Fathers 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: “Dance to Your Daddy”
Get ready song: “Open, Shut Them”
First book: Your Baby’s First Word Will be Dada by Jimmy Fallon. Filled with animal noises, the story involves a parent animal teaching their offspring to say “Dada.”
Fingerplay: “Daddy” (sung to the tune of “Bingo”)
Second book: The Very Best Daddy of All by Marion Dane Bauer. Various animal and human daddies demonstrate how they care for their children.
Movement song: “This Old Man”
Third book: Daddy Hug by Tim Warnes. Animal fathers give hugs in this fun story.
Song: “Hush Little Daddy”
Extra book if needed: How to Surprise a Dad by Jean Reagan. In this silly role reversal, siblings plan a special surprise party for dad!
Board book for parents: Baby’s First Words by Stella Blackstone. A toddler girl is shown with her two daddies in this introduction to words.
Closing song: “Hello and Goodbye” .
Penny Peck, SJSU iSchool