Toddler Programs Chapter
By Miranda Bauer and WyLaina Hildreth
Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes
- Books to Share
- Nametag
- Fingerplays
- Songs
- Crafts
- Games and Activities
- Books to Display or Booktalk
- Bulletin Board
- Displays
- Audio Recordings
- Professional Resources
Books to Share
Horns to Toes and In Between by Sandra Boynton.
Piggies by Don Wood.
Whose Toes Are Those? by Jabari Asim.
From Head to Toe by Eric Carle.
Nametag
Let parents trace their children’s hands and cut them out to make nametags. Or, pre-cut squares of paper, large enough for a toddler’s hand to fit on. Have them trace their hand, but do not cut it out. Write the child’s name on the tag they made.
Fingerplays
Here Are My Ears
Here are my ears.
Here is my nose.
Here are my fingers.
Here are my toes.
Here are my eyes,
Both open wide.
Here is my mouth,
With white teeth inside.
Here is my tongue,
That helps me speak.
Here is my chin,
And here are my cheeks.
Here are my hands
That help me play.
Here are my feet
For walking today.
Recite Pat-a-Cake.
Songs
Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes
Head, shoulders, knees, and toes,
Knees and toes.
Head, shoulders, knees, and toes,
Knees and toes.
Eyes and ears and mouth and nose.
Head, shoulders, knees, and toes.
Hokey Pokey
You put your right hand in,
You take your right hand out,
You put your right hand in,
And you shake it all about.
You do the Hokey Pokey,
And you turn yourself around,
That’s what it’s all about.
Repeat the verses with different body parts.
Crafts
The Shape of Me
Materials- Bulletin board paper
- Washable markers
Pre-cut the bulletin board paper in 3-feet lengths. Allow the children to lie down on the paper. Have a parent trace the child’s body with the washable markers. Allow the children to color the shape.
Foot Puppets
Materials- Construction paper
- Markers
- Scissors
- Craft sticks
- Glue
Lay a piece of construction paper on the ground. Have the child place their shoe on the paper. Trace the shoe. Have the child decorate the shape. Cut out the shape and glue a craft stick to the back of the shoe at the toe.
Games and Activities
Simon Says
This game is about paying attention and listening. The children stand up and the librarian calls out movement directions involving body parts such as, “Simon says touch your toes.” If librarian begins the instructions by saying, “Simon Says”, the children perform the movement. Intermittently, the librarian omits the phrase “Simon Says” from the beginning of the sentence, and the children who follow the instructions must sit down. Play until one child is left standing.
Books to Display or Booktalk
Clap Your Hands by Lorinda Bryan Cauley.
It’s My Body ABC by Lola M. Schaefer.
Look at You!: A Baby Body Book by Kathy Henderson.
Bulletin Board
The Shape of Me
Lay bulletin board paper on the floor and cut a piece that is one foot taller than you are. Lie down on the paper and have a colleague trace around your body with a marker. Cut out the shape. Cover the bulletin board in a solid color of paper. Place the body shape on the board. Place tags on the bulletin board with the names of the body parts. For example, place a tag that says “Hand” next to or on the hand.
Displays
Make a display using human and animal body parts. Prepare die cuts of hands, feet, paws, claws, noses, ears, and eyes. Place them around books such as From Head to Toe by Eric Carle.
Audio Recordings
“We Taste With Our Tongues” on Learning Land & Rainbow Village by Singin’ Steve.
Professional Resources
A to Z Kids Stuff: My Body
http://www.atozkidsstuff.com/tbody.html Fingerplays, songs, and activities for toddlers.
Body Parts
http://pammshouse.com/thememay4.html
This site has activities and games to help toddlers learn about the different parts of their body.
Everything Preschool
http://www.everythingpreschool.com/themes/bodyparts/coloringpage.php
Coloring sheets for preschoolers.