This storytime plan was inspired by a recent Ologies podcast episode on serpopsychology (creepiness), which referenced research conducted by the Denmark Recreational Fear Lab on scary activities children enjoy (such as peekaboo) and fear and play in Danish daycare and kindergarten classrooms! The more you know…
Sing: Good Morning to You*
Welcome & Gratitude**
Sing: So Early in the Morning…*
Sing: Hello, Friends*
Sing: Who is Here Today?*
Introductions/Sharing: Something New
Rhyme: This is Big, Big, Big*
Bounce: Toast in the Toaster*
Cuddle: You Be the Lemon*
Sing: If You’re Ready for a Story…*
Read: Where is Baby’s Belly Button? by Karen Katz
Babies love the flaps in this book!
Sing: If You’re Ready for a Story…*
Sing: Hands Are Clapping
Tune: London Bridge
Hands are clapping, clap, clap, clap.
Hands are clapping, clap, clap, clap.
Hands are clapping, clap, clap, clap.
Clap your hands!
Repeat: Toes are tapping, eyes are hiding “peek-a-boo!”
CREDIT: KCLS
NOTE: I swapped the original (and questionable) “Skip to My Lou” tune with “London Bridge.” You could also use “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.” Thanks Storytime Solidarity for the information and suggested alternatives!
Sing: Peek-a-Boo!
Tune: Frere Jacques
Peek-a-boo, peek-a-boo,
I see you! I see you!
I see your button nose, I see your tiny toes.
Peek-a-boo! I see you!
Rhyme: Cheek Chin
Cheek, chin, cheek, chin, cheek, chin, nose.
Cheek, chin, cheek, chin, cheek, chin, toes.
Cheek, chin, cheek, chin, up baby goes!
Rhyme: These are Baby’s Fingers
These are baby’s fingers.
These are baby’s toes.
This is baby’s belly button,
Round and round it goes!CREDIT: KCLS
Lit Tip: PLAY to Raise a Reader
Grown-ups, playing hide and seek games like peekaboo helps your baby develop object permanence: understanding that things still exist even when they’re out of sight. Object permanence is an important cognitive skill linked to short-term memory, and short-term memory is linked to reading comprehension. When you play peekaboo with baby NOW, you help them get ready to read (and remember what they read) LATER!
Read: Eyes, Nose, Toes Peekaboo! (Lapsit Board Books)
Play: Bubbles
Stay and Play
*Please visit this page to learn more about my regular storytime songs and routines.
**For more about why and how I set storytime expectations, read these posts.
Storytime in the Stacks 