I have worked for three different libraries and seen so many different ways to do baby storytimes! It seems every system and every storyteller has a special way of doing things. Here’s what’s been working well for me:
WELCOME SONG: GOOD MORNING TO YOU
Good morning to you.
Good morning to you.
Good morning, dear friends.
It’s nice to see you!
MEET & GREET
Then I invite the caregivers to share their baby’s name, age, and a fun fact (e.g. one day we might share baby’s favorite food). I often overhear caregivers connecting with each other over this information during Learning Through Play time later. I also share storytime norms and expectations (e.g. it’s okay for your baby to wander, it’s okay for them to eat books).
RHYME: THIS IS BIG, BIG, BIG (x2)
Our babies are growing up so fast and getting so big! We do this next rhyme twice. I model for caregivers with a baby on the lap first, then I kneel to demonstrate the rhyme for my walkers.
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.
And this is no, no, no!
Credit: Mel’s Desk
SING: THIS IS THE WAY WE CLAP OUR HANDS
This is the way we clap our hands,
Clap our hands, clap our hands.
This is the way we clap our hands
So early in the morning!
(repeat with tap our toes, bounce up and down, share a hug, read a book)
READ: BOOK #1
BOUNCE/SING
FLANNEL/PUPPET ELEMENT
BOUNCE/SING
READ: BOOK #2
BOUNCE/SING
LEARNING THROUGH PLAY
PLANNING FOR BABY STORYTIME
At my first library system, we were encouraged to keep our songs and rhymes the same for three months. We had two board book sets for choral reading which rotated round the district every quarter.
At my second library system, I wanted a little more variety but still wanted my caregivers to feel really comfortable and confident. I read books within the same theme for a month at a time, keeping most of the same songs and rhymes each week. For example:
- Monthly Theme: Farm
- Week 1: Hens & Horses
- Week 2: Cats & Cows
- Week 3: Dogs & Ducks
- Week 4: Pigs
I’ll be taking up baby storytime again soon and my new library does a different storytime theme each week! I’m not sure yet how my new structure will shake out but I’m looking forward to the challenge!
MY FAVORITE BABY STORYTIME RESOURCES
