Farms 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: “Farmer in the Dell”
Get ready song: “Open, Shut Them”
First book: Farmyard Beat by Lindsey Craig. Repetition and animal sounds highlight this celebration of farm animals.
Fingerplay: “B-I-N-G-O”
Stretching song: “Two Little Blackbirds”
Second book: Go Sleep in Your Own Bed! by Candace Fleming. Pig goes to bed but Cow is sleeping in the sty, setting off a chain reaction of animals all sleeping in the wrong place.
Fingerplay: “Five Little Ducks”
Movement song: “Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes”
Third book: The Cow Loves Cookies by Karma Wilson. In this rhyming story, various farm animals eat appropriate foods, except the cow who wants cookies.
Song: “Old MacDonald”
Extra book if needed: Clip Clop by Nicola Smee. Cat, Dog, Pig, and Duck all want to ride on the horse in this delightful story full of energy.
Board book for parents: Barnyard Dance! by Sandra Boynton. Invite the audience to get and move along to this joyful celebration of animals dancing.
Closing song: “The More We Get Together”