Toddler Storytime (18 months to 3 years old)
Wednesdays at 10:10 a.m.
Storyteller: Arin Hailey Reese
Toddler Storytime is for children 18 months to 3 years old, and includes songs, active rhymes, and stories, with playtime after the program.
Toddler Storytime is held first thing in the morning, just after the library opens for the day, when young children are energetic and ready for an activity, but are not yet hungry for lunch or sleepy for a nap. The dynamic program includes silly songs and fun, engaging stories to hold the interest of busy little people. The program runs approximately 45 minutes; during the last 10 minutes, children can explore a selection of developmentally appropriate books, toys, and activities, and parents can get to know one another and ask questions of library staff.
All of the activities in the program reinforce early literacy skills, with special focus on print motivation, print awareness, phonological awareness, and vocabulary for this age group. Throughout the program, we will offer tips for parents on ways to bolster literacy. After the storytime, handouts will be available with lyrics to the songs and rhymes as well as information on everyday ways to support literacy development in toddlers.
Toddler Storytime is held first thing in the morning, just after the library opens for the day, when young children are energetic and ready for an activity, but are not yet hungry for lunch or sleepy for a nap. The dynamic program includes silly songs and fun, engaging stories to hold the interest of busy little people. The program runs approximately 45 minutes; during the last 10 minutes, children can explore a selection of developmentally appropriate books, toys, and activities, and parents can get to know one another and ask questions of library staff.
All of the activities in the program reinforce early literacy skills, with special focus on print motivation, print awareness, phonological awareness, and vocabulary for this age group. Throughout the program, we will offer tips for parents on ways to bolster literacy. After the storytime, handouts will be available with lyrics to the songs and rhymes as well as information on everyday ways to support literacy development in toddlers.
Storytime Theme: Getting Around the City
Buses and trucks and trains, oh my! This storytime revolves around the wheels that move us around our city. Kids love transportation of all kinds, and this theme is great for framing a diverse mix of fun activities, like silly sound effects and entertaining stories about the things we see every day. We’ll explore some favorites, like a certain song about things one might find on a bus, and we'll also talk about human-powered transit—like walking and riding bikes.
Opening Song: “Look Who Came to Story Time" (adapted from “Look Who Came to School Today”)
(Retrieved from http://www.resourcesforearlylearning.org/educators/activity/1496/)
Parents are encouraged to sing along, as the song is simple and repetitious. If there are regular attendees at storytime, I will sing their names as we go around the circle. For children I do not yet know, their parents can sing out their child’s name when we come to their place, and then the group can repeat the name in the following verses. Alternatively, name tags can be distributed and filled out before the program begins, or I can sing about groups in general, e.g. “Look who came to storytime...Children came to storytime (Mamas, Nannies, Grandpas, etc.)….”
Early Literacy Elements: Singing; phonological awareness, vocabulary
Welcome/Talking Point
Welcome, children, parents, grandparents, friends, and caregivers to Toddler Storytime! Grown-ups, the next half hour or so is all about having fun with your children, so I encourage you to sing along and be silly. Kids don’t take themselves too seriously, and neither should we! At this age your children are growing and changing so fast, and they are constantly taking in information that is helping to build their literacy skills. There are five simple behaviors we can engage in every day to help them make the brain connections necessary for literacy: talking, singing, playing, reading, and writing. We'll be doing lots of those things today, and I'll be distributing handouts at the end of the session with even more ideas for fun things you can do at home.
Now, boys and girls, who loves trucks? Trains? Buses? Me too! We're going to read lots of stories and sing lots of songs today about all the ways we can get around town. But the first thing we have to know is: What do we do when the light is red? That's right, we stop! And what do we do when it's green? We go! And yellow? Yellow means be careful, or go sloooooow. OK, you guys got this. Now let's play a game about what we do when we see all those traffic lights.
Rhyme: "Traffic Light" (using the felt board with red, green, and yellow circles for visual cues)
(Retrieved from https://sunflowerstorytime.com/2014/09/29/in-the-city/)
We will do the rhyme twice to allow the kids to get familiar with the order and motions. On the final "stop!", we sit to get ready for storytime.
Early Literacy Elements: Talking, singing, playing; phonological awareness, vocabulary
Book: All Through My Town, by Jean Reidy (author) and Leo Timmers (illustrator)
(See References)
This sweet rhyming book shows a parent and little rabbit going for a stroll in their neighborhood in modern, colorful illustrations. It describes all the things they see, including many different kinds of transportation, which we will take care to point out.
Early Literacy Elements: Reading, singing, talking, play; Print motivation, print awareness, phonological awareness, narrative skills, vocabulary
Song/Felt Board: The Wheels on the Bus
(Retrieved from https://sunflowerstorytime.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/wheels-on-the-bus.pdf)
We will encourage the kids and parents to sing and follow along with the movements in this perennial favorite song, helped along by cutouts on the felt board of the different things you find on a bus. There will be a special surprise cutout and verse at the end: Mo Willems's pigeon, who wants to drive the bus! We will sing, "The pigeon on the bus says, "Let me drive! Let me drive! Let me drive...All through the town!" And then we'll be ready for our next book.
Early Literacy Elements: Reading, talking, singing, playing; phonological awareness, vocabulary
Book: Don’t Let The Pigeon Drive the Bus!, by Mo Willems
(See References)
Mo Willems's book are so fun to read and are always a hit. The pigeon books are especially good with the toddler set, thanks to few words and lots of opportunity for dramatic reading and funny voices.
Early Literacy Elements: Reading, singing, talking; Print motivation, print awareness, phonological awareness, narrative skills, vocabulary
Talking Point: Print Awareness
It's a fancy term we use when we talk about developing early literacy skills, but all it means is noticing words and letters everywhere you go. When you're walking, driving, or riding around the city, it's a great opportunity to point out to your child all the letters and words around them—on signs, newspapers, packaging, restaurant menus, etc. It’s also great when you read stories at home to connect them with things kids see every day, and vice versa—when you’re on transit or in the car, you can remind kids about the stories we read today.
Book: Subway, by Anastasia Suen (author) and Karen Katz (illustrator)
(See References)
Using repetitive, rhythmic verse and colorful illustrations featuring all the diverse residents you see in a city like New York, this book shows a mother and daughter and the things they do while taking a subway ride--from going through the turnstile to getting off at their stop. Kids love to repeat the refrain, "On the subway!"
Early Literacy Elements: Reading, talking; Print motivation, print awareness, phonological awareness, narrative skills, vocabulary
Song: "Little Red Caboose," with egg shakers
(Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRTBm0ZuU1U)
(Props: Egg skakers; retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00UKZ009Q/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_2?pf_rd_p=1944687502&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B0002F5CQK&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0E7PY5XEQ34ECNV7FJ4F)
First we'll sing the standard verse about the little red caboose, and then we'll ask kids to contribute different descriptions for our caboose. Past favorites have included big pink caboose, fast yellow caboose, slow blue caboose, etc. We'll change the voices in which we sing to reflect the descriptions (big deep voice for big caboose, speed up for fast caboose, slow down for slow caboose, etc.)
Early Literacy Elements: Talking, singing, playing; phonological awareness, vocabulary
Book: Toot Toot Beep Beep, by Emma Garcia
(See References)
This favorite of the wheels-loving crowd introduces different colors and sizes of cars, each with their own sound. We'll all join together in making the best, loudest car noises we can!
Early Literacy Elements: Reading, talking; Print motivation, print awareness, phonological awareness, narrative skills, vocabulary
Song: "The Walking Song," to the tune of "Where is Thumbkin?"
Retrieved from http://bussongs.com/songs/the-walking-song.php)
We'll end storytime with a reminder that sometimes the best way to get around is on your own two feet. This is a short, active song perfect for getting the kids up again and ready to move to the activity. We will follow with a shortened version of the Closing Song, still standing up.
Early Literacy Elements: Talking, singing, playing; phonological awareness, vocabulary
Closing Song: "Goodbye, Friends" (sung to the tune of "Goodnight, Ladies")
(Tune retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMruF_CLrqM)
This brief song concludes the formal part of the program. If time permits, we can sing goodbye to each child by name, as we did in the Opening Song.
Lyrics adapted:
Goodbye, children
goodbye, grownups
goodbye, friends.
It’s time to say goodbye.
(Clap in time): Hope you have a happy day,
happy day,
happy day.
Hope you have a happy day,
we’re glad that you were here!
Early Literacy Elements: Singing; phonological awareness, vocabulary
Activity: Nighttime Transportion Sticker Craft
(Retrieved from https://sunflowerstorytime.com/2014/09/29/in-the-city/)
We'll talk about how even at night, the cars, trucks, and buses of the city are still going! Using black or blue paper, white crayons, and transportation and letter stickers, we'll create cool scenes.
Early Literacy Element: Talking, playing, writing; print awareness, letter knowledge, vocabulary
Stay and Play
Developmentally appropriate toys and books are set out for the toddlers to explore. Parents are encouraged to play with their children, get to know other parents, and check out books to bring home. Handouts are distributed.
Early Literacy Elements: Talking, reading, playing; print motivation, print awareness, phonological awareness, letter knowledge, narrative skills, vocabulary
Handouts
Opening Song: “Look Who Came to Story Time" (adapted from “Look Who Came to School Today”)
(Retrieved from http://www.resourcesforearlylearning.org/educators/activity/1496/)
Parents are encouraged to sing along, as the song is simple and repetitious. If there are regular attendees at storytime, I will sing their names as we go around the circle. For children I do not yet know, their parents can sing out their child’s name when we come to their place, and then the group can repeat the name in the following verses. Alternatively, name tags can be distributed and filled out before the program begins, or I can sing about groups in general, e.g. “Look who came to storytime...Children came to storytime (Mamas, Nannies, Grandpas, etc.)….”
Early Literacy Elements: Singing; phonological awareness, vocabulary
Welcome/Talking Point
Welcome, children, parents, grandparents, friends, and caregivers to Toddler Storytime! Grown-ups, the next half hour or so is all about having fun with your children, so I encourage you to sing along and be silly. Kids don’t take themselves too seriously, and neither should we! At this age your children are growing and changing so fast, and they are constantly taking in information that is helping to build their literacy skills. There are five simple behaviors we can engage in every day to help them make the brain connections necessary for literacy: talking, singing, playing, reading, and writing. We'll be doing lots of those things today, and I'll be distributing handouts at the end of the session with even more ideas for fun things you can do at home.
Now, boys and girls, who loves trucks? Trains? Buses? Me too! We're going to read lots of stories and sing lots of songs today about all the ways we can get around town. But the first thing we have to know is: What do we do when the light is red? That's right, we stop! And what do we do when it's green? We go! And yellow? Yellow means be careful, or go sloooooow. OK, you guys got this. Now let's play a game about what we do when we see all those traffic lights.
Rhyme: "Traffic Light" (using the felt board with red, green, and yellow circles for visual cues)
(Retrieved from https://sunflowerstorytime.com/2014/09/29/in-the-city/)
We will do the rhyme twice to allow the kids to get familiar with the order and motions. On the final "stop!", we sit to get ready for storytime.
Early Literacy Elements: Talking, singing, playing; phonological awareness, vocabulary
Book: All Through My Town, by Jean Reidy (author) and Leo Timmers (illustrator)
(See References)
This sweet rhyming book shows a parent and little rabbit going for a stroll in their neighborhood in modern, colorful illustrations. It describes all the things they see, including many different kinds of transportation, which we will take care to point out.
Early Literacy Elements: Reading, singing, talking, play; Print motivation, print awareness, phonological awareness, narrative skills, vocabulary
Song/Felt Board: The Wheels on the Bus
(Retrieved from https://sunflowerstorytime.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/wheels-on-the-bus.pdf)
We will encourage the kids and parents to sing and follow along with the movements in this perennial favorite song, helped along by cutouts on the felt board of the different things you find on a bus. There will be a special surprise cutout and verse at the end: Mo Willems's pigeon, who wants to drive the bus! We will sing, "The pigeon on the bus says, "Let me drive! Let me drive! Let me drive...All through the town!" And then we'll be ready for our next book.
Early Literacy Elements: Reading, talking, singing, playing; phonological awareness, vocabulary
Book: Don’t Let The Pigeon Drive the Bus!, by Mo Willems
(See References)
Mo Willems's book are so fun to read and are always a hit. The pigeon books are especially good with the toddler set, thanks to few words and lots of opportunity for dramatic reading and funny voices.
Early Literacy Elements: Reading, singing, talking; Print motivation, print awareness, phonological awareness, narrative skills, vocabulary
Talking Point: Print Awareness
It's a fancy term we use when we talk about developing early literacy skills, but all it means is noticing words and letters everywhere you go. When you're walking, driving, or riding around the city, it's a great opportunity to point out to your child all the letters and words around them—on signs, newspapers, packaging, restaurant menus, etc. It’s also great when you read stories at home to connect them with things kids see every day, and vice versa—when you’re on transit or in the car, you can remind kids about the stories we read today.
Book: Subway, by Anastasia Suen (author) and Karen Katz (illustrator)
(See References)
Using repetitive, rhythmic verse and colorful illustrations featuring all the diverse residents you see in a city like New York, this book shows a mother and daughter and the things they do while taking a subway ride--from going through the turnstile to getting off at their stop. Kids love to repeat the refrain, "On the subway!"
Early Literacy Elements: Reading, talking; Print motivation, print awareness, phonological awareness, narrative skills, vocabulary
Song: "Little Red Caboose," with egg shakers
(Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRTBm0ZuU1U)
(Props: Egg skakers; retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00UKZ009Q/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_2?pf_rd_p=1944687502&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B0002F5CQK&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0E7PY5XEQ34ECNV7FJ4F)
First we'll sing the standard verse about the little red caboose, and then we'll ask kids to contribute different descriptions for our caboose. Past favorites have included big pink caboose, fast yellow caboose, slow blue caboose, etc. We'll change the voices in which we sing to reflect the descriptions (big deep voice for big caboose, speed up for fast caboose, slow down for slow caboose, etc.)
Early Literacy Elements: Talking, singing, playing; phonological awareness, vocabulary
Book: Toot Toot Beep Beep, by Emma Garcia
(See References)
This favorite of the wheels-loving crowd introduces different colors and sizes of cars, each with their own sound. We'll all join together in making the best, loudest car noises we can!
Early Literacy Elements: Reading, talking; Print motivation, print awareness, phonological awareness, narrative skills, vocabulary
Song: "The Walking Song," to the tune of "Where is Thumbkin?"
Retrieved from http://bussongs.com/songs/the-walking-song.php)
We'll end storytime with a reminder that sometimes the best way to get around is on your own two feet. This is a short, active song perfect for getting the kids up again and ready to move to the activity. We will follow with a shortened version of the Closing Song, still standing up.
Early Literacy Elements: Talking, singing, playing; phonological awareness, vocabulary
Closing Song: "Goodbye, Friends" (sung to the tune of "Goodnight, Ladies")
(Tune retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMruF_CLrqM)
This brief song concludes the formal part of the program. If time permits, we can sing goodbye to each child by name, as we did in the Opening Song.
Lyrics adapted:
Goodbye, children
goodbye, grownups
goodbye, friends.
It’s time to say goodbye.
(Clap in time): Hope you have a happy day,
happy day,
happy day.
Hope you have a happy day,
we’re glad that you were here!
Early Literacy Elements: Singing; phonological awareness, vocabulary
Activity: Nighttime Transportion Sticker Craft
(Retrieved from https://sunflowerstorytime.com/2014/09/29/in-the-city/)
We'll talk about how even at night, the cars, trucks, and buses of the city are still going! Using black or blue paper, white crayons, and transportation and letter stickers, we'll create cool scenes.
Early Literacy Element: Talking, playing, writing; print awareness, letter knowledge, vocabulary
Stay and Play
Developmentally appropriate toys and books are set out for the toddlers to explore. Parents are encouraged to play with their children, get to know other parents, and check out books to bring home. Handouts are distributed.
Early Literacy Elements: Talking, reading, playing; print motivation, print awareness, phonological awareness, letter knowledge, narrative skills, vocabulary
Handouts
- Song and rhyme lyrics, including “Traffic Light,” “Wheels on the Bus,” “Little Red Caboose,” “Walking,” and other easy rhymes to do at home
- Book list from today's storytime with recommendations for other developmentally appropriate books that fit with the theme
- Storytime and children's program schedules for this branch and others in the local library system
- Ready to Read: Simple Activities That Promote Early Literacy handout with with tips on specific activities for building literacy skills in toddlers (Retrieved from http://static1.squarespace.com/static/531bd3f2e4b0a09d95833bfc/t/54963fb3e4b0849a6ec87a66/1419132851341/readtalkplay.pdf)