DO Try This at Home! Storytimes for your Baby or Toddler. Part 2 – The Bounces and Lifts

Submitted by CCCL_ElayneP

In this 3-part series, you'll discover tips to help you practice Storytimes at home. Reading, talking, singing, and playing are the best ways to develop early literacy skills which help your child get ready to read when the time comes. This should start when they are brand new. Pick a time of day when your baby is fed and well-rested and give them your personal version of Storytime, including songs, bounces, peek-a-boo and reading their favorite books. So warm up those vocal cords, grab some books and get ready for fun with your little one!  

In Part 1 of this series to assist you with at-home Storytimes, we provided  information for choosing the books as well as some specific book recommendations. Now in part 2, you’ll learn why bouncing and lifting is not only lots of fun, but important for development too. You’ll have a grand time and get some exercise too! You can find more examples of bounces and lifts on our YouTube channel specifically watch: Little Red Wagon.  

The Bounces and Lifts (Playing/Singing) Bounces and lifts are a joyful experience for you and your little one as you play, laugh and cuddle! These activities are best for older babies whose neck muscles are strong enough to support their head, and the bouncing should be gentle. Baby should face you as they bounce so they can see your loving smile and see how you form the sounds and words that make up your language. Bounces allow children to feel the beat with their entire body along with hearing the rhyming chants and songs. Here are a few of our favorites from library Storytimes: 

Zoom, zoom, zoom we’re going to the moon (hands together with fingers pointing up)
Zoom, zoom, zoom we’re going to the moon
If you want to take a trip, climb aboard the rocket ship (walk fingers up arms)
Zoom, zoom, zoom, we’re going to the moon
5, 4, 3, 2, 1, blastoff! (lift baby)
(Repeat with varied verses Far/Stars, Fun/Sun, best with baby seated on floor in front of you) 

 Acka backa soda cracker, acka backa boo, (bouncing gently)
Acka backa soda cracker, UP goes you! (lift baby)
Acka backa soda cracker, acka backa boo,
Acka backa soda cracker, I love you! (hug baby) 

 Tick tock, tick tock, I’m a little cuckoo clock (rock baby gently side to side)
Tick tock, tick tock, now I’m turning one o’clock...CUCKOO! (lift baby on cuckoo!)
(Repeat with 2, 3, o’clock, lifting 2 times, then 3 times on cuckoo) 

 Bumpin’ up and down in my little red wagon (gentle bounce and repeat 3x)
Won’t you be my darlin’? (hug baby)
One wheel’s off and the axle’s broken (gentle bounce and lean to right/left, repeat 3x)
Won’t you be my darlin’? (hug baby) 

I’m a little beetle and I wiggle all day, (gentle bounce)
If you get too close to me, I’ll FLY away! (lift on “fly)
I’m a little ladybug, I crawl all day,
If you get too close to me, I’ll FLY away!
I’m a little bumblebee, I buzz all day,
If you get too close to me, I’ll FLY away! 

I’m toast in the toaster, I’m getting very hot, (gentle bounce)
Tick tock, tick tock, UP I pop! (bounce right/left then lift) 

 Next up...Part 3 of Storytimes for your Baby and Toddler – Songs and Action Rhymes!