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Toddler Programs Chapter

By Laura Douglas

“Who Let the Dogs Out?”

Baha Men (2000)

Books To Share

Books to Show or Booktalk

Bulletin Boards

Going to the Dogs

Design a bulletin board that features the front view of a doghouse with a dog reading a book inside. Have “bone” die cuts available for the children to decorate. Ask an adult to write the name of their favorite book on the bone. Post the bones around the doghouse. Include a booklist with books about dogs, both fiction and non-fiction.

Nametags

Dogs

Create nametags from a dog, cat, or bone die cut.

Displays

A Dozen Books for Toddlers from the 2000’s

Display the following books along with memorabilia from the 2000’s such as MP-3 Players, Elmo, Pokemon® boom, SpongeBob SquarePants, Bratz Dolls™, Happy Bunny™, Barbie.

Rhymes and Poetry

My Dog Rags

(Traditional.)

I have a dog and his name is Rags. (Hang hands from ears)

He eats so much that his tummy sags. (Hold hands in front of stomach)

His ears flip flop, and his tail wig wags. (Flop hands by ears, and wag your tail)

And when he walks he goes zig zag. (Sway from side to side)

Puppies and Kittens

Recite “Puppies and Kittens” from The Complete Book of Rhymes, Songs, Poems, Fingerplays, and Chants by Jackie Silberg and Pam Schiller.

Songs

Paws, Muzzles, Ears, and Tails

(Traditional. Adapted by Stacey Irish-Keffer. Used with permission. Repeat three times, increasing the speed each time.)

Paws, muzzles, ears and tails, ears and tails. (Hold hands like paws, move to ears, then to behind)

Paws, muzzles, ears and tails, ears and tails. (Repeat)

Fur and fleas and ticks and snails. (Scratch all over)

Paws, muzzles, ears and tails, ears and tails. (Repeat motion again)

Crafts

Black and White Torn Paper Collages

Materials
Directions

Let each child choose a piece of construction paper and, with the help of a parent, tear the paper into small pieces. The torn shapes are then glued to a sheet of paper that is the opposite color from the one selected to tear apart. Parent and child can then talk about the shapes and the pictures they made and how their art resembles a Dalmatian dog. For an example, see the photo illustration at the end of this program.

Games and Activities

Play a little game with your group of toddlers using a short rhyme and the words “yes” and “no”, such as “No, No, No” from Games to Play with Two Year Olds by Jackie Silberg.

Early Literacy Skills Activities

These activities support six early literacy skills that children need to know before they learn how to read: letter knowledge, phonological awareness, print awareness, narrative skills, vocabulary, and print motivation. For more information, see the introduction to this manual, or visit the Every Child Ready to Read @ your library web site,www.ala.org/ala/alsc/ECRR/ECRRHomePage.htm.

Moo, Baa, La La La!

Introduce the book, Moo, Baa, La La La! by Sandra Boynton, by asking the group to make the animal sounds with you. Let them know you will be reading the story twice. Use the animal sound words provided at the end ofthis program as you tell the story. Enlarge the words to the size needed. Put the sound words up on the magnet board. The second time, ask the parents to read along, interacting with their child with the animal sounds. Bring out the pig puppet when he sings, “La, la, la.” Ask, “Is that right? No, pigs go Oink.” When you get to the last pages, review the animals’ sounds.

Please, Puppy, Please

Use a puppy puppet to act out story Please, Puppy, Please by Spike Lee & Tonya Lewis Lee. Have the children say the please puppy please refrain with you. Point to the phrases on the page as you read it. Ask questions about what the puppy is doing in the story. Ask what will happen next after the puppy rolls in the mud, jumps out of the tub, etc.

Statements about the six early literacy skills that may be used in the program to educate and inform parents about the importance of early literacy may be found in the book, Early Literacy Storytimes @ Your Library by Saroj Nadkarni Ghoting and Pamela Martin-Diaz.

Videos/DVDs/Films

If you have public performance rights, show these videos and DVDs, or segments of them, to the children. Otherwise, display them for home use. The length listed is for the entire film.

Where's Spot / Spot Goes To The Farm. (60 Minutes)

Professional Resources

Craft Materials

Black and White Torn Paper Collage Craft
torn paper collage
Moo, Baa, La La La Activity

page with animal noises such as moo, baa, oink, quack, etc.

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