We've had an awesome summer at my library with great programs, storytimes and activities. I will say the odd raining and cool weather might have played a part in driving people into the building.
We did the Collaborative Summer Reading program "Every Hero has a Story" and I created 5 toddlers storytimes for "Super Toddlers" I kept my same format, but in the summer time my group is a lot smaller and I can usually rely on my regulars, so I added a craft to every storytime.
Super Toddlers- Superheroes
I took inspiration from Literary Hoots' Ninja Storytime . Not all superheroes wear capes!
Books Read : Do Superheroes have Teddy Bears (Coyle), Ninja Ninja Never Stop (Tuell) Hoot Owl Master of Disguise (Taylor) and Hero Mom (Hardin)
For our craft, we decorated blank superheroes with markers and scrap paper. I ordered some per-made craft sticks from Oriental Trader that were really too small for toddlers. So I made up something else on card stock and let them decorate both of them.
Super Toddlers- American Heroes
Fourth of July is one of my favorite holidays. So when I get a chance to do a storytime about it, I go for! While it's not a great choice for a read aloud at this age group- John, Paul, George and Ben by Lane Smith is a must read at this time of year. Books about parades and summer picnics are also good choice to round out a Fourth of July storytime.
I reused a firework flannel from Chinese New Year storytime
Books Read: Yankee Doddle (Hoberman), Fourth of July Mice (Roberts) Red White and Blue (Wardlaw)
Firework painting was our craft. It was very impressive! Most of kids were very focused on creating the fireworks while only a few treated it as a finger painting craft. I created firework stampers out of pipe cleaners and let them dip them in red, blue and silver paint. You can make a fire work shaped brush out of forks, straws or q-tips. Defiantly doing this again!
Super Toddlers- Construction Heroes
Construction always seems a crowd pleaser regardless of age or gender. You should do a mud/dirt/sand sensory bin. However you can also be like me who did enough of those already this summer and make a three little pigs sensory bin out of craft sticks, red LEGO bricks, and straw.
Early literacy tip for parents: Most of these construction story often involve building something. Clues are hidden in the text so see if you and your child can guess was the "surprise" building at the end of the story. (A park, pool, roller coast etc.)
Books Read: B is for Bulldozer (Sobel) Huff and Puff (Rueda) Tip Tip Dig Dig (Garcia) Machines at Work (Barton)
Including playing with the story/sensory bin, I also let the kids doddle with white chalk on blue construction paper to create their own "blue prints"
Super Toddlers- Community Heroes
Can't forget our firefighters, mail carriers and sanitation workers! As an activity, I played Oscar the Grouch's "I love Trash" and literally scattered trash on the floor for the kids to pick up. Surprise, they love it! So I made them promise to their homes and pick up all the trash all the time.
Books Read: Clothesline Clues to Jobs People Do (Heling)*, Smash! Mash! There Goes the Trash (Odanaka) Shhh! Everyone is Sleeping (Markes) This is the Firefighter (Goodwin)
Reading tips: With the book Shhh! Everyone is Sleeping- all the community helpers are sleeping in their work places. Ask you group if a librarian sleeps/lives in the library, etc. Most people do not, but some do (firefighters, the president etc.)
For our craft we made a community hero belt. Each kid got several coloring pieces of hammers, toothbrushes, police badge and brown construction paper to make a belt. I knew this was a bigger and more time consuming craft than others. I offered the craft as a take home for anyone who wanted it.
(P.S. This author has a similar formatted book about sports. Planning ahead for SRP 2016! )
Super Toddlers- Storybook Heroes
This is a general theme less storytime. I used a selection of fairy tale, nursery rhyme books as well as some classic favorites. Chose what ever books, rhymes and fingerplays that suite you!
For our craft, we made simple paper plate crowns and covered them with loads of stickers, foam pieces and stick on jewels
We like many other libraries take a break in the month of August. So now I face with the awkwardness of parents asking me why I don't have story times and activities this month. What is the most efficient way of tell them we are on break without making the staff seem like we are lazy?
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