Baby Storytime: Winter & Snow

Here’s a mostly-new update to my old Winter storytime.

OPENING SONG: Hello Song*

OPENING FINGERPLAY: Open Them Shut Them*

BOOK: Red Sled by JUDGE
Have you seen this one? It is a wordless delight, with expressive illustrations and great squeaky, galumphing snow noises to make.

ACTION SONG: Bumpin’ Up and Down in My Little Red Wagon
Now that we’ve bumped up and down in a red sled, we’ll take a ride in a red wagon!

Bumpin’ up and down in my little red wagon
Bumpin’ up and down in my little red wagon
Bumpin’ up and down in my little red wagon
Won’t you be my darling?

One wheel’s off and the axel’s broken…
I’m gonna fix it with my hammer…
Bumpin’ up and down in my little red wagon…

BOUNCE: Royal Duke of York
Once you go down the hill on your sled or your wagon, what do you have to do? Go back up the hill!

Oh, the royal Duke of York
He had ten thousand men
Bounce baby in lap
He marched them up the mountaintop
Lift baby up!
And marched them down again
Set baby in your lap again

Oh, when you’re up, you’re up
Lift baby up!
And when you’re down, you’re down
Set baby in your lap again
And when you’re only halfway up
You’re neither up nor down!
Bounce baby in lap

FLANNEL SONG: A Hunting We Will Go*
Today we used dragon/wagon, sheep/Jeep, bear/chair, crow/snow

BOOK: I Am Small by DODD
Another fun new book, if you can deal with the eye-rollingly sweet “I Love You” ending! Before I read the book, I asked the children if they knew what animal was on the cover. Then I asked them what they thought the penguin might do in the story.

LITERACY MESSAGE: Talking
Grownups, we know that making predictions about a book really helps children understand what they read. Comprehension is important because without it, kids don’t stay motivated to keep reading for very long. So ask your children a question or two about the book before you start reading. Talking with your child will help them get ready to read!

ACTIVITY: Snowflakes
I made a bunch of big snowflakes–about 8″ across–and laminated them. We looked at the snowy page in “I Am Small” and then I handed out a snowflake to each baby. We swirled them around, and had them land on our heads and our knees and the floor.

FLANNEL RHYME: Five Little Snowmen
Didn’t get a photo of this flannelboard today!

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…

FLANNEL SONG: Boots and Parka, Scarf and Hat
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!

ACTION RHYME: This is Big Big Big*
When we go outside to play in the snow, will we make a snowball? How big will it be?

CLOSING SONG: Sneeze Game*

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