Baby Storytime: Winter

It’s been a good winter for a snowy storytime!

OPENING SONG: Hello Song*

OPENING FINGERPLAY: Open Them Shut Them*

BOOK: Under My Hood I Have a Hat by KARLA KUSKIN

FLANNEL SONG: Boots and Parka, Scarf and Hat
First I put up clipart of each clothing item on the flannelboard. I wanted to share my file, but something is wonky with it! You could also bring in actual items, or ask in your group if anyone has boots on, or wore a scarf today. We talked about where on our bodies we wear a hat, or boots, and so forth. Then we sang this song! Sing it to “Head and Shoulders, Knees and Toes.” Touch each part of your body as you sing: feet, chest, neck, and head.

Boots and parka, scarf and hat, scarf and hat
Boots and parka, scarf and hat, scarf and hat
In wintertime we dress like that!
Boots and parka, scarf and hat, scarf and hat!

FLANNEL RHYME: Three Little Kittens

Three little kittens they lost their mittens,
And they began to cry:
“Oh Mother dear, we sadly fear our mittens we have lost.”
“What! Lost your mittens, you naughty kittens,
Then you shall have no pie.”

Three little kittens they found their mittens,
And they began to cry:
“Oh Mother dear, look here, look here! Our mittens we have found!”
“What! Found your mittens, you good little kittens,
Then you shall have some pie.”

FLANNEL SONG: A Hunting We Will Go*
Today we did cat/hat, owl/towel, mouse/house, and ended with bear/chair.

SONG WITH PHOTOS: It’s Wintertime, You Know
I like to use big photos from clipart sometimes, and talk about them with the babies. This time I found some wintery images and made up this simple song. I sing a verse, then show the photo that goes with and talk about the picture, usually something very simple, like, “Here’s a shovel! When there’s a lot of snow on the sidewalk we can push it out of the way with a shovel.” Sing this to “The Farmer in the Dell.”

It’s wintertime, you know;
We will have some snow!
We might see a snowman then,
It’s wintertime, you know.

How To Build a Snowman a “Little Scholastic” book

LITERACY TIP: Print Awareness
I went back and showed the parents a page in the last book that had all the parts to build a snowman: carrot, twig, scarf, rocks. I said, “When you’re pointing out all the objects on a page to your baby, don’t forget you can point to the words, too. Say, “Look! Here are the words I read to you!”

FLANNEL RHYME: Five Little Snowmen

Five little snowmen standing in a row;
Each has a hat and a big red bow.
Out came the sun and it shone all day,
And one little snowman melted away.

Four little snowmen…

SONG WITH PROPS: Dance Like Snowflakes
I love popstick puppets for simple props. They take about 5 minutes to make! Sing this to: Are You Sleeping?

Dance like snowflakes,
Dance like snowflakes,
In the air, in the air,
Swirling, whirling snowflakes,
Swirling, whirling snowflakes,
Everywhere, everywhere.

ACTION RHYME: This is Big Big Big*

CLOSING SONG: Sneeze Game*

*Check out the My Baby Storytime page for the words and/or citations for these weekly activities!