This is a body and self awareness theme that promotes self esteem, anti-bullying, and acceptance of others.
Finger play: Hands
(the words describe the actions)
My hands upon my head I’ll place.
Upon my shoulders, on my face,
At my waist and by my side,
Then behind me they will hide.
Then I’ll raise them way up high,
And let my fingers fly, fly, fly,
Then clap, clap, clap them–
One – Two -Three!
Now see how quiet they can be.
Source: http://www.preschoolrainbow.org/transition-rhymes.htm
Title: I Like Me
Author/Illustrator: Nancy Carlson
Publisher/Date: Viking/1988
Comments: This book promotes self esteem and is great for toddler or preschool story time.
Another book that would work well for preschool or family story time is Tacky the Penguin by Helen Lester; illustrated by Lynn Munsinger. Publisher: Houghton Mifflin/1988. Tacky is a one-of-a-kind penguin who literally marches to the beat of his own drum. This book is just the first in many Tacky books. Children love Tacky! Although this book is out of print, Nonsense by Sally Kahler Phillips (Publisher Random House/2006) is a great poem to self-esteem and works for preschool or family story time. For a book that’s newer, try I Like Myself by Karen Beaumont; illustrated by David Catrow. Publisher Harcourt/2004. The message of self esteem is related by an African-American girl, and it would work for preschool story time.
Title: Mother for Choco
Author/Illustrator: Keiko Kasza
Publisher/Date: Putnam/1992
Comments: This book shows children that being adopted doesn’t mean they are not equally loved. A very sweet story good for preschool story time. An alternate book that will work for toddlers is The OK Book by Todd Parr. This title is now only available in the board book format (publisher: LB Kids/2004). The brevity of the story, bright colors, and simple drawings work well for restless toddlers!
Another good book for toddlers is From Head to Toe by Eric Carle. Publisher Harper Collins/1997. Animals and children in this book can show toddlers how to identify their body parts and follow the movements.
Finger play: Ten Little Fingers
I have ten little fingers
And they all belong to me.
I can make them do things, would you like to see?
I can shut them up tight;
I can open them wide;
I can put them together;
And I can make them all hide.
I can put them up high;
I can put them down low;
I can fold them together,
And hold them just so.
Source: http://www.rif.org/kids/leadingtoreading/en/babies-toddlers/finger-plays…
Activity: Head, Shoulders, Knees & Toes
(do it regular, faster, fastest, and then in slow motion)
(good for toddler or preschool story time)
Head, shoulders, knees, and toes,
Knees and toes.
Head, shoulders, knees, and toes, Knees and toes.
And eyes and ears and mouth and nose,
Head, shoulders, knees, and toes,
Knees and toes!
Source: http://kids.niehs.nih.gov/lyrics/headsh.htm
Alternate versions: http://kids.niehs.nih.gov/lyrics/headshoulders.htm, http://dragon.sleepdeprived.ca/songbook/songs3/S3_24.htm,http://www.alphabet-soup.net/me/mesong.html
Activity: If You’re Happy and You Know It
If you’re happy and you know it,
Clap your hands (Clap hands twice)
If you’re happy and you know it,
Clap your hands (Clap hands twice)
If you’re happy and you know it,
Then your face will surely show it
(smile wide)
If you’re happy and you know it,
Clap your hands. (Clap hands twice)
Continue replacing “Clap your hands” with:
Stomp your feet (Stomp feet twice)
Shout “Hurray!” (Shout “Hurray!”)
Do all three (Clap hands twice, stomp feet twice, and then shout “Hurray!”)
Source: http://www.angelfire.com/dc/childsplay/All_About_Me_Theme.htm Activity: If You’re Happy and You Know It
If you’re happy and you know it,
Clap your hands (Clap hands twice)
If you’re happy and you know it,
Clap your hands (Clap hands twice)
If you’re happy and you know it,
Then your face will surely show it
(smile wide)
If you’re happy and you know it,
Clap your hands. (Clap hands twice)
Continue replacing “Clap your hands” with:
Stomp your feet (Stomp feet twice)
Shout “Hurray!” (Shout “Hurray!”)
Do all three (Clap hands twice, stomp feet twice, and then shout “Hurray!”)
Source: http://www.angelfire.com/dc/childsplay/All_About_Me_Theme.htm
Song to play: Raffi – Shake your sillies
from the album More Singable Songs. Publisher Rounder/Umgd/1996. (Good for toddler or preschool story time)
If you are flexible and have good balance, try these songs, good for preschool or family story
time:
- Hap Palmer – I’m a pretzel from the album So Big: Activity songs for little ones. Publisher Hap-Pal Music/1994.
- Hap Palmer – Touch your toes to your nose from the album Early Childhood Classics: old favorites with a new twist. Publisher Hap-Pal Music/2000. (you can also use this song for toddler story time)
Outline children’s hands (left and right) on paper with a black felt tip pen and cut out. Make an octopus by gluing both hands together and gluing 2 wiggle eyes to the palm.
Other hand crafts: http://www.busybeekidscrafts.com/Hand-Print-Crafts-for-Kids.html
Show the title movie on this DVD: Where the Wild Things are…and 5 more stories by Maurice Sendak (Scholastic Storybook Treasures) Publisher New Video Group/2008.
Hand out smiley face stickers or stamp a happy face on the children’s hands with a non-toxic, washable inkpad.
Use 3/4” round label dots of various colors to make faces. For example, make a sad face on the blue labels, make a happy face on the yellow labels, and make an angry face on the red labels. Give it to the children as stickers or have them make a feelings book by affixing the stickers to 3×5” index cards and stapling together to make a booklet.
Hand out plain round sugar cookies on a paper plate or napkin. With an adult or parent’s help, have various cake frosting that can be piped onto the cookies. Make faces on the cookies with the piped frosting.
Action song: Open, Shut Them
Open, shut them, open, shut them,
(On ‘Open’, place both hands in front of you, palms facing away and opening them wide. On ‘shut
them’, clench hands into fists.)
Give a little clap.
(Clap hands.)
Open, shut them, open shut them,
(On ‘Open’, place both hands in front of you, palms facing away and opening them wide. On ‘shut
them’, clench hands into fists.)
Put them in your lap.
(Fold hands and put them in your lap.)
Creep them, creep them, slowly creep them,
(Starting at the tummy, slowly ‘creep’ fingers up towards the face.)
Right up to your chin
(Gently pull chin downward.)
Open up your little mouth…
(Open up your mouth.)
But do not let them in.
(Say the line quickly. Just as it looks like you’re going to put fingers into mouth, quickly run fingers
back down body toward tummy or put hands behind back.)