Library Programming for

BabiesSuzanne WalkerIndiana State Librarysuwalker@library.in.gov@suzieecw

Who is this person?What about my LEUs?

What are we talking about?

• Babies – ages 0-11 mos• Ages 0-1 month should really not be exposed

to lots of other babies…up to you• It’s never to late to start educating the

parents

Why should we have programming just for babies?

• To educate their parents or caregivers.

What do we do in a baby program?

• Talking, Singing, Reading, Writing, Playing

What do we do in a baby program?

• We need to teach parents how to Talk, Sing, Read, Write, and Play with their babies.

What do we do in a baby program?

• Show them how to talk with their child.• Show them how to play with their child.• Model dialogic reading.• Work on motor skills. (Precursor to Writing)• Help them see that singing to their child

doesn’t have to be scary or intimidating (Yes. This means you HAVE to sing to children).

Wait. I just want to play with babies. You mean I have to

talk to parents?• It is our job to enhance our storytimes and

programs for baby with great information for parents and caregivers.

• Yes. Programming for babies should be fun, but we need to be thoughtful about our delivery of information to parents.

Quote from book:

1. We become more aware of how storytime components support early literacy.

2. We can better articulate early literacy information to other staff and to administrators.

3. We become better child advocates in the community.

4. We not only model but also explain early literacy information to parents/caregivers…

Early Literacy Storytimes @ Your Library by Saroj Ghoting and Pamela Martin-Diaz

What programs can we have for babies?

• So many options! But today we will focus on:– Storytimes–Playtimes–Parent Education Programs–Handouts for Parents

But first…about the senses… Hearing

• Newborns can’t hear some very quiet sounds, but the sense of hearing is well developed

• After about 3 month baby will turn head toward a sound

• By 4-8 months baby’s sense of hearing is fully developed and she can hear the full range of sound frequencies

• Good sense to focus on in our programs.

But first…about the senses… Smell

• Newborn sense of smell is really, really good• Breast pad experiment• One of the most well developed senses when

baby is born

But first…about the senses… Taste

• Newborns can distinguish between sweet, salty, sour, and bitter

• Full taste sensitivity develops by about 12-19 months

But first…about the senses… Touch

• Newborns can sense heat and cold and can feel pain.

• The hands and the mouth are especially sensitive to touch.

• Texture sensitivity develops from 1-9 months.

• Good sense to focus on in our programs.

But first…about the senses… Vision

• Newborns can see in front of them only 8-15 inches in front of her face and have limited color vision

• One month – about 3 feet, can track movement with eyes

• Two months – can see basic colors• Full color vision comes around 4-7 months• Depth perception develops between 3-7

months and keeps developing until baby is around 2 years old

Baby Storytimes

• How many people can you have?• Parents or caregivers should ALWAYS be

in attendance. Some libraries call it Lapsit for that very reason.

• Remember, babies have short attention spans.

• Model with a friendly puppet or doll

Baby Storytimes – Doesn’t Make Sense

• Flannel boards with small pieces• Reading lots of books or long books• Lots and lots of screen time• Having an hour long program• Expecting babies to be calm all the time• Parachute

Baby Storytimes – Does Make Sense

• Repetition + Variety• Book sharing instead of you reading• Invite parents to feel free to leave and

come back if their child is not happy• Toy time or play time being a chunk of

your program • Puppets, music, rhymes, fingerplays• Have words available for parents

Baby Storytimes – One Outline

• Pre-activity: Song with Scarves for example• Opening Song, Introduction, Expectations• Finger play – more complicated• Rhyme with puppets• Share the book• Clapping song• Finger play - easier• Song with instruments• Toy time• Closing song

Baby Storytimes – A Finger Play –

You do it / Baby does it

Way up high in the Apple Tree (Point finger up)Five red apples smiled at me. (Hold up five fingers)I shook that tree as hard as I could, (Clasp hands

together and shake back and forth)Down fell an apple, mmm it was good. (Rub tummy

with both hands)

Baby Storytimes – Your Repertoire

• Keep notes as to what works in your story time and what doesn’t work

• Make sure to keep some back up plans with you during storytime in case something falls flat

• Develop your own list of your favorite things to do

Play Times

• Play Times are great ways to educate parents about the positive benefits of play

• “Many parents have not heard that play is itself a rich and unparalleled learning activity.” – Read, Play, Grow article

Play Times

• A couple of ideas for Play Times:– Baby Dance Party / Baby Rock Band– Toy Time @ the Library / Include Blocks!

Play Times – Baby Dance Party

• All music program facilitated by you• Keep it short and simple…maybe ½ hour with

time for parent networking or a quick Early Literacy Minute at the end

• Could require a 1:1 ratio

Play Times – Baby Dance Party

• More active than a lapsit• Start with lapsit activities• Have parents bounce babies on their laps, as

well as having parents get up or lay down and move with baby

Play Times – Baby Dance Party

• Model with your doll, puppet, or stuffed animal

• Repeat core songs each week• Use instruments, props, rhymes• Give baby time to lay on floor and kick

Play Times – Toy time

• Set out a bunch of age appropriate toys for baby

• Encourage parents to move through different stations

• Put out signs with ideas of what to do at each station

Play Times – Toy time

• Could be offered at a longer time for parents to just drop in

• Largely facilitated by the parent with the signs as a guide

• You can be a roaming expert during the program

Play Times – Toy time

• Blocks• Scarves• Instruments• Puppets• Board books• Balls

• Sensory floor• Things to

crawl through• Bigger boxes

to stack and knock over

Parent Education Programs

• Use your Every Child Ready to Read information

• Partner with area experts on things like– Car Seats– Breastfeeding– Local resources– Baby Sign Language– Speech Therapist

Parent Education Programs

• Calendar of activities• Grab and Gos / Busy Bags• Parenting Kits• Parenting Resources• Baby Shower – Totally trick them into taking a parenting class

Baby Programming Resources• Bloggers– http://storytimesecrets.blogspot.com/– http://melissa.depperfamily.net/blog/

• Twitter– @sotomorrow– @abbylibrarian

• Books• Mother Goose on the Loose• Websites• Other Librarians

Bibliography

• https://sites.google.com/site/laptimeandstorytime/librarylaptime

• http://www.teachpreschool.org/2009/04/what-is-a-fingerplay/#ixzz2bD6plSl1

• Storytime Magic by Kathy MacMillan• Early Literacy Storytimes @ Your Library by Saroj Ghoting and

Pamela Martin-Diaz• Baby Development Stages: The First Year – WebMD• How Your Child’s Sensory System Develops –

www.abilitypath.org• Read, Play, Grow! By Rachel G. Payne / School Library

Journal. Jul2013, Vol. 59 Issue 7, pg. 22