Storytimes for Newborns to 2-Year Olds

Just For Babies

Presented by Kiomaris N. Fuller, MLIS, MPH

Brain Development:

True or False?!?

At birth the brain is

fully developed,

just like one’s heart or stomach.

True and False:

Kind of a Trick Question . . .

The Whole Truth

Most of the brain cells are formed before

birth, but most of the connections among

cells are made during infancy and early

childhood.

Brain Development: True or False?!?

The brain’s development depends entirely on the genes with which

you are born.FALSE

The Whole Truth

Early experience and interaction with the

environment are most critical in a child’s brain

development.

Brain Development: True or False?!?

A toddler’s brain is less active than the brain of

a college student.FALSE

The Whole Truth

A three-year-old toddler brain is twice as active

as an adult’s brain.

Brain Development: True or False?!?

Talking to a baby is not important

because he or she can’t understand

what you are saying.

FALSE

The Whole Truth

Talking to young children establishes foundations for learning language during early critical

periods when learning is easiest for a child.

Brain Development: True or False?!?

Children need special help and specific educational

toys to develop their brainpower.

FALSE

The Whole Truth

What children need most is loving care and new experiences, not costly toys. Talking, singing,

playing, and reading are some of the key

activities that build a child’s brain.

Baby Brain Development

“The first years last forever”

“

Developmental Highlights: 1 Month

Prefer black and white

Focus 8-12 inches away

Hear very wellPrefer human facesRecognize parents’

voices

Developmental Highlights: 3 Months

Watch faces closely Open and shut hands Grab and shake toys Follow many objects with eyes Smile at parents’ voices Babble and imitate sounds Stretch legs out and kick when on

tummy or back Raise head and chest when lying on

tummy Enjoy playing with other people

Developmental Highlights: 7 Months

Roll over Sit up Reach for objects

with hands Support whole

weight on legs when held upright

Develop full color vision and mature distance vision

Use voice to express joy and displeasure

Babble chains (ba-ba-ba-ba)

Distinguish emotions by tone of voice

Struggle to get objects out of reach

Enjoy peek-a-boo Respond to name Explore objects with

hands and mouth Show an interest in

mirror images

Developmental Highlights: 12-24 Months

Sit without assistance Get into hands and

knees position Pull self to stand up Walk Pincer grasp

(thumb and forefinger)

Say “Dada” and “Mama”

Use exclamations such as “Uh Oh!”

Respond to “no” and simple verbal requests

Imitate words

Use simple gestures like waving and shaking head “no”

Explore objects by (shaking, banging, throwing, dropping)

Find hidden objects easily

Look at a correct picture when an image is named

Suggested Breakdown of Age Groups For Storytime

Baby – Birth to 18 Months

Toddler – 19 Months – 3 years

Preschool - 3-5 Years

What is early literacy?

Early literacy is what children learn about

reading and writing before they actually learn to read

and write.

6 Pre-Reading Skills

Print Motivation Phonological Awareness Vocabulary Narrative Skills Print Awareness Letter Knowledge

Print Motivati

on

How to Help: Begin reading

books early Make book

sharing a special time

Let your baby see you reading

Visit your public library often

What is it?

Having interest and enjoyment in books.

Phonological

Awareness

How to Help: Singing songs is

a good way to help your child hear syllables in words.

Add actions to songs to help break down language into separate words.

Make up your own silly nonsense rhymes.

What is it?

The ability to hear and play with the smaller sounds in words.

Vocabulary

How to Help: Read together

every day. When reading,

name pictures as you point to them.

Talk with your child about what is going on around you.

When your baby babbles or your child talks, listen carefully and answer.

What is it?

Knowing the names of things.

Narrative Skills

How to Help: Talk to your child

about what you are doing.

Tell your child stories.

Encourage your child to tell you about things.

Read favorite books again and again.

What is it?

Ability to describe things and events and to tell stories.

Print Awareness

How to Help:Read aloud

everyday.Point to each

word on a page as you read it.

Use board or cloth books and have your child hold the book.

What is it?

Noticing print in the environment, knowing how to handle a book and understanding how to follow words on a page.

Letter Knowledge

How to Help:

Help your child see and feel different shapes as you play.

Point out letters on toys, food boxes and on objects around the house.

Talk with your child about what is the same and what is different between two things.

What is it?

Knowing that letters are different from each other.

5 Practices of Early Literacy

READ TALK SING WRITE PLAY Remember: Rainbows Take Sun

Water Perfection

Basic Plan for Storytime

1. Recurring

Your Opening

Your Closer

Your Transitions

3. Changeable Songs

Fingerplays & Rhymes

Action Rhymes

Bounce & Stretches

Parent Tip

Optional: Free Play

Activity2.BOOKS

Your OpeningSets the tone and clearly signifies the beginning of

storytime.

OPENING IDEA:

The More We Get Together

The more we get together,

Together, together,

The more we get together,

The happier we’ll be,

For your friend are my friends,

And my friends are your friends,

The more we get together,

The happier we’ll be.

Great opportunity to add a little sign language into your

story time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYJS_xckWY0

OPENING IDEA: Using Names . . . for smaller

groupsWe’re So Glad to See You (tune: Frere

Jacques)

Where is (Childs Name)?

Where is (Childs Name)?

There s/he is.

There s/he is.

We’re so glad to see you,

We’re so glad to see you.

Peek-a-boo, Peek-a-boo.

We Say Hello(tune: Hi Ho the

Derry-o)

We Say Hello Like This (wave)

We Say Hello Like This (wave)

We’re all here for storytime!

We say hello like this (wave)

We say hello to (child’s name)

We say hello to (child’s name)

We’re all here for storytime!

So say hello to (child’s name)

Opening Idea: Open Shut Them

Open shut them, Open shut them,

Give a little clap, clap, clap!

Open Shut them, Open shut them,

Put them in your lap, lap, lap,

Creep them, Crawl them,

Creep them, Crawl them,

Right up to your chin, chin, chin!

Open wide your little mouth,

But do not let them in!

Your CloserA song or activity that clearly marks THE END!

Closer Idea: Hi Ho

Hi, Ho!

Hi, Ho!

It’s time for us to go.

Let’s clap our hands!

And Stomp Our Feet!

And Wave GoodBye!

Bye!Bye!Bye!

We’ll See You Here Next Week.

Closer Idea: Good-Bye Song (Tune: Goodnight

Ladies)Good-bye (child’s name), Good-bye (child’s name), Good-bye (child’s name).

I’m glad that you were here.

Closer Idea: We Had A Happy Day (Tune: “The Farmer in the Dell”)

It’s time to go home,

It’s time to go home.

Wave good-bye to everyone,

It’s time to go home.

We had a happy day,

We had a happy day.

Wave good-bye to everyone,

We had a happy day.

We’ll see you again,

We’ll see you again.

Wave good-bye to everyone,

We’ll see you again.

Your BooksNot just about finding any

book, but about finding the right book and reading it just

correctly.

How to Choose Your

Book?

Not too long, Not too short, but just right!

Not too crazy, Not too boring, but just right!

Not what they like or what they like, but what you like!

Use Goldilocks as a your

guide!

Your Books: Start With Your Theme!

Animals Animal Sounds Bedtime Body Bugs Colors Food Mother Goose

Numbers Opposites Pets Shapes Songs Things that Go Toys and Games

Your Books: What to Consider?

Are you the energetic performer?

Are you the funny performer?

Are you the educational performer?

Are you the nurturer performer?

Are you the soothing performer?

What kind of performer are you?

Your Books: Some Book Ideas Baby Happy, Baby Sad by Leslie Patricelli (check out

her series)

Soup For One by Ethan Long

1-2-3 Peas by Keith Baker

What Will Fat Cat Sit On? by Jan Thomas

One Two That’s my shoe! by Alison Murray

“Children learn more from books when they are actively involved.”

Your Books: It’s about how we read them.

What is Dialogic Reading?

1. Ask “what” questions.

2. Follow answers with questions.

3. Repeat what your child says.

4. Help your child as needed.

5. Praise and encourage your child.

6. Follow your child’s interests.

Fundamental reading technique where the audience is actively involved.

Readingrockets.org

The Changeable Elements

Songs

Fingerplays & Rhymes

Action Rhymes

Bounces & Stretches

Free Play

Parent Tip

Classics for Baby & Toddler Storytime

Pat-a-cake

Where is Thumbkin?

If You’re Happy and You Know It

The Itsy Bitsy Spider

The Wheels on the Bus (Short)

Row Your Boat

Head, Shoulder, Knees & Toes

Apple Tree

One, Two Buckle My Shoe

This Little Piggy Went to Market

Mary Had a Little Lamb

Old MacDonald (Short)

I’m A Little Teapot

Hickory Dickory Dock

Twinkle, twinkle, little star

Fun Stretches/Movements

Popcorn, popcorn,

Pour it in a pan.

Shake it up,

Shake it up,

Bam,

Bam,

Bam!

Popcorn

Bubbles – Song and Activity

There Are Bubbles

There are bubbles in the air, in the air,

There are bubbles in the air, in the air,

There are bubbles in the air,

There are bubbles everywhere,

There are bubbles in the air, in the air,

There are bubbles way down low, way down low,

There are bubbles way down low, way down low,

There are bubbles way down low,

There are bubbles by your toes,

There are bubbles way down low, way down LOW!

Fun Laprides

Grand Old Duke of York

Oh, the grand old Duke of York he had ten thousand men

He marched them up to the top of the hill

and he marched them down again.

When they were up, they were up

and when they were down, they were down

and when they were only halfway up

they were neither up nor down.

He marched them to the left,

He marched them to the right,

He marched them upside down,

Oh, what a silly sight.

Three Little Monkeys

Three Little Monkeys Jumping on the bed,

One fell off and bumped her head,

Mama called the doctor and the doctor said,” No more

Monkeys Jumping on the Bed!

Two - - -

One - - -

Go Bananas!

Bananas Unite! Bananas Split!

Go Bananas!

Go, go Bananas!

Go Bananas!

Go, go Bananas!

Bananas to the right! Bananas to the left!

Peel your banana and mmmm, take a bite!

Changeable: Equipment

PuppetsFlannel

BoardsMusic CDsColoring

SheetsCostumesBoard Books

ScarvesRattlesBallsBubblesPuzzlesBlocks

Changeable: Parent Tips for Reading With

Baby A few minutes

at a time is O.K.

Talk or sing about the pictures.

Make the story come alive.

Create books together.

Make books part of your daily routine.

Meal times

In the car

Grocery store

Nap time

Bath time

Bed Time

Resources for Parents

FlyerWelcome letterAgendaEvaluation

Additional Steps to a Successful

Storytime

Steps: Planning for Your Program Decide on Registration/ Participant

Limits Physical Setting/ Environment (see

next slide) Length of Program Strollers Nametags Siblings Agenda/Song Sheet

Steps:Physical Setting/Environment Room Temperature Nursing Station Outlet Covers/Safety Easy Access to the Room Easy to Contain Audience Changing Tables Room Set Up

Steps: Before the Program

The DisplayCheck the Room

TemperatureStart on TimeReview the

RulesAnnouncements

Steps: Rules for YOUR Programs!!

1. If at any point during storytime anyone gets louder than me, please take a break – go outside, breath and then come back in.

1. If someone does not want to be in storytime, please don’t make them. We want a positive experience.

2. Everyone who has a song sheet must sing.

3. Please silence all cell phones.

Steps: During

the Program

Parent/Caregiver Participation- AGENDA

Pay Attention to Your Audience

Have a Back-Up

The Evaluation

Additional Baby Programs

Infant CPR/first aid

Baby sign-language

Baby yogaBaby

massageNutritionistSpeech

PathologistAudiologist

Outreach

Child care centers Professional

associations Parent education

groups Head Start Family support

agencies Relocation

centers Hospitals,

pediatricians Early childhood

educators

Where do we find parents with children under 2

years of age?

Resources

Abby the Librarian

www.abbythelibrarian.com

Mel’s Desk

Melissa.depperfamily.net/blog

Storytime Katie

Storytimekatie.com

Reading Rockets

Readingrockets.org

Colorado Libraries for Early Literacy

www.clel.org