Normally I share what I do in the 2 and 3 yr old Storytime, but today I felt like sharing the program for the infants.
So the program we do for the infants is Mother Goose on the Loose. It is a half hour program of nursery rhymes, songs, a board book, and other fun activities meant to help your baby grow and develop, especially with attention span, motor skills, self-esteem, and of course, a love of reading and books. The Merrillville Branch of the Lake County Public Library offers it every first and third Tuesday of the month at 10 am ( Check Library Events and Happenings for info at other branches.)
Because about 75 % of the program is repeated ( and about 25 % is negotiable), I may not always be writing about this program ( plus there are so many rhymes and songs). What I will do instead is share a few of them ( some of which I have also used for storytime for 2 and 3 yr olds and daycare visits)
Here is a small idea of what to expect at a typical Mother Goose on the Loose ( or MGOL) program-
Mother Goose ( always at the start)
Old Mother Goose,
When she wanted to wander,
Would ride through the air
On her very fine gander.
Hit the Floor
We hit the floor together
We hit the floor together
We hit the floor together
Because it's fun to do
(Other verses/actions optional-wiggle ten fingers, sway side to side,etc)
Round and Round ( uses child's palm, tickle rhyme)
Round and round the garden ( draw circles on palm)
Goes the teddy bear ( see above)
One step, two step ( creep fingers on arm)
Tickle under there ( tickle under armpit)
I Went to Visit the Farm ( part of the animal/farm portion, use of
Very Busy Spider or some farm animal to do animal sounds)
I went to visit the farm one day
I saw a
duck along the way
And what did you think the
duck did say?
Quack, quack, quack
( Usually show about 4-5 animals)
Pretty Ponies (part of the lullaby section)
Hush a bye, don't you cry
Go to sleep my little baby
When you wake, you shall have
All the pretty little ponies
These are just a few of the rhymes. Usually it's about 20 or so songs, rhymes, etc. to fill the half hour. Some things are changed from time to time ( for example, one program might have bells for the musical instruments, another program could feature sticks for musical instruments. Or there might be more knee bounces during the body rhyme segment.)
Of course the book will always be different. I like using books that at least are somewhat interactive. Some of the board books I have used are:
Tickle Time by Sandra Boynton
Time for a Hug by Phillis Gershanto
Five Little Ducks by Penny Ives
To end, I am using the closing song " We're So Happy.I'll admit that I have added a extra line or two encourage the babies and parents to come back.
We're so Happy
We're so Happy
Everybody's here
And We're so happy
We're so happy
We'll.... see in two weeks /next month
Y'all come back now. Bye-bye.
