Monkey Library Program for Toddlers

Here's a list of monkey stories and songs: https://www.worldcat.org/profiles/MissHayleyMac/lists/2691781 Here'e the program outline for 2s and 3s: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0ByZSJgcQD22tUVdoS0FHUGMtUEE/edit?usp=sharing

Zoo Storytimes for Toddlers vs. Preschoolers

For an after storytime activity/extension, I will place those plastic capsules that have an animal shaped sponge inside into plastic water bottles with warm water (lid screwed on) -- one per bottle and one bottle per child.

Frogs Alive! (Toddler) and Feeding Frogs (Preschool) Programs

The handout from the link on the second page was actually printed on side two.

Toddlers and Preschoolers : Playing with Books

For toddlers, we talked through the first and last book and acted out the emotions. We used magnetic letters as we counted during "One, Two I Love You." Is Everyone Ready for Fun? was a total, get-up-and-move-and-shout-it-out! kind of story ... my favorite ...



During the preschool program, we talked and acted a bit more. For example, we discovered that maybe we could have more than one feeling at a time like Elephant and Piggie. For Grumpy Bird, I had a stuffed animal for each child. They came to the front of the room when thier animal appeared on the page. I pointed to a sign that said "What are you doing?," and they child repeated this to my bird stuffed animal. Then we marched around the room until we came to the next animal. Lots of fun playing with books!

Purple-icious Programs for Toddlers vs. Preschoolers (Narrative and Print Awareness)

For our extension activity with the preschoolers, I put a drop of red and a drop of blue paint (and a dash of hand sanitizer for easier clean up) in a ziplock bag and masking taped them to the (child-level) windows.

During the preschool program, I also made and used my first ever picture schedule. Graphics below:



The "Drawing Story" was me drawing to "Grandpa's Glasses" as I said the rhyme. The "Puppet Story" was for Purple Hair? I Don't Care ... each child got a velcro piece of the puppet and added to my plastic pot. In the end, the kids closed their eyes while I put together the dragon puppet.

Home, Sweet Home Storytime Program for Toddlers

I was (re) introduced to Microsoft Publisher and the possibilities it brings for attractive programming handouts.  Here's my first stab at it.  (You can see I'm still into a mostly linear approach ;) )  It's a balancing act trying to give myself an outline while putting in those early literacy and take home tips for the caregivers. 

This new format is making me think more about an interactive handout for children and caregivers to use at home.  The activity sheet on the back was the first step, but I feel the outline itself could be more interactive ...



The embedded PDF above is available for download by clicking on "Toddler, ages 2 and 3" under the "Youth Services Programs and Resources" heading in the upper right hand corner of this blog: http://librarieslearnlead.blogspot.com/

Preschoolers: Water, Water Everywhere

An Earth Day influenced storytime ... If the embedded programming handout does not display below, visit the upper right hand corner of this blog: http://librarieslearnlead.blogspot.com/. Under "Youth Services Programs and Resources," choose "Preschool, ages 4 and 5."  Then choose (2011 4) Water, Water Everywhere (Narrative).pdf

A colleague suggested putting a coloring sheet on the other side of the programming handout to encourage the caregivers to take it home.  I thought it was a great idea!

Mem Fox on Reading to Babies (Quote)

"The best time to start reading aloud to a baby is the day it is born.  The lilting rhythm of a simple bedtime book on that first thrilling, exhausting day is soothing for the tremulous parents and the new child and adds to the bonding between them.  It gives them something to "talk about" together."

From Reading Magic: Why Reading Aloud to Our Children 
Will Change Their Lives Forever by Mem Fox.

Toddler Program: Talking about Love (Narrative Skills)

I am liking the visual communication of information on this handout. If parents are the reluctant readers of programming handouts, here's plenty of white space and visuals!

(If the embedded image does not display, visit the upper right hand corner of this blog. Under "Youth Services Programs and Resources," choose "Toddler, ages 2 and 3." Then choose "(2011 2) Talking about Love.")