Toddler Storytime: Valentines
Updated: December 7, 2020
Introduction: This Storytime is developed specially for children two and three years old and their caregivers. On this blog you will find various books, songs, rhymes, fingerplays, socialization, and crafts ideas. Each session of toddler storytime consists of a variety of activities that incorporate reading, writing, singing, talking, and playing.
Date: Every Wednesday
Time: 10:30 a.m.
Age Range: 2 to 3 years old
Skills Supported: Print conventions and awareness, motor skills, visual tracking skills, and socialization.
Frequency: Weekly
Attendance: 20 children and their parent/caregiver
Staff or Volunteer Needed: 1 staff member, 1 volunteer
Format: Registration is required.
Books Shared: (from storytime)
Foxy in Love by Emma Dodd
Valentine's Day by Trudi Strain Trueit
Other Books to Display on Book Cart at Storytime:
Bear in Love by Lauren Thompson
I Love You! A Bushel & A Peck by Rosemary Wells
A Kiss Like This by Mary Murphy
Lilly's Chocolate Heart by Kevin Henkes
Mouse's first valentine by Lauren Thompson
The Pete Cat's Groovy Guide to Love by Kimberly and James Dean
Sweet Hearts by Jan Carr
Valentine surprise by Corinne Demas
Storytime Preparation:
Make felt board pieces, enough for all children
1. Storytime Introduction: Welcome to Toddler Storytime. My name is Ms. Debbie. I am so glad to see you today. Our storytime is designed to be participated by everyone. We will share books, rhymes, and songs with your children. We encourage everyone to participate, but no worries if this doesn't happen. Sometimes when a child sees you participate, they might join in, but if your child is not in the mood, that is okay too. Our storytime can tend to be a little chaotic, but that is okay as well. If your child becomes disruptive, please take them outside the program room and then join us again when your child has settled down. This is normal, it is part of the process. So let's start with our opening song.
2. Opening Song:
(Credit: No Time For Flash Cards. 2016, January 30).
Lyrics:
How Many Friends are Here Today
How many friends are here today?
How many friends are here today
Let's count it out!
Let's clap it out!
Let's dance it out!
There are ______ friends on their feet!
Now it's time to take your seat!
3. Early Literacy Aside: Explain:
Today's early literacy skill is focusing on print awareness, or helping your children understand that print has meaning, one of the skills researchers say help kids get ready to read.
4. Theme Talk:
Today our storytime is about Valentine's Day. Can anyone tell me what Valentine's Day is? I am going to read some books about this fun day.
5. Action Song:
Row, row, row your boat Gently down the stream. Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, Life is but a dream.
(Childhood)
6. Information Book:
Valentine's Day by Trudi Strain Trueit
7. Shakers Shaker Song
Sung to the tune of “London Bridge
”Shake your shakers, shake, shake, shake,
Shake, shake, shake, shake, shake, shake
Shake your shakers, shake, shake, shake,
Shake your shakers!
Other Verses
:Shake your shakers high, high, high,
Shake your shakers low, low, low,
Shake your shakers fast, fast, fast,
Shake your shakers slow, slow, slow"
(Mulvenna, L. (2013, January 17)
8. Early Literacy: Example
Today when we make our craft, you will ask your child to write something in their card. Including scribbling, is one way to develop print awareness. Encourage your child to "read" to you what they wrote. This helps to reinforce that writing and printing have meaning, which is something children need to know to be ready to read (Ghoting & Martin-Diaz, 2013, p. 217). If you cannot stay for our craft today, Ms. Peggy will give you the supplies to make this craft at home.
9. Movement Activity:
(As I recite the rhyme, children and their parents will do the action)
Valentine, Valentine
Lyrics:
Valentine, Valentine run in place.
Valentine, Valentine touch your face.
Valentine, Valentine turn around.
Valentine, Valentine touch the ground.
Valentine, Valentine touch your nose.
Valentine, Valentine touch your toes.
Valentine, Valentine jump and hop.
Valentine, Valentine time to stop!
Valentine, Valentine pat your knees.
Valentine, Valentine sit down please.
(Literacy Hoots, 2015, February 11)
10. Book:
Foxy in Love by Emma Dodd
11. Song:
The More We Read Together [Tune: "The More We Get Together" ]
Lyrics:
The more we read together, together, together.
The more we read together, the better it is!
'Cause reading and singing and talking together,
is how you learn the six skills for reading by six.
(Johnson County Library, 2011, February 8).
12. Felt board:
Using the template that can be found below, cut out different color hearts on the felt. Enough to hand out one per child. Various colors of felt squares: $6.00. I like to buy various colors so we can practice our colors too.
Glue sand paper to the back of each heart.
With the help of the child's parents, call up different color hearts and have children place them on the felt board.
(Image: Fagnan, 2018, October)
13. Early Literacy Aside: Empower In today's activity, you and your child will make a valentine's card. Children can learn the connection between the written and spoken word, print awareness, with this activity. Have your child tell you what he/she wants to say in the card. Write that message in the card. Then you can re-read what they said. This will help your child begin to make this connection. (Ghoting & Martin-Diaz, 2013, p. 217).
14. Good-bye Song
(L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library, 2014, September 28).
Goodbye Bubbles:
(Librarian/staff associate will blow bubbles while the parents/caregiver and children sing the song.
Lyrics:
Goodbye Bubbles
Goodbye Bubbles
Time to Go
Time to Go
I will help you
I will help you
With a blow
With a blow
15. Storytime Activity Ideas:
A. Valentines Card
Supplies:
12 x 18 Red Construction
Paper
Glue Sticks
Stickers and Associated Valentines Foam Pieces etc. $15.00
Hole Puncher
White Ribbon
Black Sharpie
Cost: $21.00 Who will be your valentine? Parents and their child will work together to make a valentine's card.
Librarian/assistant/volunteer will hand out a 12" x 18" red piece of construction paper.
Fold it in half to make a card.
Inside have the child help glue a white paper doily in the center.
Ask your child what they would like to say inside the card and write it.
Have your child use the stickers and other craft material we have put on the tables. Use the whole punch to punch a hole in the left top corner and tie a ribbon in the hole.
Encourage your child to write something inside the card, scribbling is a great way to learn how to hold a crayon. It is one of the first steps in learning to write.
B. Valentines Collage
Valentines Template printed on white card stock. File below
Red, pink and white construction paper cut up into small squares
Glue Stock
Directions:
Simply, children glue squares in the heart.
16. Takeaway:
Parents/caregivers are given the Early Literacy Newsletter for Toddlers.
The newsletters are developed around the specific program so they usually have to be tweaked every time we run the program.
Note: For older children, I have treated children to fifteen minutes of making chocolate. Using a crockpot, I have melted chocolate and had them tip oreo cookies, fruit and pretzels. Allowed them to dry and had kids place in small goodies bags to give as a gift for valentines day. Note: I usually give children time to make a candy treat for themselves.
References:
Fagnan, D. (2018, October). Valentine Felt Board. [Digital Image].Ghoting, S.N., & Martin-Diaz, P. (2013). Storytimes for everyone!. Chicago, IL: ALAGoodreads. (n.d). Foxy in Love. [Digital Image]. Retrieved from https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17349054-foxy-in-loveGoodreads. (n.d.) Valentine's Day. [Digital Image]. Retrieved from https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1126581.Valentine_s_DayL.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library. (2014, September 28). Goodbye bubbles. [Video]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/RXXQqVx0gT0Literacy Hoots: The adventures and book raves or a children's librarian. (2015, February 11). V is for valentines storytime [Web log post]. Retrieved from http://www.literaryhoots.com/2015/02/v-is-for-valentine-storytime.htmlJohnson County Library. (2011, February 8). Love and Valentines Day Storytime. [Web log post]. Retrieved from https://www.jocolibrary.org/kids/storytime-blog/love-and-valentines-day-preschool-storytimeMulvenna, L. (2013, January 17). Shake Shake Shake [Web log post]. Retrieved from http://lisaslibraryland.blogspot.com/2013/07/shake-shake-shake.htmlNo Time For Flash Cards. (2016, January 30). Circle Time Chant. [Video]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/ECHXNMFVumM
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