Baby Explorers: August 2019

Baby Explorers is the program I run for infants and toddlers 0-36 months, where we use activities, crafts, and early science experiments to explore the world around us. I try to include 4 activities per session: gross motor, fine motor, create (a craft or take home activity), and explore (a sensory activity). Here's what we were up to this month:

Explore: Spaghetti pool! This is one of my favorite Baby Explorer activities and perfect for the summer (when we can be outside to minimize mess). Families are encouraged to take off their shoes and squish around.

Create: Thumbprint art- Bigger toddlers could create pictures using their thumbprints while younger babies could play with the inkpads and paper or adults could help them create their art.

Gross and Fine Motor: Sensory walkway- Using foam floor tiles and an assortment of knick knacks (sponges, giant pipe cleaners, pom poms, etc.) we used our hands and bodies to feel different textures and see different colors. This activity was very cheap to create and was a huge hit!

Babywearing Dance Class

I attended a conference last September and one of the presentations that spoke to me most was all about not forgetting that adults are people too. I love programming for kids so much that sometimes I forget that our youngest programs (and ones I run most often) are about adults just as much as the babies. My library focuses a lot on making ourselves a welcoming environment that encourages family bonding as well as learning, so I think focusing on caregiver wants and needs combined with baby's is a fantastic way to accomplish that. This is a long way of saying that the presentation inspired me to offer a Babywearing Dance Class at the library. 

The hot video of 2016 was from GroovaRoo and I got most of my tips for adapting it to a library setting from Tales For the Tiny. Both are fantastic resources. I also found several videos, linked below, which were exercise videos designed for adults but I found them easily adaptable for holding a baby in a carrier. 

As families were settling in and getting babies strapped in, one of my coworkers (who is a huge babywearing enthusiast) brought in some of her baby carriers to demonstrate different types parents might be interested in. I think this was a nice touch because we had babies from 5 weeks to 16 months old, so there was a wide range of carrier needs. I didn't want to take up too much time at the beginning, but I added a quick spiel about the benefits of babywearing dance (having fun as an adult, connecting with your baby, connecting with other caregivers, etc).

Here's what we danced to:

1. We warmed up to Gettin' Jiggy With It, inspired by this YouTube video:

2. Then we got our arms warmed up with Baby, inspired by this video:

3. After a short break, we got silly with a Mamma Mia dance, demonstrated in this video:

4. We ended with our most difficult dance, Uptown Funk. Some moves were inspired by this video, but a lot of the moves had to be adapted for holding/carrying a baby:

5. We ended with taking everybody out of their carriers and freestyling to End of the Line:

As several videos and blogs suggested, I borrowed a baby carrier and held a large stuffed bear while I danced (since I do not have my own baby). Even though it was not as heavy as a baby, it was really helpful to remind me of what the caregivers could do/could not do while wearing their carriers. Next time I run the program I will demonstrate the moves a bit more and give the caregivers a little extra time to practice before dancing to music, but everyone still had a lot of fun. Plus, the caregivers all stayed after the program to talk and compare baby notes which is always wonderful to see. I also recommend checking out the GroovaRoo website, as they have some great safety tips as well as talking points about the benefits of babywearing dance.

Baby Prom

For the past year or so, I've been trying to pick up the number of programs we offer for infants and young toddlers (generally 0-23 or 0-36 months). Our library has a pretty large population of families in these age groups and they also seem to be looking for more activities besides our lap sit storytimes. As I was brainstorming, I thought how much fun it would be to offer programs based around life milestones, just scaled down for babies. Thus, Baby Prom!

This ended up being a very simple program to plan and execute and the only thing I needed to purchase was the balloons for our fantastic photo booth. Around 30 babies attended with about 45 adults and I think it was a really fun bonding experience for everybody. Plus, almost all the babies were dressed up and about half the adults, which made it extra festive!

Photo op! The arch is made from coat hangers, held together with gorilla tape, and decorated with balloons. We own a compressor made just for blowing up balloons, so it only took about 3 hours to make.

Our library has a computer dedicated to taking photos. It uses the Sparkbooth program and an attached photo printer to print photos on demand- it's very popular at programs!

The dance floor

Making corsages (adults were more interested than the kids, which was expected)

Kids and adults loved the dancing (especially all of the shakers and scarves that went along with it)

Bubble machine was on full blast (also a huge hit)

Friend & family groups planned to attend together, which I thought was really fun!

Overall, we had a great time and I think it's definitely worth repeating next summer!

Lap Sit Week of 2/5/2018

If You’re Ready for a Story

If you’re ready for a story clap your hands (clap clap)

If you’re ready for a story clap your hands (clap clap)

If you’re ready for a story, if you’re ready for a story

If you’re ready for a story clap your hands (clap clap)

If you’re ready for a story stomp your feet (stomp stomp)

If you’re ready for a story stomp your feet (stomp stomp)

If you’re ready for a story, if you’re ready for a story

If you’re ready for a story stomp your feet (stomp stomp)

If you’re ready for a story wave hello (hi everyone)

If you’re ready for a story wave hello (hi everyone)

If you’re ready for a story, if you’re ready for a story

If you’re ready for a story wave hello (hi everyone)

Big Big Big

This is big big big, this is small small small

This is short short short, this is tall tall tall

This is fast fast fast, this is slow slow slow

This is yes yes yes, this is no no no

ABCs

Open/Shut Them

Open shut them, open shut them

Give a little clap 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 chinny chin chin

Open wide your little mouth- but do not let them in!

Group Reading- Peek-a-Who? by Nina Laden

Wheels on the Bus

The wheels on the bus go round and round

Round and round, round and round

The wheels on the bus go round and round

All through the town

(Repeat with kids on the bus go up and down, grown-ups on the bus go shh shh shh, etc.)

Sign of the Week: eat, more

We Ask to Eat Like This

We ask to eat like this, we ask to eat like this

If we're hungry and want some food, we ask to eat like this

We ask for more like this, we ask for more like this

If we're still hungry and want some more, we ask for more like this

Adapted from Jbrary

She'll Be Coming Around the Mountain

She'll be coming around the mountain when she comes (yee haw)

She'll be coming around the mountain when she comes (yee haw)

She'll be coming around the mountain

She'll be coming around the mountain

[She'll be riding six white horses, We'll all go out to meet her]

She'll be coming around the mountain when she comes (yee haw)

from Jbrary

Book #2- I Like to Squeak! How Do You Speak?

Doggie’s Got a Flea

1, 2, 3 doggie’s got a flea

1, 2, 3 now it’s on me

It’s on my nose, it’s on my toes

It’s on my ear, it’s over here! (tickle)

from Jbrary

Bumping Up and Down

Bumping up and down in my little red wagon

Bumping up and down in my little red wagon

Bumping up and down in my little red wagon

Won’t you be my darling?

One wheel’s off and the axel’s broken

One wheel’s off and the axel’s broken

One wheel’s off and the axel’s broken

Won’t you be my darling?

I Know a Chicken + egg shakers

from Laurie Berkner's CD "Whaddya Think of That?"

Bubbles in the Air

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 in the air

There are bubbles in the air, in the air

There are bubbles way up high, way up high

There are bubbles way up high, way up high

There are bubbles way up high, way up high in the sky

There are bubbles way up high, way up high

There are bubbles way down low, way down low

There are bubbles way down low, way down low

There are bubbles way down low, and they tickle on your toes

There are bubbles way down low, way down low

from Jbrary

Bubbles

Goodbye Song

Storytime is over now, over now, over now

Storytime is over now- see you next time!

Lap Sit Week of 1/29/2018

If You’re Ready for a Story

If you’re ready for a story clap your hands (clap clap)

If you’re ready for a story clap your hands (clap clap)

If you’re ready for a story, if you’re ready for a story

If you’re ready for a story clap your hands (clap clap)

If you’re ready for a story stomp your feet (stomp stomp)

If you’re ready for a story stomp your feet (stomp stomp)

If you’re ready for a story, if you’re ready for a story

If you’re ready for a story stomp your feet (stomp stomp)

If you’re ready for a story wave hello (hi everyone)

If you’re ready for a story wave hello (hi everyone)

If you’re ready for a story, if you’re ready for a story

If you’re ready for a story wave hello (hi everyone)

Big Big Big

This is big big big, this is small small small

This is short short short, this is tall tall tall

This is fast fast fast, this is slow slow slow

This is yes yes yes, this is no no no

ABCs

Open/Shut Them

Open shut them, open shut them

Give a little clap 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 chinny chin chin

Open wide your little mouth- but do not let them in!

Group Reading- I Kissed the Baby by Mary Murphy

Itsy Bitsy Spider

The itsy bitsy spider went up the water spout

Down came the rain and washed the spider out

Out came the sun and dried up all the rain

And the itsy bitsy spider went up the spout again

Sign of the Week: Stop

from Baby Sign Language

Bounce Our Babies

We bounce and bounce and bounce and stop

We bounce and bounce and bounce and stop

We bounce and bounce and bounce and stop

We bounce our babies to the top!

We rock and rock and rock and stop

We rock and rock and rock and stop

We rock and rock and rock and stop

We rock our babies to the top

We tickle and tickle and tickle and stop

We tickle and tickle and tickle and stop

We tickle and tickle and tickle and stop

We tickle our babies to the top

from Jbrary

Our Little Baby

Our little baby loves dancing, dancing

Our little baby loves turning round.

Our little baby loves to boogie on down.

Our little baby loves dancing, dancing

Lean to the left,

Lean to the right

Hug that baby nice and tight

from Jbrary

Book #2- In My Tree

Roly Poly

Roly poly, roly poly

Out out out, out out out

Roly roly poly, roly roly poly

In in in, in in in

Roly poly, roly poly

Fast fast fast, fast fast fast

Roly roly poly, roly roly poly

Slow slow slow, slow slow slow

What Shall We Do with Lazy Baby?

*feel free to substitute your own baby’s name

What shall we do with lazy baby

What shall we do with lazy baby

What shall we do with lazy baby

Early in the morning

Roll him/her on the bed and tickle all over

Roll him/her on the bed and tickle all over

Roll him/her on the bed and tickle all over

Early in the morning

Heave ho and up she/he rises

Heave ho and up she/he rises

Heave ho and up she/he rises

Early in the morning

from Jbrary

Slowly, Slowly

Slowly, slowly very slowly creeps the garden snail

Slowly, slowly very slowly up the garden rail

Quickly, quickly very quickly runs the little mouse

Quickly, quickly very quickly to his little house

Bubbles in the Air

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 in the air

There are bubbles in the air, in the air

There are bubbles way up high, way up high

There are bubbles way up high, way up high

There are bubbles way up high, way up high in the sky

There are bubbles way up high, way up high

There are bubbles way down low, way down low

There are bubbles way down low, way down low

There are bubbles way down low, and they tickle on your toes

There are bubbles way down low, way down low

from Jbrary

Bubbles

Goodbye Song

Storytime is over now, over now, over now

Storytime is over now- see you next time!

Lap Sit Storytime Week of 1/8/2018

I'm so happy to be back at storytime for 2018! Here's what we were up to this week:

If You’re Ready for a Story

If you’re ready for a story clap your hands (clap clap)

If you’re ready for a story clap your hands (clap clap)

If you’re ready for a story, if you’re ready for a story

If you’re ready for a story clap your hands (clap clap)

If you’re ready for a story stomp your feet (stomp stomp)

If you’re ready for a story stomp your feet (stomp stomp)

If you’re ready for a story, if you’re ready for a story

If you’re ready for a story stomp your feet (stomp stomp)

If you’re ready for a story wave hello (hi everyone)

If you’re ready for a story wave hello (hi everyone)

If you’re ready for a story, if you’re ready for a story

If you’re ready for a story wave hello (hi everyone)

Big Big Big

This is big big big, this is small small small

This is short short short, this is tall tall tall

This is fast fast fast, this is slow slow slow

This is yes yes yes, this is no no no

ABCs

Open/Shut Them

Open shut them, open shut them

Give a little clap 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 chinny chin chin

Open wide your little mouth- but do not let them in!

Group Reading- Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You Hear? by Bill Martin, Jr.

Wheels on the Bus

Sign of the Week: Bear

From Baby Sign Language

Grr Grr Went the Big Brown Bear

Grr grr went the big brown bear one day

Grr grr went the big brown bear

Grr grr went the big brown bear one day

And the bear went grr grr grr

But- we know bears go huggy huggy hug

Huggy huggy hug, huggy huggy hug

We know bears go huggy huggy hug

They don't go grr grr grr

Wake Up Feet

This is from Jbrary, but I forgot the words the first class of the week and just stuck with my modified version

Wake up feet, wake up feet

Wake up feet and wiggle, wiggle, wiggle

Wake up feet, wake up feet

Wake up feet and wiggle wiggle wiggle

Bumping Up and Down

Bumping up and down in my little red wagon

Bumping up and down in my little red wagon

Bumping up and down in my little red wagon

Won’t you be my darling?

One wheel’s off and the axel’s broken

One wheel’s off and the axel’s broken

One wheel’s off and the axel’s broken

Won’t you be my darling?

Book #2- Do Cows Meow? by Salina Yoon

Hippopotamus on a City Bus

A hip, a hip, a hippopotamus

Got on, got on, got on a city bus

And all, and all, and all the people said

You’re squishing us!

A cow, a cow, a cow got on the bus

and all, and all, and all the people said

Mooove over!

A sheep, a sheep, a sheep got on the bus

And all, and all, and all the people said

Move baaaack!

from Jbrary

Egg Shakers + Shaking Like a Leafy Tree

from the CD "Racing to the Rainbow" by The Wiggles

Can You Shake Along with Me

Can you shake along with me?

Along with me, along with me,

Can you shake along with me?

Put your shaker on your... knee

[Repeat with different body parts]

from Jbrary

Bubbles in the Air

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 in the air

There are bubbles in the air, in the air

There are bubbles way up high, way up high

There are bubbles way up high, way up high

There are bubbles way up high, way up high in the sky

There are bubbles way up high, way up high

There are bubbles way down low, way down low

There are bubbles way down low, way down low

There are bubbles way down low, and they tickle on your toes

There are bubbles way down low, way down low

from Jbrary

Bubbles

Goodbye Song

Storytime is over now, over now, over now

Storytime is over now- see you next time!

Program: Board Book Book Club

Last December, an especially large board book order combined with the Association for Library Service to Children's Babies Need Words Every Day: Talk, Read, Sing, Play initiative, led to a Board Book Book Club program. The idea was to display all of our new board books and encourage caregivers to make informed choices about their baby's board books.

Although this program was not especially well attended, I still really loved creating it and I think I will try it again the next time a big order comes in.

The categories were:

 And some of the displays:

 

Lap Sit Week of 1/25

I feel like we're starting to hit a groove in our third week of storytimes this season. Here's what we were up to this week:

If You're Ready For a Story

If you're ready for a story clap your hands (clap clap)

If you're ready for a story clap your hands (clap clap)

If you're ready for a story, if you're ready for a story

If you're ready for a story clap your hands (clap clap)

If you're ready for a story stomp your feet (stomp stomp)

If you're ready for a story stomp your feet (stomp stomp)

If you're ready for a story, if you're ready for a story

If you're ready for a story stomp your feet (stomp stomp)

If you're ready for a story wave hello

If you're ready for a story wave hello

If you're ready for a story, if you're ready for a story

If you're ready for a story hello

Big Big Big

This is big big big, this is small small small

This is short short short, this is tall tall tall

This is fast fast fast, this is slow slow slow

This is yes yes yes, this is no no no

ABCs

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 chinny chin chin

Open wide your little mouth-

But do not let them in!

Book #1: Fuzzy Fuzzy Fuzzy by Sandra Boynton

Hands are Clapping

Hands are clapping, clap clap clap

Hands are clapping, clap clap clap

Hands are clapping, clap clap clap

Clap your hands my darling

Toes are tapping, tap tap tap

Toes are tapping, tap tap tap

Toes are tapping, tap tap tap

Tap your toes my darling

Elevator Song

The city is great and the city is grand

There's a whole lot of people on a little piece of land

and we live way up on the 57th floor

So here's what we do when we go out the door

We take the elevator up, take the elevator down

Take the elevator up, take the elevator down

Take the elevator up, take the elevator down

And we turn around

Book #2: Can You Say It Too? Moo, Moo! by Sebastien Braun

What Shall We Do

What shall we do with lazy baby

What shall we do with lazy baby

What shall we do with lazy baby

Early in the morning

Roll her on the bed and tickle all over

Roll her on the bed and tickle all over

Roll her on the bed and tickle all over

Early in the morning

Heave ho and up she rises

Heave ho and up she rises

Heave ho and up she rises

Early in the morning

Head and Shoulders Baby

Head and shoulders baby, 1-2-3

Head and shoulders baby, 1-2-3

Head and shoulders, head and shoulders

Head and shoulders baby, 1-2-3

Knees and toes baby, 1-2-3

Knees and toes baby, 1-2-3

Knees and toes, knees and toes

Knees and toes baby, 1-2-3

Popcorn Kernels

Popcorn kernels, popcorn kernels

In the pot, in the pot

Shake them shake them shake them, shake them shake them shake them

'Til they pop! 'Til they pop!

One Bright Scarf

One bright scarf waiting for the wind to blow

Wiggle it high and wiggle it low

Shake it fast and shake it slow

Where did it go?

Bubbles 

Goodbye Song

Storytime is over now, over now, over now

Storytime is over now- see you next time!