Toddler Story Time

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In a week and a half, I start a Toddler and Parent Storytime for terrific two year olds. I'm looking forward to it, but there will be a learning curve. I had a story program for grade school kids, ages 6 to 11, for seven years, before staffing cuts forced us to make it available only during the summer reading program.

I enjoy that age group the most, because I can choose more complex stories and use multiple voices. I had a great group this summer, mostly ages 6 to 8, though I did get older siblings. It was different kids almost every week, and for the first time this summer, I rarely had a kid who was disruptive or inattentive; they all had a great time.

The toddler program will require me to be "on stage" every moment, or I will lose them. It's a shorter program, with stories, songs and fingerplays. Even looking for materials, is bringing back fond memories of going to Mommy and Me with my son. I find I'm seeking out the "music and movement" songs that were part of every Mommy and Me class, to use in my own program. Do you know Raffi? I love him.

I have many favorite books from my own child's toddler years. What is your favorite book to read to a two year old? Mine include Quick as a Cricket by Audrey Wood, and What Next, Baby Bear? by Jill Murphy. Ages 3 to 5, I could list hundreds!

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