Baths for Babies
Storytimes for babies and toddlers offer an opportunity to model great read-aloud techniques for parents, and gives them the confidence to read to their children every day. A baby-toddler storytime can be followed by an extra 20 to 30 minutes of playtime, which encourages parents to talk to each other and for the young children to learn to play with others. It also demonstrates the importance of play to parents. At the end, offer bubbles as an activity!
Welcome song: “Hello Everybody, Yes Indeed”
Mother Goose rhyme: “Three Men in a Tub”
Get ready song: “Open, Shut Them”
First book: Ten Pigs: An Epic Adventure by Derek Anderson. In this hilarious counting story, a little pig is pushed out of his bath by other pigs who have joined him.
Fingerplay: “Five Little Ducks”
Stretching song: “The Bath Song”
Second book: Maisy Takes a Bath by Lucy Cousins. Maisy’s friends want to join her in the bath.
Fingerplay: “Row, Row, Row, Your Boat”
Movement song: “Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes”
Third book: Mrs. Wishy Washy’s Farm by Joy Cowley. Animals run away from the farm so they can avoid baths.
Song: “Lady with the Alligator Purse”
Extra book if needed: The Pigeon Needs a Bath by Mo Willems. Pigeon says he does not need a bath but others disagree!
Board book for parents: Bathtime for Little Rabbit by Jorg Muhle. Readers are encouraged to interact with this book, describing a rabbit’s bathtime.
Closing song: “The More We Get Together”