Toddler Programs Chapter
By Miranda Bauer and WyLaina Hildreth
Cat and Dog Swing
- Books to Share
- Nametag
- Fingerplays
- Songs
- Flannel Boards
- Crafts
- Books to Display or Booktalk
- Bulletin Board
- Displays
- Audio Recordings
- Web Sites
- Professional Resources
- Craft Materials
Books to Share
Good Boy, Fergus! by David Shannon.
Have You Seen My Cat? by Eric Carle.
I Want A Pet by Lauren Child.
Pet Animals by Lucy Cousins
Nametag
Dog Bone
Use Ellison die cuts to make shapes of animals that are common pets, such as cats, dogs, birds, and mice. Write the name of the child on the shape of the animal. Or, cut out bones using the pattern at the end of this program.
Fingerplays
Five Kittens
| Five little kittens standing in a row, | (hold up five fingers) |
| They nod their heads to the children so. | (bend fingers) |
| They run to the left; they run to the right. | (run fingers to the left and then to the right) |
| They stand up and stretch in the bright sunlight. | (stretch fingers out tall) |
| Along comes a dog who’s in for some fun. | (hold up one finger from opposite hand) |
| ME-OW! See those little kittens run! | (let fingers run) |
Songs
Sing “Mary Had a Little Lamb.”
Flannel Boards
Hey Diddle Diddle
Make a flannel board for the nursery rhyme “Hey Diddle Diddle” with the following pieces: cat, dog, moon, cow, dish and spoon. The DLTK’s web site has an example of the shapes needed at http://www.dltk-teach.com/rhymes/heydiddle/mobile.htm. Recite the rhyme and put the pieces on the board. Have the children recite the rhyme with you.
Crafts
My Pet
Materials
- Construction paper in various colors
- Glue
- Markers
Directions
Precut various colors of construction paper into a variety of shapes. Allow the children to glue these shapes onto a piece of construction paper in any manner they wish to make a pet. If they would like, allow them to color and decorate their pet. If they name the pet, write the name of the pet on the paper.
Books to Display or Booktalk
Millions of Cats by Wanda Gag.
Moonbear’s Pet by Frank Asch.
Pick A Pet by Shelley Rotner.
Bulletin Board
Display short poems about pets on poster-sized paper on the bulletin board. Provide pictures of cats and dogs for the toddlers to color, from the printable animal coloring pages at Fun with Pictures.com at http://www.fun-with-pictures.com/pet-animals-coloring-pages.html. Hang the children’s creations on the board.
Displays
Ask library staff to bring in photos of their pets. Display these photos along with photos of the staff members. You may also include puppets such as dogs, cats, birds, mice, rats, and hedgehogs in the display.
Audio Recordings
Wonder Pets! by Wonder Pets.
Web Sites
DLTK’s: Hey Diddle Diddle
http://www.dltk-teach.com/rhymes/heydiddle/mobile.htm
Very easy to use template for the nursery rhyme.
Fun With Pictures: Pet Animals Coloring Pages
http://www.fun-with-pictures.com/pet-animals-coloring-pages.html
This web site contains printable coloring pages of pets.
Professional Resources
Disney: Pets and Toddlers
http://family.go.com/parentpedia/toddler/behavior/toddler-pets/
Disney web site that has expert advice on integrating pets into a toddler’s life.
http://librarystorytime.wordpress.com/2008/02/04/toddler-theme-pets/
A blog with tips and hints on doing a theme on pets.
Craft Materials
Dogbone Nametags
