Dog Days

Have the children come up with a place they could go with a dog, a sound and an action. Have the children work together to come up with a story and have them dictate it to the adult. The children then act out the story they have dictated.

Because My Mom Said So

Have children write a question and an answer on two pieces of paper (Why is the sky blue? Because my mom said so.). Put the questions in one hat and the answers in one hat and mix them up. Have each child pull one piece of paper from each hat. Have the children sit in a circle. Start by reading a question, the child to the left then reads their answer. They will then read their question and the child to their left will read the answer, and so on. This will help them hear language and improve listening skills.

And Then

This is a game that goes back awhile. Have each child in the circle say a sentence and have each child in the circle build on each sentence to build the story. This would focus on story/narrative elements, listening skills, and literacy skills.

What Are You Doing Here?

Based off of one of my creative writing from college (used to be pick an occupation and a genre). Have the children think of a place and an occupation. Mix up the places and occupations. Then ask the children, what would happen if this person walked into this place. Then have children act it out. Helps children with social interaction skills, and learning narrative skills. Helps children think about roles in society. If a baker is in a bakery, he is most likely going to be baking. If a baker walks into a grocery store, he is most likely to be shopping. What would a baker be doing in a space shuttle though? This activity can range from silly to serious. This activity also helps children become more gender aware as they act out certain occupations. Discussions of what gender can do what jobs may occur. Also helps children expand their vocabulary, so it could be good for bilingual children. Expands childrens' worlds.

Two Characters Go Walking

This was a project from one of my creative writing/English classes. Pick two characters out of two different character rich books and discuss what would happen if these two characters were to meet (including personality, actions, characteristics, and possibly plot). Have the children act out this scenario. This activity would encourage children to think about social interaction while also thinking about characters from the book and encouraging a print rich environment.

Words in a Bag

Words in a Bag is also a fun activity from Peggy Kaye that helps children learn words. This activity helps children hear sounds. Any number of children can play this activity.

Goofy Sentences

Goofy Sentences by Peggy Kaye also helps students learn about the construction of sentences and also provides some goofy fun! This can be done with any number of children.

Grasshopper

Peggy Kaye also thought of this game called Grasshopper. This is a great game for getting kids up and moving. Play will help children's development, and this game will help with children's counting.

Numberbow

Numberbow is an activity from Peggy Kaye that could be played with individual children or a small group. This is a game that helps children with counting and would be great to tie in with books about numbers or counting.

World Tags

Here is another activity from Peggy Kaye: World Tags. This activity would best be done over a few weeks or months. In this activity, children find objects that are made in different parts of the world and then mark those places on a map (for instance, my lipgloss is made in Belgium). This activity will help children to see writing everywhere and start to look for it, even on a cereal box!

Monster Cafe

Monster Cafe is another great activity from Peggy Kaye's website. In this activity, children will devise a menu for monsters and price their list. This would be a good activity for an adult to do with an individual or small group of children. It would also be fun for children to do by themselves in small groups. The children could even play "restaurant" after creating their menus. This helps children with words and numbers.

Write It For Me

Write It For Me (click on the link to go to the full description) is another great activity from Peggy Kaye. This is a basic activity that would be great to do with an individual child, a small or medium group of children. It involves taking dictation from children. This activity will help start conversations between you and the child in your care. It will also help children learn the importance of the written word.

Coloring Pages

Peggy Kaye's website is a great place to get ideas for play activities. She is a teacher who developed games with her students that help them with important skills. She has published a few books and this is the link to her website: Peggy Kaye's Website

On this website, she has links to coloring pages with can be found here: Coloring Pages

How Much is That Doggie in the Window?

How much is that doggie in the window? (Arf! Arf!)
The one with the waggle tail
How much is that doggie in the window? (Arf! Arf!)
I do hope that doggie's for sale.

I must take a trip to California,
And leave my poor sweetheart alone.
If he has a dog, he won't be lonesome,
And the doggie will have a good home.

Repeat chorus

I don't want a bunny or a kitty
I don't want a parrot that talks
I don't want a bowl of little fishies
He can't take a goldfish for a walk.

Repeat chorus

The Caterpillar

A caterpillar crawled to the top of a tree.
"I think I'll take a nap," said he.
So--under a leaf he began to creep
To spin a cocoon;
Then he fell asleep.
All winter he slept in his cocoon bed,
Till spring came along one day and said,
"Wake up, wake up, little sleepyhead.
Wake up, it's time to get out of bed."
So--he opened his eyes that sunshiny day.
Lo! He was a butterfly--and flew away!

The Church

This is the church,
This is the steeple.
Open the doors
And see all the people!

Kittens

Five little kittens
Sleeping on a chair.
One rolled off,
Leaving four there.

Four little kittens,
One climbed a tree
To look in a bird's nest.
Then there were three.

Three little kittens
Wondered what to do.
One saw a mouse.
Then there were two.

Two little kittens
Playing near a wall.
One little kitten
Chased a red ball.

One little kitten
With fur soft as silk,
Left all alone
To drink a dish of milk.

Little Bunny

There was a little bunny who lived in the wood.
He wiggled his ears as a good bunny should.
He hopped by a squirrel.
He wiggled by a tree.
He hopped by a duck.
And he wiggled by me.
He stared at the squirrel.
He peeked round the tree.
He stared at the duck.
But he winked at me!

The Snowman

Roll him and roll him until he is big.
Roll him until he is fat as a pig.
He has two eyes and a hat on his head.
He'll stand there all night,
While we go to bed.

Jack-o'-Lantern

I am a pumpkin, big and round.
Once upon a time, I grew on the ground.
Now I have a mouth, two eyes, and a nose.
What are they for, do you suppose?
With a candle inside, shining bright,
I'll be a jack-o'-lantern on Halloween night.

Two Little Monkeys

Two little monkeys fighting in bed.
One fell out and hurt his head.
The other called the doctor,
And the doctor said,
"That is what you get for fighting in bed."

Five Little Babies

One little baby
Rocking in a tree.
Two little babies
Splashing in the sea.
Three little babies
Crawling on the floor.
Four little babies
Banging on the door.
Five little babies
Playing hide and seek.
Keep your eyes closed tight, now,
Until I say...PEEK!

My Book

This is my book; it will open wide
To show the pictures that are inside.
This is my ball, so big and round,
To toss in the air
Or roll on the ground.
Here's my umbrella to keep me dry
When the raindrops fall
From the cloudy sky.
This is my kitty; just hear her purr
When I'm gently stroking her
Soft, warm fur.

Jack Sprat and His Wife

Jack Sprat could eat no fat,
His wife could eat no lean.
And so between them both, you see,
They licked the platter clean.

There's a Clock

There's a neat little clock,
In the schoolroom it stands
And it points to the time
With its two little hands.
And may we, like the clock,
Keep a face clean and bright,
With hands ever ready
To do what is right.

Humpty Dumpty

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall;
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.
All the king's horses and all the king's men
Couldn't put Humpty together again.

It's Raining

It's raining, it's pouring,
The old man is snoring.

Bumped his head and he went to bed,
And he couldn't get up till the morning.

Mary Had a Little Lamb

Mary had a little lamb, with fleece as white as snow;
And everywhere that Mary went the lamb was sure to go.
It followed her to school one day--that was against the rule.
It made the children laugh and play to see a lamb at school.

Peter Piper

Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers;
A peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked.
If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers,
Where's the peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked?

To Market, To Market

To market, to market, to buy a fat pig,
Home again, home again, jiggety-jig;
To market, to market, to buy a fat hog,
Home again, home again, jiggety-jog.

A Little Girl/Boy Went Walking

(The children sit in a circle and walk around when their name is called.)

A little girl went walking, walking, walking, a little girl went walking, who are you? My name is _____, ______, ______, my name is _____, who are you?

We have a Friend

(Start at the beginning of the circle and go around to each child.)

We have a friend that we all know, and _____ is her name,
We have a friend that we all know, and _____ is her name.

I'm a Little Cookie

I'm a little cookie, yes I am.
I was made by the cookie man, on my way from the cookie pan, a little piece broke off a me.
A little piece broke off a me, uh-huh, a little piece broke off a me, uh-huh.
But I can taste just as good, uh-huh, as a regular cookie can.

I'm a little cookie, yes, I am, I was made by the cookie man,
On my way from the cookie pan, a little piece broke off a me.
Now I'm not round as I might be, but I'll taste good just wait and see,
And I can love back just as hard, as a regular cookie can.
I can love back just as hard, as a regular cookie can.

Apples and Bananas

I like to eat/ eat, eat, eat/ I like to eat/ apples and bananas,
I like to eat/ eat, eat, eat/ I like to eat/ apples and bananas.

I like to ate, ate, ate, ate. I like to ate, apples and bananas.
I like to eat, eat, eat, eat. I like to eat, epples and benenes...
I like to ite, ite, ite, ite. I like to ite, ipples and bininis...
I like to oat, oat, oat, oat. I like to oat, opples and bononos...
I like to ute, ute, ute, ute. I like to ute, upples and bununus...

Now I am through, through, through, through, Now I am through with A, E, I, O, U!
(And Sometimes Y....)

Five Bananas

Five bananas on a banana tree,
Three for you and two for me.
Five bananas on a banana tree.
Oh! I love those bananas!

Four bananas on banana tree,
Two for you and two for me.

Three bananas on banana tree,
Two for you and one for me.

Two bananas on banana tree,
One for you and one for me.

One banana on banana tree,
Half for you and half for me.

No bananas on banana tree,
None for you and none for me.
No bananas on banana tree
Oh! I love those bananas!

Two Little Dickie Birds

Two little dickie birds sitting on a wall,
One named Peter, one named Paul.
Fly away, Peter! Fly away, Paul!
Come back, Peter! Come back, Paul!

Here is the Beehive

Here is the beehive
But where are all the bees?
Hiding away where nobody sees.

Here they come creeping
Out of their hive,
One and two and three, four and five.

Five Little Ducks

Five little ducks went out one day,
Over the hills and far away,
Mother Duck said, "Quack, quack, quack, quack,"
But only four little ducks came back.

Four little ducks went out one day...
Three little ducks went out one day...
Two little ducks went out one day...

One little duck went out one day,
Over the hills and far away,
Mother Duck said, "Quack, quack, quack, quack,"
And all the five little ducks came back.

This Little Piggy

This little piggy went to market,
This little piggy stayed home,
This little piggy had roast beef,
The little piggy had none.
This little piggy went... wee, wee, wee, all the way home!

Oats and Beans and Barley Grows

Oats and beans and barley grow,
Oats and beans and barley grow,
And not you, nor I, nor anyone know
How oats and beans and barley grow.

First the farmer sows his seed.
Then he stands and takes his ease.
He stamps his feet and claps his hands
And turns around to view the land.

Oats and beans and barley grow...

Mr. Crocodile

Three little monkeys swinging from a tree,
Teasing Mr. Crocodile, "You can't catch me!"
Along came Mr. Crocodile, quiet as can be...SNAP!

Two little monkeys swinging from a tree,
Teasing Mr. Crocodile, "You can't catch me!"
Along came Mr. Crocodile, quiet as can be...SNAP!

One little monkey swinging from a tree,
Teasing Mr. Crocodile, "You can't catch me!"
Along came Mr. Crocodile, quiet as can be,
SNAP!..."Missed Me!"

Row, Row, Row Your Boat

Row, row, row your boat gently down the stream,
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, life is but a dream.

Rock, rock, rock your boat gently to and fro,
Watch out! Give a shout, into the water you go!

Row, row, row, your boat down the jungle stream,
If you see a crocodile, don't forget to scream!

The Elephant

The Elephant goes like this, like that.
He's terribly big, and he's terribly fat.
He has no fingers, and he has no toes,
But goodness gracious, what a nose!

One, Two, Three, Four, Five

One, two, three, four, five

Once I caught a fish alive.

Six, seven, eight, nine, ten,

Then I let him go again.

Why did you let him go? Because he bit my finger so.

Which finger did he bite? This little finger on the right.

Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear

Teddy bear, teddy bear, touch your nose,
Teddy bear, teddy bear, touch your toes,
Teddy bear, teddy bear, touch the ground,
Teddy bear, teddy bear, turn around.

Teddy bear, teddy bear, climb the stairs,
Teddy bear, teddy bear, say your prayers,
Teddy bear, teddy bear, turn out the light,
Teddy bear, teddy bear, say good night!

One Step, Two Step

One step, two step, find my teddy bear,
Three step, four step, going up the stair.
Five step, six step, now start to hop,
Seven step, eight step, come to a stop!
Nine step, ten step, going very fast,
Eleven step, twelve step, how long can it last?
Thirteen, fourteen, going very slow,
Fifteen, sixteen, not so far to go.
Seventeen, eighteen, nearly at the chair,
Nineteen, twenty, have a rest with bear.

One Potato

One potato, two potato,
Three potato, four,
Five potato, six potato,
Seven potato, more.

Two Fat Gentlemen

Two fat gentlemen met in a lane,
Bowed most politely,
Bowed once again.
How do you do,
How do you do,
And how do you do again?

Two thin ladies met in a lane...

Two tall policemen met in a lane...

Two small schoolboys met in a lane...

Two little babies met in a lane...

Little Miss Muffet

Little Miss Muffet sat on her tuffet,
Eating her curds and whey.
Along came a spider,
Who sat down beside her,
And frightened Miss Muffet away!

Hickory, Dickory, Dock

Hickory, dickory, dock
The mouse ran up the clock.
The clock struck one,
The mouse ran down,
Hickory, dickory, dock.

Hickory, dickory, dock
The mouse ran up the clock.
The clock struck two,
The mouse said, "Boo!"
Hickory, dickory, dock.

Hickory, dickory, dock,
The mouse ran up the clock.
The clock struck three,
The mouse said, "Whee!"
Hickory, dickory, dock.

Hickory, dickory, dock,
The mouse ran up the clock.
The clock struck four,
The mouse said, "No more!"
Hickory, dickory, dock.

There Was a Little Turtle

There was a little turtle.
He lived in a box.
He swam in a puddle.
He climbed on the rocks.

He snapped at a mosquito.
He snapped at a flea.
He snapped at a minnow.
He snapped at me.

He caught the mosquito.
He caught the flea.
He caught the minnow.

But...he didn't catch me!

Itsy Bitsy Spider

Itsy Bitsy Spider
Climbed up the water spout.
Down came the rain
And washed poor spider out.
Out came the sun,
And dried up all the rain.
So Itsy Bitsy Spider
Climbed up the spout again.

Ten Fat Sausages

Ten fat sausages sizzling in the pan,
Ten fat sausages sizzling in the pan.
One went Pop! And another went bang!
There were eight sausages sizzling in the pan.

Eight fat sausages sizzling in the pan,
Eight fat sausages sizzling in the pan.
One went Pop! And another went bang!
There were six fat sausages sizzling in the pan.

Six fat sausages sizzling in the pan...

Four fat sausages sizzling in the pan...

Two fat sausages sizzling in the pan,
Two fat sausages sizzling in the pan.
One went Pop! And another went Bang!
There were no fat sausages sizzling in the pan.

Jumping Beans

One, two, three, four,
Beans came jumping through the door.
Five, six, seven, eight,
Jumping up onto my plate.

Five Little Monkeys

Five little monkeys jumping on the bed,
One fell off and bumped his head,
Mommy called the doctor and the doctor said,
"No more monkeys jumping on the bed!"

Four little monkeys...
Three little monkeys...
Two little monkeys...
One little monkey...

Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes

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.

Pat-a-cake

Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake, baker's man,
Bake me a cake as fast as you can.
Pat it and prick it and mark it with B,
And put it in the oven for baby and me.

I'm a Tube of Toothpaste

I'm a tube of toothpaste on the shelf,
I get so lonely all by myself,
When it comes to nighttime, hear me shout:
Lift my cap off and squeeze me out!

I'm a Little Teapot

I'm a little teapot, short and stout,
Here's my handle, here's my spout.
When I see the teacups, hear me shout:
Tip me up and pour me out!

Moo, Moo, Brown Cow

Moo, moo, brown cow
Have you any milk?
Yes miss, three jugs smooth as silk.
One for you,
And one for me,
And one for the little cat
Who sits in the tree.

Baa, Baa, Black Sheep

Baa, baa, black sheep have you any wool?
Yes sir, yes sir, three bags full.
One for the master,
And one for the dame,
And one for the little boy who lives down the lane.

The Wheels on the Bus

The wheels on the bus go round and round, round and round, round and round.
The wheels on the bus go round and round, all day long.
The wipers on the bus go swish, swish, swish...
The horn on the bus goes beep! Beep! Beep!...
The people on the bus go chat, chat, chat...
The children on the bus go bump up and down...
The babies on the bus go Waah! Waah! Waah!...
The grannies on the bus go knit, knit, knit...
The wheels on the bus go round and round, all day long.

Number One, Touch Your Tongue

Number one, touch your tongue.
Number two, touch your shoe.
Number three, touch your knee.
Number four, touch the floor.
Number five, learn to jive.
Number six, pickup sticks.
Number seven, point to heaven.
Number eight, open the gate.
Number nine, touch your spine.
Number ten, let's do it again!

Kizzy

Title: Kizzy
Author: Chris Williams, illustrated by Judith Friedman
Summary: The story of a famous dog who visits people, including schoolchildren to help them read.
Question to ask: Why is Kizzy's job important?

Good Boy, Fergus!

Title: Good Boy, Fergus!
Author: David Shannon
Summary: Follow rambunctious Fergus as he goes about his day.
Question to ask: Have you ever seen a dog like Fergus?

Benny: An Adventure Story

Title: Benny: An Adventure Story
Author: Bob Graham
Summary: This is the story of Benny as he tries to find his place in the world.
Question to ask: What was your favorite part of this story?

Dear Mrs. LaRue: Letters from Obedience School

Title: Dear Mrs. LaRue: Letters from Obedience School
Author: Mark Teague
Summary: Ike gets sent to obedience school and writes his master letters from doggie jail.
Question to ask: Why do you think Ike wants to go home?

Hardworking Puppies

Title: Hardworking Puppies
Author: Lynn Reiser
Summary: Follow along with some hardworking puppies!
Question to ask: Have you ever seen any hardworking dogs?

Ten Dogs in the Window

Title: Ten Dogs in the Window
Author: Claire Masurel, illustrated by Pamela Paparone
Summary: Ten dogs get taken home one by one.
Question to ask (on each page): Which dog do you think this person will get?

If You Take a Mouse to School

Title: If You Take a Mouse to School
Author: Laura Numeroff, illustrated by Felicia Bond
Summary: This book answers the question of what will happen if you take a mouse to school.
Questions to ask: What will happen if the mouse goes back to school?

The Snowy Day

Title: The Snowy Day
Author: Ezra Jack Keats
Summary: A child wakes up to see the city covered in snow.
Question to ask: What is your favorite thing to do when it is snowing?

Vroomaloom Zoom

Title: Vroomaloom Zoom
Author: John Coy, illustrated by Joe Cepeda
Summary: A father and daughter go far in their car.
Question to ask: Where is your favorite place we have driven to?

I Like Me!

Title: I Like Me!
Author: Nancy Carlson
Summary: A pig learns that she really likes herself because of all the wonderful things she does.
Questions to ask: what do you like most about yourself?

Little Green

Title: Little Green
Author: Keith Baker
Summary: A person sees a hummingbird out the window and looks at the tricks it does.
Question to ask: Have you seen a hummingbird? What other birds have you seen?

Kitten's First Full Moon

Title: Kitten's First Full Moon
Author: Kevin Henkes
Summary: The Caldecott Medal winnder goes in search of a bowl of milk and then comes home to find that milk was waiting for her the whole time.
Question to ask: Do you remember the last time we saw the moon?

Maisy Drives the Bus

Title: Maisy Drives the Bus
Author: Lucy Cousins
Summary: Maisy drives a bus and picks up some of her animal friends.
Question to ask: Do you remember when we rode the bus? What do you like about riding the bus?

Slop Goes the Soup

Title: Slop Goes the Soup: A noisy warthog word book
Author: Pamela D. Edwards and Henry Cole
Summary: How and what do warthogs eat for dinner?
Questions to ask: Look at the last page with your child.

I Want to Be an Astronaut

Title: I Want to Be an Astronaut
Author: Byron Barton
Summary: A child describes why they want to be an astronaut.
Question to ask: Would you ever want to be an astronaut? Why or why not?

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

Title: The Very Hungry Caterpillar
Author: Eric Carle
Summary: A caterpillar finds himself very hungry, but why?
Question to ask (before last page): Why do you think the caterpillar is so hungry?

The House That Jack Built

Title: The House That Jack Built
Author: Rodney Peppe
Summary: Jack built a house, but what events led up to that?
Question to ask: What was your favorite page? Why?

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom

Title: Chicka Chicka Boom Boom
Author: Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault, illustrated by Lois Ehlert
Summary: Alphabet letters come to life on an island.
Question to ask: Which letter did you like? Why?

Big Pumpkin

Title: Big Pumpkin
Author: Erica Silverman, illustrated by S.D. Schindler
Summary: The story of a big pumpkin on Halloween night.
Question to ask: What do you like to dress up for on Halloween?

I'm the Biggest Thing in the Ocean

Title: I'm the Biggest Thing in the Ocean
Author: Kevin Sherry
Summary: An octopus compares his size to other ocean animals.
Question to ask: What is your favorite animal in this book?

Wee Little Chick

Title: Wee Little Chick
Author: Lauren Thompson, illustrated by John Butler
Summer: A chick is tiny, but it sees other tiny animals that do great things.
Question to ask: What is your favorite animal and why?

Soap! Soap! Don't Forget the Soap!

Title: Soap! Soap! Don't Forget the Soap!
Author: retold by Tom Birdseye, illustrated by Andrew Glass
Summary: An Appalachian Folktale that tells what happens when soap is forgotten.
Question: What have you forgotten before?

Fiesta

Title: Fiesta
Author: by Ginger Foglesong Guy, Pictures by Rene King Moreno
Summary: Children go around town counting in both English and Spanish
Question: What was your favorite page?

If You Give a Moose a Muffin

Title: If You Give a Moose a Muffin
Author: by Laura Joffe Numeroff, Illustrated by Felicia Bond
Summary: If you give a mouse a muffin...hilarity will ensue.
Question: What do you think will happen at the end of this story?

Where is the Green Sheep?

Title: Where is the Green Sheep?
Author: Mem Fox and Judy Horacek
Summary: Go on a journey finding green sheep and see all the other colored sheep.
Why it's good: This entertaining book helps teach colors and helps children with sounds.
Question to ask (before last page): Where do you think green sheep is?

I Love Planes!

Title: I Love Planes!
Author: Philemon Sturges, Illustrated by Shari Halpern
Summary: A young boy describes all the different ways you can travel in the sky.
Question to ask: Which way of traveling would you like to try? Why?

Jamberry

Title: Jamberry
Author: Bruce Degen
Summary: A boy and a bear go on a journey finding blueberries
Question to Ask: What is your favorite kind of fruit?

More More More Said the Baby

Title: More More More Said the Baby
Author: Vera B. Williams
Summary: Three babies interact with their caregivers.
Question to ask: What do you want more of?

In the Small, Small Pond

Title: In the Small, Small Pond
Author: Denise Fleming
Summary: This Caldecott Honor Book follows a young child as he looks around a pond and sees all the different animals.
Why it's good: This book uses print that "pops" elevating the print awareness.
Question to ask: What have you seen in a pond?

Where's Spot?

Title: Where's Spot?
Author: Eric Hill
Summary: A dog looks all over the house for the puppy Spot. A lift the flap book.
Question: What was your favorite animal in this book?

Welcome!

Welcome to my blog! As the title of this blog indicates, I am the Happy (future) Children's Librarian. I am happy because I now know the tools for success that children need to succeed. Here are the things that you will find in this blog:

A list of books for babies, younger preschoolers, older preschoolers, and younger elementary children.

Each of the books has its own entry and includes the following information:

• The title and author of the book.
• A brief summary to help you know what it is about.
• A discussion question to help start a conversation between you and the child in your care. These discussion questions are meant as a starting point to encourage conversation. You and your child will also come up with great topics to talk about!
• Tags to help you find similar items. At the bottom of the blog post or on the sidebar, if you click on a label, you will be taken to a page that has books or play activities on a similar subject (dogs or caterpillars for example) or level (lower preschool or babies for example).

On this blog you will also find fingerplays, rhymes and songs that are labeled as "play." Play is an important part of a child's development. These fingerplays, rhymes and songs are classic and are from the following books:

• Hand Rhymes Collected and Illustrated by Marc Brown
• Dan Yaccarino's Mother Goose
• Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes by Zita Newcome (includes illustrations of fingerplays)
• Singing with Young Children by Bonnie Phipps

I have also compiled a list of activities that can be done with children. These activities come from:

• Peggy Kaye's website
• Variations on creative writing prompts
• My brain!
  

The more we talk to children, the better. There are six key skills that help children learn to read later on: print motivation, vocabulary, print awareness, narrative skills, letter knowledge, and phonological awareness. Hearing, seeing, speaking and making words are important to go through before children read. For parents and caregivers this means:

• Talk a lot to your child.
• Encourage children to talk a lot
• Take turns during conversation
• Use complex language
• Give full explanations to questions
• Ask questions of your own
• Read books every day
• Let your child see you reading
• Help children learn a second language early on
• Seek out resources for language exposure (like the library!)

All adults can conduct true conversation, which means listening with sincere interest, responding to enhance and continue conversation, and giving children time to formulate answers and then waiting for replies. Slow down and listen please! Give children something to talk about. Encourage conversation between children. Ask open-ended questions.

Play, interact, talk to, and read to the child in your care, please! This will help with their development more than any expensive tool might. And don't forget to take them to your local library! The librarians there will be able to help you even more. If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at mwilker2@emporia.edu!