Moms Club Story Time, 4/23/15

It was pretty difficult to find easily accessible public places to have story time during this past winter, which was exceptionally cold and snowy for our area. Therefore, I took a little break from story time in February and March and scheduled this one to be held at the park in late April. Unfortunately, though we had some warm days in and around my chosen date, the actual day itself was not one of them! Fortunately, one of the moms graciously opened her living room to the group at the last minute and we were able to have story time without freezing or blowing away. The theme was Spring, there were five kids in attendance (4 mos., 17 mos., 18 mos., 20 mos., and 3 years). This is what we did.

Opening Song with Ukulele: Hello, How Are You?

Song: If You’d Like to Read a Book

Book: How to Grow a Friend by Sara Gillingham

This book is a little bit abstract for toddlers, as it compares friendship to a garden, but the illustrations are so appealing, and it's a good mom-pleaser. I would use this one again for a spring, friendship, or flowers theme.

Song: One Seed

The motions for this are really too hard for toddlers, but they all seem to liked watching their moms do them.

Book: Mary Had a Little Lamb illustrated by Salley Mavor 

It was fun to share this book because everyone knew the song, but not everyone knew there were so many verses.

Song Rhyme: Hands Up High

The tune for this song is London Bridge, but I had trouble singing it on the heels of Mary Had a Little Lamb, so we just wound up doing it as a chant. 

Rhyme: Hop Your Bunnies

Songs with Ukulele: ABCs / Twinkle Twinkle / Baa Baa Black Sheep 

After this medley, one of the moms added another verse which came from a lullaby CD her son likes. (I think it's this one. The name of the song is simply "ABC Song.") The verse has to do with counting - if anyone is looking for a counting song to this tune, I have transcribed the lyrics and will happily share them by email. I have started singing it to Miss Muffet every day at nap time.

Book: Over in the Meadow by Ezra Jack Keats

I didn't think the kids had the patience for two singable books, so I read this one as a poem. Most of their focus was gone by this point, since there were exciting toys around, but we made it through to the end.

Song: Chickadee 

We got some decent flying action from some of the kids on this one.

Song with Ukulele: The Little Bird 
I really wanted to play this song for an audience, so even though the kids were playing with toys by this point, I played it as background music anyway. (I didn't have a flannel board, so I just played and sang.)

Goodbye Song: We Wave Goodbye Like This 

I feel awkward doing a goodbye song at these story times, since we never leave right afterward, and yet I feel like I am not done unless I do one. I'm still working on finding a closing song for this group that is a little less final.