Fingerplays, Songs and Stretches for Storytime

Ready to tackle storytime at home? Once you've selected 3-4 books it's time to think about which songs, fingerplays and stretches you'll want to incorporate. Did you know songs, fingerplays and stretches bring us together, develop fine and gross motor skills and offer an opportunity to learn? 

Welcome or Hello Songs:
After you read your first book, you may want to share a welcome or hello song (it’s a great way to start the day as well):

• The More We Get Together performed by Raffi
• Jambo by Ella Jenkins
• Hello, Friends (which introduces Sign Language)

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Fingerplays and Songs:

• Handwashing Song (This song works—It’s the one I sing as I wash my hands for 20 seconds. 1 Time Fast | 1 Time Slow)
• Two Little Blackbirds
• Five Fat Peas

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Stretches:

• Zoom, Zoom, Zoom (A Richland Library storytime favorite!)
• Stop and Go performed by Ella Jenkins (Ella Jenkins is a classic!)
• Little Red Caboose performed by Sweet Honey in the Rock (Make your own train in your living room.)
• Today is Monday or Today is Monday (Learn about days of the week and get your cardio in!)

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Learning Songs:

• Chocolate performed by Sonia De Los Santos (Learn some Spanish while singing about Chocolate—yum!)
• Curious by Pears4Bears  (Practice your mad rhyming skills and promote phonological awareness.)

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Goodbye Songs:
Ending your storytime with a goodbye song reinforces routine and ends the ritual of storytime.

• Goodbye, Friends (which introduces Sign Language)
• Skinnamarink by Sharon, Lois and Bram

Remember—If you don’t like any of these songs, you can always put on your favorite music and have a dance party or musical intermission between books.  
 
Your family’s storytime doesn’t have to be perfect or just like at the library.  The most important part is having fun and being together while surrounded by books.  

Looking for more tips on tackling storytime at home? Try Ms. Leslie's tried-and-true tips for storytime, here.