Time: Dinosaurs

Dinosaurs, dinosaurs, we love you! We love the way you stomp! We love the way you chomp! We love the way you soar! And, we especially love the way you, ROAR! There are so many things to do with your budding dinosaur. ​Book Babies: Wednesday @ 9:30am in Community Room...

NOVEMBER Book Babies + Toddler Time: Under the Sea

Glub! Glub! Glub! went the slippery little fish! Children love “diving” under the sea and meeting all the different creatures who reside in the deep blue ocean. In addition to the activities listed below, try filling a large container with water, possibly tinting it...

SEPTEMBER Book Babies + Toddler Time: Farm Animals

Let’s go to the farm! Some of the first sounds a child will make are the sounds of an animal like a cow. You can help him make a sound/image association with a DIY flip-the-flap picture book. Using a small spiral notebook, paste pictures of animals on every other page...

September Kids & Tween Events

Story TimeJoin Miss Gina, Grace, and Marybeth for Preschool Story Time, Toddler Time, and Book Babies! For September, we will have fun with the letter F and farm animals! Preschool Story Time is for ages 2-5 and meets Tuesdays at 10:30 AM and 6:30 PM or Wednesdays at...

JULY Book Babies + Toddler Time: Friends Forever

Let’s make friends! Toddlers and infants, despite their stage of individual play, can begin the process of making friends. Babies observe facial expressions. Toddlers begin learning how to share. All of these stages lead to social and emotional growth, so have fun...

JUNE Book Babies + Toddler Time: Let’s Watch the Weather Together!

Watching the weather change with the seasons can be fun for baby and you! When getting ready in the morning, talk about the weather and why baby is wearing warm pants and boots or a cool sun shirt, shorts and sandals. You can also associate the seasons to colors such...

July Kid & Tween Activities

CHESS AND GAME CLUB Learn the art of chess and other games from the master of fun and strategy, Nick Allison. Game supplies will be provided. Every Monday from 4:30-5:30 P.M. in the Community Room For ages 9-184TH OF JULY CLOSURE The Library will be closed Tuesday,...

0 Comments

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This