Friday, September 27, 2013

Toddler Time, Sept 26




Toddler Time is on Thursday at 9:30am and 10:30am and geared towards little ones age 12 months to 36 months.  What we did at Toddler Time:

Enter the Storytime Room and say hello to our doves.



Get your name written on a shape to put on our flannel board to show who is here today
Start with our welcome songs
Sing "Wheels on the Bus" aka song of the month!
Sing songs



Read The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
*used picture cards to keep track of all the things the caterpillar ate
Sing songs
*The smaller group at 9:30 got to play with our scarves and do the popcorn rhyme

Everyone is then welcomed to stay and play with our basket of books, toys, and stuffed animals.


This week I threw in a few Duplo Blocks to see how they would work for the group.  Did you know there are seven stages for block building?


1. Carrying (blocks carried, not used for construction; young children around age 2)

2. Stacking (horizontal or vertical stacking; beginning around age 3)

3. Bridging (children create a bridge using two blocks to support a third; also around age 3)

4. Enclosure (blocks enclose a space; around age 4)

5. Patterns and Symmetry (balanced structures, decorative or symmetrical patterns; ages 4 & 5)

6. Early Representational (name structure during or after construction; age 4 ½)

7. Later Representational (announce name before building begins, often use props for dramatic play; age 5) 
Source:

Hirsch, Elisabeth S. (ed.) The Block Book. National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), 1996. 

Early Literacy Tip:
Even if your toddler has trouble sitting and paying attention for the stories and songs, don't get discouraged.  Storytimes help them learn that books and the library can be fun and exciting. 



Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Musical Sounds in Storytime




Get ready to shake it up because we are bringing the musical sounds to the library!

Opening Song: The More We Get Together
*We sing and clap to our opening song.  All Stillwater Public Library story times start with this song and the children learn that song means story time is starting.


Book: Chuck's Band by Peggy Perry Anderson

Song: This Old Man
  Refrain: Knick-knack, paddy whack, give the dog a bone
                This old man came rolling home


Book: Crash Bang Donkey! by Jill Newton


Fingerplay: Music at Our House
(perform the actions to suit the words)
Mother plays the violin
Father plays the flute
Little brother plays the horn
toot-toot-toot



Book:  Jazzmatazz! by Stephanie Calmenson




Craft: Paper plate musical instrument.  Glue/ staple two paper plates together, leaving a hole so beans can be placed inside.  Seal up the hole, decorate the outside then make some noise!  Another fun shaker to make at home is fill an empty drink bottle with rice or beans and shake it.

Beyond Storytime: Read why music is important for children  http://www.childrensmusicworkshop.com/advocacy/12benefits.html 
Did you know we have several children's books that include CDs with music to go along with the story plus a collection of children's CDs?

Other books to checkout:   
Baxter Barret Brown's Bass Fiddle by Tim A. McKenzie
Animal Band by Christopher S. Jennings
Mole Music by David McPhail
Zin, Zin, Zin A Violin by Lloyd Moss

Thursday, September 19, 2013

Toddler Time Sept, 19th



Toddler Time is on Thursday at 9:30am and 10:30am and geared towards little ones age 12 months to 36 months.  What we did at Toddler Time:

Enter the Storytime Room and say hello to our doves.
Get your name written on a shape to put on our flannel board to show who is here today
Start with our welcome songs
Sing "Wheels on the Bus"
Sing "Itsy Bitsy Spider"
Read our first story, usually a longer picture book
Sing more songs and wiggle around
Sing "Animals on the Farm" to the tune of Wheels on the Bus using animals puppets.
Read our second story, usually a little shorter book depending on the group
Shake shake shake with our shakers
Finish up with a song

Everyone is then welcomed to stay and play with our basket of books, toys, and stuffed animals.

Books read:


This Little Piggy by Tim Harrington
Bonus song!  http://www.harpercollinschildrens.com/feature/thislittlepiggy/



One Blue Fish by Charles Reasoner
(this is a lift the flap book and not available for checkout)



Early Literacy Tip:
When we talk about the sequence of our days with our children, they have a chance to hear vocabulary words in context and begin to learn how to put events in order...both skills that help with comprehension when they are readers.  (Practice: Talking)

Friday, September 13, 2013

Hello Babies and Toddlers




Baby Time is on Tuesday at 9:30am and geared towards birth to 12 months.  This week we had a lot of fun playing peek-a-boo with our scarves in addition to reading and singing.


Toddler Time is on Thursday at 9:30am and 10:30am and geared towards little ones age 12 months to 36 months.  What to expect at Toddler Time:

Enter the Storytime Room and say hello to our doves.
Get your name written on a shape to put on our flannel board to show who is here today
Start with our welcome songs
Sing a toddler favorite, lately we have been enjoying "Wheels on the Bus"
Read our first story, usually a longer picture book
Sing more songs and wiggle around
Read our second story, usually a little shorter book depending on the group
Sing more songs
Use flannel board pieces to narrate or sing a story
Finish up with a song

Everyone is then welcomed to stay and play with our basket of books, toys, and stuffed animals.

Toddler books read on Sept 12:


Hello, Baby by Mem Fox



Potato Joe by Keith Baker

Early Literacy Tip: 
When you play lap games and bounces with your baby (toddler), it makes them feel secure and happy because they are close to you. Their brains release endorphins which not only make them feel good, but actually can reinforce learning, too. In this case the learning includes hearing the sounds, rhymes, and words of our language, and helps lay the groundwork for becoming good talkers, readers, and writers later on.  (Practice: Playing)

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

All About Me! Storytime





Opening Song: The More We Get Together
*We sing and clap to our opening song.  All Stillwater Public Library story times start with this song and the children learn that song means story time is starting.

The more we get together
Together, together
The more we get together
The happier we'll be
Cause your friends are my friends
And my friends are your friends
The more we get together
The happier we'll be.



Book: I Like Me by Nancy Carlson

Rhyme: I have a Nose
On my face I have a nose, (point to nose)
And way down here I have ten toes. (Point to toes)
I have two eyes that I can blink. (Blink eyes)
I have a head to help me think. (Hand on head)
I have a chin and very near, (Point to chin)
I have two ears to help me hear. (Hands on ears)
I have a mouth with which to speak. (Point to mouth)
And when I run I use my feet. (Tap feet on floor)
Here are my arms to hold up high, (Arms held high)
And here's a hand to wave good-bye. (Wave)



Book: Parts by Tedd Arnold

Song: Head, shoulders, knees, and toes



Book: Here Are My Hands by Bill Martin Jr and John Archambault

Rhyme: Touch Your Nose
Touch your nose, touch your chin,
That's the way this game begins.
Touch your eyes, touch your knees,
Now pretend you feel a breeze. (Blow gently)
Touch your hair, touch one ear,
Touch your two red lips right here.
Touch your elbows where they bend,
That's the way this touch game ends.



Craft: An All About Me booklet. Our booklet noted name, age, hair and eye color, trace hand & foot, and favorite color.
To make at home, print out sheets from these sites or create your own on blank paper:
http://www.dltk-kids.com/crafts/miscellaneous/all_about_me.htm
http://www.kidprintables.com/allaboutme/

Beyond Storytime: Have you heard about the Wondertorium's Developmental Screening? Find out more at http://www.okwondertorium.org/index.php?option=com_eventbooking&task=view_event&event_id=92&Itemid=523

Other books to checkout: 
I Love You Just the Way You Are by Virginia Miller
Hello Toes! Hello Feet! by Ann Whitford Paul
Me I Am! by Jack Prelutsky

Monday, September 9, 2013

Dewey Decimal Theater- 200s


Dewey Decimal Theater continues on Sept 10th at 6:30pm.  The 200s nonfiction section covers religions and mythology.  We will be viewing a movie about a business man who is called to build an ark.  The first 25 kids will receive a free water bottle! 

Thursday, September 5, 2013

Welcome back babies and toddlers!

Babytime and Toddler Time started back up this week.  It was wonderful to see the library hoppin' and crawlin' with all the babies and toddlers.

Babytime is Tuesday at 9:30 for ages birth to 12 months.

This week at Babytime we read:
What do we do with the baby? by Rick Walton
Kiss tickle cuddle hug by Susan Musgrave
Llama llama hoppity-hop by Anna Dewdney








Toddler Time is Thursday at 9:30 & 10:30 for ages 12 months through 36 months.
This week at Toddler Time we read:
Chu's Day by Neil Gaiman
1, 2, buckle my shoe by Anna Grossnickle Hines
We also sang Old McDonald Had a Farm using flannel board pieces and played Red, Yellow, Green with the shakers.








More information about Babytime
More information about Toddler Time

All storytimes are free and open to the public.  Please contact the Children's Help Desk if you have any questions 405-372-3633 x108 or childrensreference@stillwater.org  

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Grandparents Day




Grandparents Day is celebrated on September 8th this year.  Make sure you remember to tell all the grandparents and adopted grandparents in you and your children's lives just how grand they are each and every day!

Opening Song: The More We Get Together
*We sing and clap to our opening song.  All Stillwater Public Library story times start with this song and the children learn that song means story time is starting.

The more we get together
Together, together
The more we get together
The happier we'll be
Cause your friends are my friends
And my friends are your friends
The more we get together
The happier we'll be.



Book: Piglet & Granny by Margaret Wild

Fingerplay: Grandpa & Grandma's Spectacles

Here are Grandpa's Spectacles (make circle with thumbs and index fingers and hold over eyes)
And here is Grandpa's Hat (join hands at finger tips and place on head)
And here's the way he folds his arms (fold arms)
And takes a little nap (snore)

Here are Grandma's Spectacles (make circle with thumbs and index fingers and hold over eyes)
And here is Grandma's Hat (make triangle by putting two hands fingertips touching over head)
And here's the way she folds her hands
And puts them in her lap (fold hands and put in lap)



Book: The Napping House by Audrey Wood

Poem: The World's Greatest Grandparents
This is the perfect time to say
that I'm so glad to have
grandparents like you.
When I'm near you
I can feel your love,
when I'm away from you
I miss you very much.
Surely you must be
the greatest grandparents
in the whole wide world.
I love you so very much!
http://freepoemsonline.net/poems-htm/grandparents6.htm



Book: The Giant Hug by Sandra Horning
  
Craft: The children made cards with extra longs arms to give a long distance hug.

Beyond Storytime: How many ways can you tell grandparents that you love them? I can think of sending cards through snail mail, telephoning, sending emails, Skype, and visiting. What can you add to the list?
Super cute printable:  http://www.papercoterie.com/blog/grandparents-are-awesome/

Other books to checkout:
Hooray For Grandparents' Day! by Nancy Carlson
Grandparents Song by Sheila Hamanaka
Silas' Seven Grandparents by Anita Horrocks and Helen Flook