Fall Storyteller Training

Spicing up Storytime

Storyteller Training

A big thank you to our guest Storyteller, Jessica Nix, Developmental Specialist for Kids on the Move. Thank you Jessica!!!

In our years of doing Storytimes and Laptimes here in our very large children's wing at the Orem Public Library, we find ourselves in a constant state of change. We are forever and always searching for ways to improve our offerings in our effort to be better--and better--and better! Jessica's presentation on telling to the littlest of our littles was an amazing opportunity to re-align our goals with what we are actually doing.

** When doing a Storytime, or Laptime as we call it, for the youngest of library patrons, it is extremely easy to go off track, to steer your storytime out of the baby and toddler realms and into the preschool camp.

Do not be swayed. Stay your course.

Do not shift gears and tell to the preschoolers who happen to be attending your baby laptime. I know, its going to be hard as they are the ones who are verbal, communicative, and responsive (thereby making your task of keeping it young even more daunting).

Hold fast and tell to the infants. At their level. It will pay off.

** You might ask HOW do you host a storytime at an infants level? How do you know if you are reaching them? As anyone who has tried can tell you, these children seem to fall into two categories:

The mini lumps that sit passively, silent, and seemingly unresponsive.
The wanderer who scoots gleefully away from the grasping frazzled arms of their adult.

Neither seem to be gaining anything from storytime. But---as explained by Jessica in our training-- 

"It takes 1,000 drops. It takes an average child hearing a word 1,000 times before they will then attempt to speak it. It's like filling a sponge, drop in the 1,000 drops and once the sponge is filled, one drop will come out, followed by another, and another, and so on."

SET YOURSELF UP FOR INFANT STORYTIME SUCCESS

1- Check your inhibitions at the door.

You are the performer, you are it, you are THE STORYTELLER.
Raise those eyebrows, lift those shoulders, use your full arsenal of vocal inflection.
Amplify yourself, as if you have a switch, turn yourself on and BE that storyteller personality.

If you are willing to be that silly, engaging, super smiling storyteller--then you are not only attracting the attention of the babies, but you are silently giving permission to the caregiving adults to do the same.

Welcome your attendees as they arrive. Warn them that we are going to get a little weird. Oh yes, you are that wind-up monkey. Welcome by name if you know it, if not, just start in on the compliments, because face it, what parent isn't head over heels for someone who notices and compliments their children.

Come on, practice it:
"Hi there! Oh, don't you look adorable in those sparkly pink shoes today! Oh, and you, you are so rocking that dinosaur shirt! My what brilliant caregivers and parents you all are for giving your child the gift of learning today! Welcome, welcome!


2- Repeat, repeat, and did I say it already? REPEAT.

Remember those drops into that little brain sponge? It's takes a 1,000 times, hearing the same word.

Say the fingerplay, rhyme, or poem to set it up for the adults
Sing it-- keep it slow, make eye contact with your audience--particularly the babies and toddlers.
Do it again--speed it up only if it looks like you've captured your target audience--the kids.
Now, again. Yes, again. Make a goal to reach even the most reluctant of participants.

Be over the top. Exaggerate. Emphasize. And if the adults are bored, you are just about doing it right.

 ~Do be conscious of the fact that you might have some more shy, timid, and special needs children, watch for those non-verbal clues warning you off.


3-  Don't be afraid to take it S L O W.

We may be experts, the preschoolers in your audience will certainly know they are experts, but those babies . . . they are not.

Enunciate, say it slow and clear. Incorporate body movements to more fully express your words. Repeat.


4- Be the example, kids learn through imitation.

It's all about building confidence with competence. Fingerplays are a staple of storytime for a reason.

Show your audience what is expected, ie: fingerplay moves, body gestures. Now PRACTICE with them:


First, show the gestures.
Second, pair the gesture with sounds (environmental, animal sounds).
Third step is gestures paired with actual words (exclamatory phrases).

In any way possible, get the adults to assist the littles by holding the child's hands, lifting their elbows, rolling their arms. It's amazing how quickly a baby will respond when given 'permission' to be involved. Imitation of their loved ones is key. It's hand over hand.

p.s. It's great when you have your own 'demonstration model/child' to assist you in doing the gestures.


TIPS:

Themes for Babies and Toddlers
Object words
Animal Sounds
Environmental Sounds
Exclamatory phrases
Short simple phrases

Beware of Theme Tunnel Vision
It's perfectly natural to think you need a theme. Well guess what, there aren't many babies that will get what Winter is. Or Valentines Day, Halloween, or anything else you may cook up. If you are doing a theme, realize that it is for you and the adults. It is not for the kids. Do not expect them to respond to such vague subjects. Now incorporate BIG and small with animal sounds and lots of movement--well, you might have just found a bridge between the two worlds. 

Praise specifics, such as, "I love your clapping hands." instead of the generic, "wonderful job."
 
Get Full Use of your Props
Do you have bells, rhythm sticks, or other prop to hand out? If you are going to the effort of handing out props, make full use of them. Let the kids hold onto the props for more than one quick shake, jiggle, or rattle of a song rendition. This is where repetition comes in very handy. Do more than just one movement. Take it high. Take it low. Got some mobile toddlers--let them dance it out. 

While on the subject of props -- REMOVE ALL POSSIBLE DISTRACTIONS, ie: Hide your props when not in use. All of them.


Now you too can be the infant laptime telling pro!

Bouncy Bounce and Baby

Bouncy Bounce Baby Laptime

courtesy of our volunteer storyteller EJ

Bounce by Doreen Cronin

OPL Link

These are Baby’s Fingers

These are baby’s fingers,

   (Show baby their fingers)

These are baby’s toes,

   (Show baby their toes)

This is baby’s belly button,

   (Point at baby’s belly button)

Round and round it goes!

   (Add a bit of a tickle to the round and round)

Let’s Go Riding in an Elevator

Let’s go riding in an elevator

Let’s go riding in an elevator

First floor

   (Lift baby up one ‘floor’)

Second floor

   (Lift baby up another ‘floor’)

Third floor

   (high . . . )

Fourth floor

   (higher . . . )

Fifth floor

   (highest . . . stand if you have to )

Doooowwwwwnn!

   (and down down down)

This is the Way the Baby Rides

This is the way the baby rides,

   (Bounce baby on your knees )

The baby rides, the baby rides.

This is the way the baby rides,

So early in the morning. 

This is the way the farmer rides…

   (Bounce baby a bit faster)

This is the way the jockey rides…

   (Bounce even faster)

I Bounce You Here

I bounce you here, I bounce you there,

   (Bounce child on one knee)

I bounce you, bounce you, everywhere.

   (Bounce child on other knee)

I tickle you here, I tickle you there,

   (Tickle!)

I tickle you, tickle you, everywhere.

   (Tickle EVERYWHERE!)

I hug you here, I hug you there,

   (Hug and … just maybe tickle)

I hug you, hug you, everywhere!

Bumpy Road

Smooth Road, Smooth Road.

   (‘Roll’ baby over gentle hills on your knees)

Bumpy Road, Bumpy Road.

   (Bump baby on your knees)

Rough Road, Rough Road.

   (Now add the tickle for a rough rough – but be gentle J)

Uh-Oh! A hole!

   (‘Drop’ baby into a ‘hole’ created by opening your knees)

I’m Bouncing

   (Jumping for toddlers, bounce on parent’s lap if younger)

I’m bouncing, bouncing everywhere,

I bounce and bounce into the air.

I’m bouncing, bouncing like a ball,

I bounce and bounce, then down I fall.

   (Collapse down to the ground)

Bounce Your Baby

Bounce your baby up,

Bounce your baby down,

Bounce your baby to the side,

Bounce them all around.

Tickles on their shoulder,

Tickles on their head,

Tickles on their tummy,

Now hug ‘n kiss to bed.

End with bouncing balls for everyone

Body Parts

Body Parts Laptime
Courtesy of our volunteer storyteller
Pamela H with the fabulous (and wondefully endless) resource:

 
http://www.preschooleducation.com/sbody.shtml

Parts that Bend
Original Author Unknown

Sung to: "B-I-N-G-O"

My arms have parts that bend and move

Every time I use them.

Shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand.

Shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand.

Shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand.

And this is how I move them!

My legs have parts that bend and move

Every time I use them.

Knee, ankle, heel and foot

Knee, ankle, heel and foot

Knee, ankle, heel and foot

And this is how I move them!

My trunk has parts that bend and move

Every time I use them.

Neck, back, waist and hips

Neck, back, waist and hips

Neck, back, waist and hips

And this is how I move them!

I'm made of parts that bend and move

Every time I use them.

Shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand..

Knee, ankle, heel and foot.

Neck, back, waist and hips

Head And Shoulders 
Original Author Unknown

Head and shoulders, knees and toes,

Knees and toes, knees and toes,

Head and shoulders, knees and toes,

Eyes, ears, mouth and nose.

Ankles, elbows, feet and seat, feet and seat,

Ankles, elbows, feet and seat, feet and seat,

And hair and hips and chin and cheeks,

Ankles, elbows, feet and seat, feet and seat.

My Body 
Original Author Unknown

Sung to: "Where is Thumbkin"

This is my body.

This is my body.

It's the only one I've got.

It's the only one I've got.

I'm going to take good care of it.

I'm going to take good care of it.

Yes I am. Yes I am.

Head to Toe
Original Author Unknown

Wiggle fast; then wiggle slow.

Let's learn about the body-from head to toe!

Scrub A Dub-Dub Song

Sung to: "The Mulberry Bush"

This is the way we scrub our hands,

(Pretend to wash hands.)

Scrub our hands, scrub our hands.

This is the way we scrub our hands,

So early in the morning.

This is the way we scrub our faces,

(Pretend to wash face.)

Scrub our faces, scrub our faces.

This is the way we scrub our faces,

So early in the morning.

This is the way we scrub our elbows,

(Pretend to wash elbows.)

Scrub our elbows, scrub our elbows.

This is the way we scrub our elbows,

So early in the morning.

This is the way we scrub our stomachs,

(Pretend to wash stomachs.)
 Scrub our stomachs, scrub our stomachs.

This is the way we scrub our stomachs,

So early in the morning.

Continue with additional verses ~ other body parts.

Me
 Original Author Unknown

Here are my fingers and here is my nose.

Here are my ears, and here are my toes.

Here are my eyes that open wide.

Here is my mouth with my white teeth inside.

Here is my pink tongue that helps me speak.

Here are my shoulders and here is my cheek.

Here are my hands that help me play.

Here are my feet that go walking each day.

More at
http://www.preschooleducation.com/

Grand Old Duke of York

It's a Proper Right Laptime for You Today, 

My Friends 

Are you Sleeping
This is a good one to use bells with or just rock back and forth to the rhythm.

Are you sleeping, are you sleeping?
Brother John, Brother John.
Morning bells are ringing, morning bells are ringing,
Ding, ding, dong. Ding, ding, dong 


I'm a Little Cuckoo Clock
Tick-tock, tick tock,
I'm a little cuckoo clock.
Tick-tock, tick tock,
Now I'm striking one o-clock.
Cuckoo!
- at each cuckoo you lift your child up. Older children stand for each one.
Continue to a count of 5.


Grand Old Duke of York

The grand old duke of York,
  Salute
He had ten thousand men,
 waggle all your fingers
He marched them up to the top of the hill
 march and stand up as you go (or... have sitting parents lift baby up in the air)
And he marched them down again
  march and sit as you go (or ... have sitting parents lower baby down)


And when you're up, you're up
 march and stand up as you go (or... have sitting parents lift baby up in the air)
And when you're down, you're down
  march and sit as you go (or ... have sitting parents lower baby down
And when you're only only half way up
  half way ...
You're neither up nor down
  Up, then down -- quickly


Horsey Horsey 
This works well as a round or with rhythm sticks
  ---if you are telling to the older children.
p.s. I would NOT combine a round with the rhythm sticks
- that would be asking just a bit much of adults, let alone little kids! ;)
 
Horsey horsey on your way
We've been together for many a day,
So let your tail go swish,
And your wheels go 'round.
Giddy'up we're homeward bound.

I like to take the horse and the buggy
As we go traveling through the town
I like to hear old Dobbin's Clip Clop
As I watch the wheels go 'round.


Well now, it ain't a true trip to the English countryside without a fox hunt. WAIT just a minute . . . did you all bring your horses today? Oh you did, how fortunate, get on your horses lads and ladies--
 

This is the Way the Farmer Rides

This is the way the farmer rides, the farmer rides, the farmer rides
-bounce baby on your knee
This is the way the farmer rides
So early in the morning.

This is the way the gentleman rides...
-bounce baby in an English trot
This is the way the Lady rides...
-soft side saddle trot
This is the way the Baby rides...
-silly giggly, tickly rolllicking bounce
 
And Old Dobbin, well he just goes gallopy trot, gallopy trot
insert slow and goofy voice here ;)
-work both knees opposite, one up, the other down, baby straddling both and rocking all over.


A-Hunting We Will Go

A hunting we will go, a hunting we will go

Heigh ho, the dairy-o, a hunting we will go

We'll catch a fox and put him in a box

And then we'll let him go

A hunting we will go, a hunting we will go

Heigh ho, the dairy-o, a hunting we will go

We'll catch a fish and put him on a dish

And then we'll let him go

(seriously a fish? What will they think of next?)

A hunting we will go, a hunting we will go

Heigh ho, the dairy-o, a hunting we will go

We'll catch a bear and cut his hair

And then we'll let him go

(Oh dear, I don't think I want to be catching a bear! I will certainly be letting HIM go!)

A hunting we will go, a hunting we will go

Heigh ho, the dairy-o, a hunting we will go

We'll catch a pig and dance a little jig

And then we'll let him go

(now we're getting just plain silly, a pig dance a jog? That's preposterous.)

A hunting we will go, a hunting we will go

Heigh ho, the dairy-o, a hunting we will go!

 

Around the House the Fox Chased the Mouse: A Prepositional Tale by Rick Walton
Over, Under, Through! 

Have the adults tickle their way around, over, under, and through





Five in the Bed
or 10 if you want to go that long!

- - - Board Book Ten in the Bed by Penny Dale is one among MANY published versions - - -
note: there is a darn cute English version of this! Go to the bottom of this post for the additional chorus!

Ten in the bed and the little one said,
  hold up 10 fingers
Roll over, roll over 
 roll hands
So they all rolled over and one fell out.
  sound effects are perfect here - BOINK!

Nine in the bed and the little one said,
  now it's 9 fingers

...continue to...

One in the bed and the little one said, I'm lonely, come back here.
Deep breath...(or a humongous parental sigh!)

Five in the bed and the little one said
  and from there it can be a bit like the never-ending John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt!
  

Five in the Bed -- alternate ending
... after 'One fell out'
change of tune here, suddenly you are singing in a very British Monarchy way, I wish I knew the name of it

Please remember to
Tie a knot in your pajamas
Single beds are only made for ONE,2,3,4,5,5,6,7,8,9!

Four in the bed and the little one said,
Roll over, roll over
So they all rolled over and one fell out.

Please remember to
Tie a knot in your pajamas
Single beds are only made for ONE,2,3,4,5,5,6,7,8!

Three in the bed... 

And Goodnight!