James "Mr. Jim" Thomas, "the toddler icon"
Over the past several years, I have had the opportunity to work with young toddlers (ages 12 months to 24 months) in a story time setting.
As a result of these programs, I have developed various handouts that parents have found helpful in locating information and book titles appropriate for this age group. To save on the consumption of paper, these materials are available for anyone to print at the right of this page: "SideBar".
Should you have input/reactions, please contact me via my email address: earlyliteracyworkshops@live.com
additional wiki sites
itsybitsybabies.pbworks.com; rtor.pbworks.com
2s3s4s.pbworks.com; boysbooksreading.pbworks.com
video of "The Young and the Restless" program with one-year-olds available upon request via email
Background
"Mr. Jim," as I am called in the library setting, has worked as a children's librarian for the past 10 years after retiring as a library science professor for seventeen years at Texas Woman's University in Denton, Texas. I have also taught English in grades 7 through 11. My academic background includes a BA in English, MA in English, MLS in library science, and doctorate in Curriculum & Instruction from the University of Virginia. I have taken postdoctoral work in early childhood education. I have two grown sons and six grandchildren.
Contents of Story Times for Young Toddlers
Objectives
Young Toddlers (ages 12 to 24 months)
-for children
-establish comfort with the storytime structure and
presenter
-provide familiarity with the 30-minute time sequence
-encourage appropriate interactions of children with one
another
-identify personal names and body parts
-introduce language and concepts: alphabet, numbers,
color, shape
-demonstrate use of gross-motor skills through music
and exercise
-promote eye/hand coordination and small-motor with
signs for concrete objects
-for parents/caregivers
-demonstrate that learning can be fun and enjoyable
-model behaviors for individual interactions and group
participation
-suggest book and music titles for 12-24 months
-share information by providing topical handouts for
parents to take home
-provide opportunities for communication between parent
and child in order to promote the development of early
literacy skills outside the story time setting
Format of Program
opening
-welcome to children and parents/caregivers
-introduction of self
-expectations of parents/caregivers:
sitting on floor;
working with their child continuously;
request parents to turn cell phones off
parts of the program
alphabet mixed up on board and then moved to correct order;
words that go with each letter
shapes: triangle, square, circle (real objects such as tissue box for square)
OR
colors: green, red, yellow (scarf of each color, such as green, walk around room
lightly touch each child and say the name of color
“where, where, where is (name of color)”; locate children or parents who are wearing the color
counting (1-5)
count concrete alphabet objects shared in identification;
place numbers 1-5 on board and sing: “one little…” etc, until the group reaches 5
song: Big Fat Hen (recorded)book same title by Keith Baker displayed
children practice with me: buckle shoes, shut the door, pick up sticks, lay them
straight, big fat hen (hands in front of tummy) to music
(variations depending upon group size and time)
self: baby face on board and identification of parts
clapping: listening skills; following directions; coordination of eyes-hands (BINGO)
foreign language: exposure to words used for common objects in other languages
exercises: “Let’s tap our legs together”
songs—“Head, shoulders, knees and toes”
yoga—“snake” and “lion” positions (eventually include “frog” & “camel”)
walking/participation
“This is the way we wash our hands…” etc. (song)
(children walk with me around room; separate from parent/caregiver)
to I Went Walking (book) by Sue Williams; pictures are placed around room; each is
removed and then placed on a child until complete
OR
or Polar, Bear, Polar Bear by Bill Martin for variety Brown Bear, Brown Bear
(same actions as above)
signing concrete objects:
animals: duck, elephant, butterfly, dog, cat, turtle, etc. words, then without
“The Tiny Little Spider” (show book); motions with words, then without
“In a Cabin in the Woods” (show book) motions with words,then without;
“Five Little Ducks” all five ducks on display board; take finger play to zero; mother returns
songs: "Please Change My Diaper," "More Milk," "There's a Tiger Walking" (Pick Me Up!)
ending:
song: “Hokey Pokey” recorded (basic actions: left, right, etc.)
story basket: dump on floor and children must identify and retrieve their own names
located at entrance: piece of paper paper sheets cut in ribbons and markers for
child’s name to take into room
goodbye—stickers with alphabet, color or shape
signage: (numerous vertical signs of handouts for parents to take)
REPETITION IS THE KEY!
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