Family 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.
Welcome song: “Hello Everybody, Yes Indeed”
Mother Goose rhyme: “Old Mother Hubbard”
Get ready song: “Open, Shut Them”
First book: I’m Big Now! By Anthea Simmons. A big sister adjusts to having a new baby brother; featuring a biracial family.
Fingerplay: “Ten in a Bed”
Stretching song: “Farmer in the Dell”
Second book: Here Is the Baby by Polly Kanevsky. All the events in a baby’s day are shown in this book, featuring several of the baby’s family members.
Fingerplay: “Here Are Grandma’s Glasses”
Movement song: “Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes”
Third book: Your Baby’s First Word Will Be Da Da by Jimmy Fallon. TV’s “Tonight Show” host offers a humorous look at animal families and sounds.
Song: “Los Pollitos”
Extra book if needed: Homemade Love by bell hooks. With warm family nicknames, an African American girl describes her loving family.
Board book for parents: I Love You, Baby by Giles Andreae. In this rhyming story, a toddler introduces the new baby.
Closing song: “The More We Get Together”