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.
Snow for Babies
Welcome song: “Hello Everybody, Yes Indeed”
Mother Goose rhyme: “When the Snow Is on the Ground”
Get ready song: “Open, Shut Them”
First book: Snowy, Blowy Winter by Bob Raczka. Diverse families enjoy playing in the snow in this rhyming story.
Fingerplay: “Five Little Snowflakes”
Fingerplay: “Snow”
Stretching song: “Mittens on My Hands”
Second book: Little Penguins by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Christian Robinson. Five penguins get dressed and go out to play in the snow.
Movement song: “Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes”
Fingerplay: “Snowflake, Snowflake, In the Sky”
Third book: Winter Is for Snow by Robert Neubecker. A brother and sister argue over the merits of a snowy day in this short rhyming story, set in the city.
Closing song: “The More We Get Together”
Extra book if needed: If It’s Snowy and You Know It, Clap Your Paws! by Norman Kim. Arctic animals sing a variation on the popular children’s song “If You’re Happy and You Know It.”
Board book for parents: Baby Loves Winter! by Karen Katz. With lift-the-flap pages, a baby enjoys playing in the snow.