Simply Irresistible:

Storytimes for newborns to two years

Instructor: Colleen Willis [email protected]

An Infopeople Workshop Spring 2008

This Workshop Is Brought to You By the Infopeople Project Infopeople is a federally-funded grant project supported by the California State Library. It provides a wide variety of training to California libraries. Infopeople workshops are offered around the state and are open registration on a first-come, first-served basis. For a complete list of workshops, and for other information about the project, go to the Infopeople website at infopeople.org.

Introductions

“ Every baby needs a lap.” Henry Robin

Mood Music

0-12 months

Lullabies Soothing Calming

12-24 months

Traditional Songs

Workshop Overview

 Baby Brain Development  Developmental Abilities  Early Literacy Skills  Storytime Components for 0-12 and 12-24 Months

Music and Movement 0-12 and 12-24 months

Hello Song

“Understanding Brain Development in Young Children” By Seth Brotherson

Baby Brain Development

“The first years last forever”

What do we know about brain development?

MYTH or FACT?

At birth the brain is fully developed, just like one’s heart or stomach.

FACT

Most of the brain cells are formed before birth, but most of the connections among cells are made during infancy and early childhood.

MYTH or FACT?

The brain’s development depends entirely on the genes with which you are born.

FACT

Early experience and interaction with the environment are most critical in a child’s brain development.

MYTH or FACT?

A toddler’s brain is less active than the brain of a college student.

FACT

A three-year-old toddler brain is twice as active as an adult’s brain.

MYTH or FACT?

Talking to a baby is not important because he or she can’t understand what you are saying.

FACT

Talking to young children establishes foundations for learning language during early critical periods when learning is easiest for a child.

MYTH or FACT?

Children need special help and specific educational toys to develop their brainpower.

FACT

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.

Music and Movement

Touch Your Toes to Your Nose

Developmental Abilities

www.zerotothree.org

Key Topics

•Brain Development •Child Development •Early Language and Literacy •Play

1 Month  Prefer black and white  Focus 8-12 inches away  Hear very well  Prefer human faces  Recognize parents’ voices Adapted from American Academy of Pediatrics. “Caring for Your Baby and Young Child: Birth to Age 5, Fourth Edition” (Bantam Books, 2005)

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

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

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

Parent Benefits

 Building bonds with their baby  Chance to measure how their baby is developing compared to other children  Creating friendships with other parents

Music and Movement 0-12 and 12-24 Months

Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes

Prep Time

 Prep 6 weeks  20 minutes of planned storytime  15 minutes free play after activity  30 min. Set-up and 30 min. clean-up

Sample Storytime

Free Play Activity

0-12 months  Blocks  Musical toys  Mirror  Bath books  Stackers  Puppets 12-24 months  Climbing mats  Tunnels  Puzzles  Shape sorters  Pull toys  Touch and feel books

Start-Up Costs

 Baby wipes  Clorox Anywhere  Baby doll  Blankets  Plastic tubs  Baby Einstein Puppets  Baby Toys  Shakers  Scarves  Balls  Climbing Mat  Tunnel  Parachute  Bean bags  Foam teddy bears  Felt circles  Bubbles

Parent Patter

      

Why should you read to your baby?

It’s fun.

It’s a bonding experience.

It helps him understand the world around him.

It encourages language development.

It encourages imagination and creativity.

It makes parenting easier.

Storytime Planning Sheet Question #1

Professional Resources



Early Literacy Storytimes @ Your Library

 By Ghoting and Martin-Diaz

Babies in the Library

By Jane Marino 

Mother Goose on the Loose

By Betsy Diamant-Cohen 

Lapsit Services for the Very Young II

By Linda Ernst 

Reading Magic

By Mem Fox

Music and Movement 0-12 and 12-24 months

My Ups and Downs

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 Motivation

Having interest and enjoyment in books.

    Begin reading books early Make book sharing a special time Let your baby see you reading Visit your public library often

www.getreadytoread.org

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

   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.

Vocabulary Knowing the names of things.

    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.

Narrative Skills Ability to describe things and events and to tell stories.

    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.

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

   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.

Letter Knowledge Knowing that letters are different from each other.

   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.

Storytime Planning Sheet Question #2

Music and Movement 0-12 months and 12-24 months

Shoo Fly

Storytime Space

Consider Your Space

 Strollers  Nursing station  Safety plugs  Easy access to room/area  Changing tables available for moms and dads?

 Temperature  Equipment: remember you will have a significant amount of props to set up  Table and chair set up

Storytime Planning Sheet Question #3

Floorplan

Fingerplays

 Ritual: type of repetition  Ritual provides shared experience that has meaning for participants and helps define program.

 Children and parents love them.

 If you didn’t already know how important, try leaving one of your rituals out. Programs feel incomplete.

Belly Button Rhymes 0-12 months

Stretching Songs 0-12 months

Group Exercise Baby Doll Fingerplays and Action Rhymes

Fingerplays

 Would anyone like to share a fingerplay they brought with them?

Storytime Planning Sheet Question #4

Music and Movement 12-24 months

Spin Again

Suggested Age Breakdown     Hug-A-By Baby 0-12 months Stepping Up 12-24 months Toddler Time 24-36 months 3,4,5 Jump and Jive

To register or not to register that is the question.

Timing

 Offer class in a series  Back to back classes  10:00am-12noon

Storytime Planning Sheet Questions #5 and #6

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

Book Selection

     Short in length Wordless or simple text Big enough for whole group to see Bold colors Books with familiar objects, animals, people, colors

Book Sharing

0-12 months  I Kissed the Baby By Mary Murphy  I Went Walking By Sue Williams 12-24 months

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Dialogic Reading Make Reading a Game!

Ask “what” questions.

Follow answers with questions.

Repeat what your child says.

Help your child as needed.

Praise and encourage your child.

Follow your child’s interests.

Music and Movement 12-24 months

Wiggle Wiggle

Nursery Rhymes

 Easy way to promote literacy  Sound families  Builds vocabulary  Onomatopoeia  Builds storytelling skills

0-12 and 12-24 months Nursery Rhyme

Puppets and Flannel Boards

Puppet Song The little mice are creeping 0-12 and 12-24 months 12-24 months

Group Exercise Puppets and Flannel Boards

Music and Movement 12-24 months

The Nothing Wrong Song

Handouts

 Flyer  Welcome letter  Rhyme Sheet  Evaluation

Outreach

Where do we find parents with children under 2 years of age?

 Child care centers  Professional associations  Parent education groups  Head Start  Family support agencies  Relocation centers  Hospitals, pediatricians  Early childhood educators

Additional Baby Programs

 Infant CPR/first aid  Baby sign-language  Baby yoga  Baby massage  Nutritionist  Speech Pathologist  Audiologist

Music and Props

Group Exercise Music and Props

12-24 months

Throw Your Teddy Bear On the Count of Five Shakey Shakey

Grants

ELF Grant Early Learning with Families Target Grant Early Childhood Reading

Music and Movement

Clap Your Hands