50 Literacy Activities for Babies

This site gives a great list of activities to do with your infant that promote literacy.  The opening paragraph before the list resonated with me and I hope it does with you, too.

At birth, an infant's brain is still developing and the experiences that we provide determine how the brain is developed. Literacy activities for infants involve more than just reading. Almost every activity that you do with infants can be considered a literacy activity. Each new activity and experience encourages brain connections that children will potentially use throughout their lifetime.

 http://earlyliteracycounts.blogspot.com/2010/08/50-literacy-activities-for-babies.html

As I posted about last week, I strongly believe in the importance of sensory play.  You know how babies and toddlers LOVE touch and feel books.  This link is for fabulous do it yourself board books using common items and hot glue.  If anyone tries this, I'd love to hear how they turn out!  Or send me your pictures of the final products and I will post them on the blog as time and space permits.

http://www.teachpreschool.org/2012/07/diy-toddler-board-books/

Cooking with Kids - Child Development Friday

Some of you may have participated in the Kids Can Cook event July 12 at the Maryville Public Library.  Kitchen time for kids is rich with learning experiences and cooking with kids was one of my favorite plans from my Parents As Teachers days!  This link gives a list of age-appropriate jobs in the kitchen as well as information about what your child gains from cooking with you. Fantastic!

http://stayathomeeducator.com/cooking-with-kids-and-what-they-gain-from-it/

Book lists for Babies

Great list of books for reading to your baby in several different categories.  Don't miss this! http://www.notwiddletwaddle.com/2012/04/recommended-books-for-babies.html

Kindle for PC at Story Hour

For the first time we used books downloaded from Amazon through a Kindle app to the PC.  We then projected them on the wall.  These are the books that we read today:

Although these books are not free downloads now, they are available for purchase and were once free downloads brought to me by notwiddletwaddle.com.  Don't miss the amazing free books that this site rounds up every day!

The Maryville Public Library has also joined a consortium to bring e-books available for check out to our patrons.  For more information, please talk to staff or see our website at www.maryvillepubliclibrary.lib.mo.us/

Child Development Friday

Raising a reader has to do with so much more than books.  Each Friday I will be linking you with excellent resources on the web that contribute to whole child development.

One of my favorite areas of enhancement for child development is sensory play. Further, I think that parents are often stumped about safe, fun, nurturing, inexpensive things to do with the under 3 crowd.  This blog combined both these ideas and gives a wonderful list of sensory activities for this group.  CAUTION: I do not advocate giving balloons to small children. She addresses this in part, but I probably would have cut it from the list due to safety.

I would encourage you to explore this site as there are many fun activities.  Enjoy the day with your child!

www.makedoandfriend.com

For information on why sensory play is important and what your child is learning this information from PBS is a must-read.

http://www.pbs.org/parents/child-development/sensory-play/developing-and-cultivating-skills-through-sensory-play/

For setting boundaries on sensory play and for those who fear the mess, read this:
http://notjustcute.com/2008/09/19/setting-boundaries-with-sensory-play/

Cowboy Days

 

The Little Cowboy

Tune: "I’m a little teapot"

I’m a little cowboy. Here is my hat (point to self, then to hat)

Here are my spurs (point to your heels)

And here are my chaps (pat legs)

As soon as I get up, (stretch, pretend to wake up)

I work all day (pretend to lasso a cow)

I get on my horse (pretend to get on a horse)

And ride away. (Pretend to gallop on a horse)

Way Out West

Tune: "Old MacDonald"

Way out West are buffaloes. Yippie-yippie-oh!

Way out West are buffaloes. Yippie-yippie-oh!

with a stomp, stomp here and a stomp, stomp there.

Here a stomp, there a stomp, everywhere a

stomp, stomp.

Way out West are buffaloes. Yippie-yippie-oh!

Way out West are prairie dogs. Yippie-yippie-oh!

Way out West are prairie dogs. Yippie-yippie-oh!

with a bark, bark here and a bark, bark there.

Here a bark, there a bark, everywhere a

bark, bark.

Way out West are prairie dogs. Yippie-yippie-oh!

Here We Go!

Tune: "Go In And Out The Window"

We're in a covered wagon.

We're in a covered wagon.

We're in a covered wagon,

A-rollin' down the trail!

We're in a covered wagon.

We're in a covered wagon.

We're in a covered wagon,

A-bumpin' down the trail!

We're in a covered wagon.

We're in a covered wagon.

We're in a covered wagon,

A-rockin' down the trail!

This Little Pig Cowboy Style

This little pig went to the rodeo,
This little pig stayed home,
This little pig had barbecue,
This little pig had none,
This little pig said, "Yipee-yipee-yi"
All the way home.

Watch You Go
Deedle, deedle, dumpling
Ride to town
Sometimes up, sometimes down.
Deedle deedle dumpling
Watch you go
Sometimes fast
Sometimes slow

Let’s go Riding
Tune: Are you Sleeping
Let’s go riding, let’s go riding,
Saddle up. Saddle up.
Everybody ready? Everybody ready?
Giddyap! Giddyap!

Riding Song
Tune: She’ll Be Comin Round the Mountain
Oh, a cowpoke sings a riding song Yah-hoo!
Oh, a cowpoke sings a riding song. Ya-hoo!
When a cowpoke goes a ridin’,
When a cowpoke goes a ridin’
Oh, a cowpoke sings a riding song. Yah-hoo!

All of Me

One Hand, Two Hands

One hand can wave (wave)

One hand can tap (tap leg)

But they each need a friend

If they want to clap (clap hands)

 

The Grand Old Duke

Oh the grand old duke of York

He had 10 thousand men

He marched them up to the top of the hill

And he marched them down again.

And when they’re up, they’re up

And when they’re down they’re down.

And when they’re only halfway up, they’re neither up nor down.

 

Two Little Feet

Two little feet go tap, tap, tap

Two little hands go clap, clap, clap

Two little feet go jump, jump, jump.

Two little hands go thump, thump, thump.

One little baby turns round and round.

One little child sits quietly down.

Clap Your Hands

Clap, clap, clap your hands

As slowly as you can.

Clap, clap, clap your hands

as quickly as you can

Other verses:

Roll your hands...

Shake your hands ...

Pound your fists ...

 

Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes

Head, shoulders, knees and toes

Knees and toes

Head, shoulders, knees and toes

Knees and toes.

Eyes and ears and mouth and nose

Head shoulders knees and toes

Knees and toes

 

Hokey Pokey

You put your hand in

You take your hand out

You put your hand in and you shake it all about

You do the hokey pokey and you turn yourself around.

That’s what it’s all about.

Wave With One Hand

Tune: Skip to my Lou

Wave with one hand, wave with the other,

Wave with one hand, wave with the other,

Wave with one hand, wave with the other,

Wave with both hands now.

•Stand on one foot, stand on the other…

•Stretch with one arm, stretch with the other…

•Touch one elbow, touch the other….