Little Story Bug

Littlestorybug’s new video for the Holidays

admin — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 20:08:54 +0000

Greetings and Happy Holidays to all. My husband and I were busy trying to record and edit the newest video for our YouTube Channel. It is called, “Santa’s Hat.” We wanted a song with a fun and catchy tune that would help preschoolers learn colors through repetition.

In this song you will hear many voices, however it’s just me singing in different octaves. My husband, Bill, created the music and I created the lyrics. I have already received lots of positive feedback from parents and teachers. Don’t forget to check our other LittleStoryBug videos on Youtube. ENJOY!

SANTA’S HAT

Santa’s hat is orange and green.

Orange and green

Santa’s hat is orange and green.

Santa’s hat is yellow and blue.

Yellow and blue

Santa’s hat is yellow and blue.

Santa’s hat is purple and brown.

Purple and brown

Santa’s hat is purple and brown.

Santa’s hat is red and white.

Santa’s hat is red and white

Red and white

He’s going to wear it Christmas night.

Mother’s Day Storytime for Preschool

admin — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 02:03:28 +0000

Mother’s Day is a time to celebrate all that is special and unique about being a mother. Here are a few ideas for creating a fun storytime program.

I LOVE MY MOMMY (sung to the tune of “Up on the Rooftop”)
I love my mommy, Yessiree!
She is very good to me!
She makes me cookies and yummy treats,
That’s my mom and she’s real neat!
Oh, oh, oh, who wouldn’t know,
Oh, oh, oh, who wouldn’t know,
I love my mommy and she loves me,
That’s the way it’s supposed to be!

Try these great books!

Mother’s Day by Anne Rockwell Each child in Mrs. Madoff’s class knows just how to celebrate Mother’s Day. Jessica and her mom go hiking together. Sam helps pick out a new kitchen table. Sarah and her dad take Grandma to her favorite restaurant. And when a surprise visitor comes to class, the kids learn how to make a handmade gift that’s straight from the heart. Here’s a loving tribute to all the mothers, grandmothers, and mothers-to-be everywhere, perfect for sharing any day of the year.

Happy Mother’s Day, Mami! by Leslie Valdes It’s Mother’s Day! Dora has decided to make a special cake for her mami, but first she must gather all the ingredients. Join Dora as she gets ready to make her mami’s Mother’s Day present, and find out what her friends make for their mommies along the way!

Mother’s Day Surprise by Stephen Krensky is a delightful book that reassures children that any gift they give to their mom will be greatly appreciated. It also encourages children to be creative in making a gift for mom. This book is recommended for children ages 4-8.

Activities for Turn Off TV Week-April 18th-24th

admin — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 04:00:03 +0000

This week is turn off TV week. This is a great time for families to enjoy fun activities together. Involve the entire family in the planning of this week and mark it on a calendar for everyone to see. You can plan indoor and outdoor activities. Here are a few ideas!

1. READ to SUCCEED-This is a great time for the family to take a visit to the local library. Some libraries have special activities planned for No TV Week. There are lots of books and magazines for the kids as well as parents. You can also check out a classic story on CD so that the whole family can listen together.

2. GET CRAFTY-This is a great way to be productive and bring out your child’s artistic side. Find a fun craft for your child to do independently or a craft project that the whole family can do.

3. PUZZLE-MANIA-Puzzles are an awesome way for families to work as a team. While working on the puzzles it allows everyone to contribute to the conversation. Whether it’s 50 or 1,000 pieces, puzzles can be relaxing and it helps kids to focus.

4. HIT THE TRAIL-Not only is walking a good form of physical activity, it’s also a time to enjoy the great outdoors and get back to nature. Many parks have walking trails that are safe and family-friendly.

5. BOARD GAMES-Fun, Fun, Fun for the whole family. It also teaches children how to follow rules. Choose a board game that is appropriate for your child age level and play along with them.

6. GET COOKING-This is a great time to get everyone in the kitchen and involved in preparing the family dinner. Plan out the meal ahead of time and go grocery shopping together.

7. OUTDOOR GAMES-Play an outdoor game like Hide & Seek or Red Light, Green Light(1,2,3), just to name a few. Teach your child some of the games you used to play as a child. Learn how to have fun with your child. Show your child how to throw a frisbee or catch a ball.

8. LET’S RIDE- Whether you’re in a park or in your neighborhood, riding a bike can be so much fun. If your child doesn’t know how to ride a bike, this is a great time to teach them.

These are just a few suggestions, but there are so many more activities to share with your child. BE CREATIVE!

Checklist For Assessing Multicultural Children’s Literature

admin — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 14:27:10 +0000

While every children’s book cannot possibly meet every standard of excellence, in many instances, the value of a particular book will outweigh those aspects that might be questionable or problematic. Parents, teachers and other caregivers should examine children’s books for such things as historical accuracy, realistic depictions of a variety of lives, believable characters, authentic language and age appropriateness. Books should represent a variety of settings, problem-solving approaches and themes, and should provide opportunities for children to consider multiple perspectives and values. At their best, multicultural children’s books can and should speak to all children.

*Story:*
•	Is the story line interesting to children?
•	Are the stories age appropriate to ensure that children can understand what is presented?
•	Are there various conflicts for children to explore?
•	Are the conflicts resolved in ways that children will find interesting and challenging?
•	How are obstacles overcome?
•	How does change occur? Is a magic wand the only way positive change occurs? Can girls take responsibility for their own destinies?
•	Will the stories encourage discussions?
•	Are children exposed to multiple perspectives and values?
•	How is “beauty” defined? Whose standard of beauty is being promoted? Are all or most of the “pretty” girls blond? Are all or most of the “pretty” girls white?
•	How is “happiness” defined? Do girls need to find their man to achieve happiness?
•	How is “success” defined? Is the definition of success the same for all people in the book?
*Characters:*
•	Do the characters represent people from a variety of cultural groups?
•	Do “good” characters reflect a variety of backgrounds?
•	How is being “good” defined or described in the book? Is being good the same for boys and girls or are there different standards and expectations?
•	Are females as well as males depicted in leadership roles?
*Themes:*
•	Does the story offer children a variety of things to think about, to question, and to consider?
•	What messages does the book convey about “race,” gender, class, sexual orientation, religion and other human differences?
•	What values are being communicated in the book? Whose values are they?
•	Are values being explored rather than preached?
•	Does the story include lessons to be learned?
*Settings:*
•	Do the stories reflect a variety of settings?
•	Are urban, suburban, and rural settings represented realistically?
•	Are cultural settings represented realistically?
*Illustrations:*
•	Are diverse populations represented?
•	Are characters realistically and genuinely represented?
•	Do the pictures show diversity within cultural groups?
•	Do the illustrations avoid reinforcing societal stereotypes?
*Other Considerations:*
•	From whose perspective is the story told?
•	What are the author’s qualifications to tell the story? Do the characters’ voices sound authentic?
•	Do the stories promote understanding of our diverse society and world?

*From: A World of Difference Institute

Encourage Your Child to do Their Very Best

admin — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 11:56:44 +0000

If you expect the best behavior and performance from your child, it’s often what you will get. Children pick up on our beliefs about them, form a self-concept that matches that belief, and perform accordingly. If we expect them to be lazy, they’ll be lazy, which will confirm our expectations for them, and the cycle toward failure is started. If, on the other hand, we expect our kids to be successful, productive, creative, and responsible and honestly believe it to be true, then our children can’t help but rise to the occasion and confirm our best opinions of them with their positive actions. So expect nothing but the best from your children and watch them fulfill your expectations.

*Praise your child often when they perform a good deed or accomplish a new task.

*Set simple, clear and consistent rules so your child knows exactly what is expected and the consequences of misbehaving or breaking the rules.

*Maintain a consistent daily routine for your child as much as possible, and make sure your child gets lots of physical activity and time to play and socialize with their friends.

*Encourage your child to learn how to make appropriate choices, and encourage your child to do things for themselves.

*Allow your child to talk about strong feelings, which will help them work through their anger and frustration.

*Spend lots of quality time with your child, and encourage them to become involved in activities that foster cooperation and a sense of accomplishment. If you have great expectations of your child, they will put forth their very best.

*Above all, be a positive role model for your child, as their strongest educator is your example. Make appropriate choices and be firm yet fair when disciplining your child.

LittleStoryBug’s Countdown to Christmas

admin — Sun, 05 Dec 2010 03:17:35 +0000

Littlestorybug’s Countdown to Christmas started out as a preschool activity whereby I would put little gifts in a stocking for Santa each day until December 25. Kids tune into my Youtube channel each day to see what I would put into the stocking for Santa. My husband and I were brainstorming one day and decided to include kids and their families. We decided to have kids write to me and tell me what they thought should go into Santa’s Stocking. Immediately children from all over the world wrote in to let me know their ideas.

There’s still time for children and their families to participate in the Countdown to Christmas. All you have to do is send me an email (littlestorybug@gmail.com) or you can write your idea in a blog post or even send me a message on my LittleStoryBug Youtube Channel. I’ll be checking my mail everyday up until Christmas. Also tune in each day to see what gifts go into Santa’s Stocking.

Click on the video playlist below to see the wonderful gifts that we’ve added to Santa’s Stocking so far!

Ways to Bring Your Family Together at Dinnertime

admin — Sat, 20 Nov 2010 05:02:02 +0000

Recent studies have shown that not only do children like to sit down at the dinner table and eat a meal with their parents, but they are more likely to eat a well-balanced, nutritious meal when they do. But with the hectic lives we seem to lead these days, getting the family together in the same place at the same time can be a difficult chore. Between work schedules, after-school activities, errands, and the like, it seems we have less and less time. But with a few simple ideas and some planning, meal time can be an enjoyable and treasured family time.

*Designate at least one night per week to have a sit-down meal with your family. Sunday nights are usually a good choice for this because you have more time to relax and the weekend chores have been completed.

*Involve your children in the meal planning and preparation. This gives them a strong sense of self and the foundation for a lifetime of healthy meal planning and preparation.

*Make sure the television is off, and make it a rule that all phone calls go to voice mail during the meal. Take this time to enjoy one another’s company. This is a great time to reconnect and find out what events happened this week.

*Take your time eating, and teach your children how to do the same in the process. Eating slowly is a healthy habit. Don’t jump up and start clearing dishes and putting things away until everyone is done eating and talking.

*On those days that you can’t sit down as a family, try to make a habit of sitting down and chatting with them while they are eating, instead of rushing around catching up on the chores. This shows them you’re interested, that you care and want to be involved in their every day life.

Embracing Your Child’s Unique Qualities

admin — Sun, 14 Nov 2010 13:09:28 +0000

Every child has a unique way of feeling, thinking, and interacting with others. Some children are shy, while others are outgoing. Some are active, while others are calm. Some are fretful, while others are easy-going. As a loving and nurturing parent, it’s your job to encourage them to embrace their uniqueness and celebrate their individual qualities.

Show your child how to make positive choices with the choices you make, and that nobody is perfect and you too make mistakes. Show your child that mistakes can be a great learning experience, and that they should not be ashamed or embarrassed about making them. Everyone makes mistakes.

Allow your child to express themselves through their interests. They may find a creative outlet in theatre, dance or art, or they may be exceptionally talented in the sciences. Encourage them to embrace what they like to do, what interests them, and what makes them happy. Help them realize that they don’t need to worry about being ‘like everyone else.’

Praise your child for good deeds, behaviors and positive traits they possess. Encourage them to become actively involved in their community, and introduce them to activities that promote a sense of cooperation and accomplishment. It’s through experiences like these that they find what they are passionate about. It’s up to you to expose them to these wonderful experiences regularly and especially while they are young. Soon it will becomes a part of their character.

Be firm yet fair when handing down discipline for misdeeds or misbehaviors, and make certain the rules and consequences for breaking the rules are clearly defined. Show a cooperative, loving and united front with your spouse when it comes to discipline.

Accept and celebrate your child’s uniqueness. Remember that your child is an individual. Allow your child to have his or her own personal preferences and feelings, which may be different from your own. And finally, encourage your child to be true to themselves by doing the same.

Penguin Storytime for Preschoolers

admin — Sat, 13 Nov 2010 17:09:44 +0000

How can we have a winter storytime program without Penguins? Penguins are cute and sooooo adorable, and kids love them too. There are many books, songs, movies, and rhymes about Penguins to choose from that’s why I decided to share a Penguin Storytime for Preschoolers.

The most challenging thing about planning a Penguin Storytime is which books to choose, since there are so many wonderful stories about Penguins. Here are a few books to choose from.

The Emperor’s Egg by Martin Jenkins

This book is recommended for ages 4-8. The illustrations are beautiful and will keep the attention of the children. It’s great as an introduction to the wonders of penguins. It also includes footnotes for questions that inquiring little minds may ask.

Sergio Makes a Splash by Edel Rodriguez

Sergio is a penguin that loves nothing more than the water. The only problem is that Sergio can’t swim. Read what happens when he goes on a class trip to the ocean. Great story for kids trying to triumph over an obstacle they may be facing, such as swimming. This book is recommended for ages 4-8.

Penguins by Liz Pichon

An ordinary day at the zoo turns hilarious when the penguins find a lost camera and begin to use it to take pictures of each other. The camera is finally returned to it’s owner who notices that the penguins have been taking snapshots of themselves. This entertaining book is recommended for children ages 4-8.

Penguin Pete by Marcus Pfister

Pete is the littlest penguin who one day hopes to swim in the ocean like the rest of the flock. This is the perfect book for teaching kids about growing and one day being capable of many things. Pfister’s illustrations are just as engaging as the story. This book is recommended for ages 3-5.

Here’s a fun preschool song I created called 5 Little Penguins!

5 Little Penguins (Watch the video to learn the tune)

Five Little Penguins standing still.

One Little Penguin slides down the hill.

Where did he go? I don’t know.(shrug shoulders)

Four Little Penguins standing still.

One Little Penguin slides down the hill.

Where did he go? I don’t Know.(shrug shoulders)

Three Little Penguins standing still.

One Little Penguin slides down the hill.

Where did he go? I don’t know.(shrug shoulders)

Two Little Penguins standing still.

One Little Penguin slides down the hill.

Where did he go? I don’t know.(shrug shoulders)

One Little Penguin standing still.

He goes sliding down the hill.

Where did he go? I don’t know.(shrug shoulders)

Wait, I know!

With all of the Penguins playing in the snow

Tip: This song can be done by counting down with your fingers or by using a felt board.

Here’s a cute song to use in between reading books or if kids are getting restless.

I’m a Little Penguin (sung to “I’m a Little Teapot”)

I’m a little penguin in the snow.

I slide on my tummy to and fro.

I eat the fish from the deep blue sea.

I’m black and white.

Just look at me.

At the end of the program, would be a great time to give out penguin stickers to the kids and applaud them for being such good listeners. I also like to give them coloring sheets to go along with the theme.

Tips for a Successful Preschool Program

admin — Sun, 31 Oct 2010 15:34:41 +0000

After years of experience planning storytime programs, one learns how to present programs as well as teach someone else. There are useful tips that help to make these programs more successful, easier to do, and much more enjoyable.

Tip #1 Observe Another Program

Ask for an invitation to visit and observe someone else’s program. You don’t have to do exactly what they do, but you may come away with ideas that would work in your program. This is a great time to ask for support and help from someone who has done storytime programs for years.

Tip #2 Plan Your Programs Carefully

Choose books that are easy and familiar. Preschoolers love books that rhyme. They also enjoy books they can sing along with (see my youtube video of me singing the book, The Lady with the Alligator Purse by Westcott).

Tip #3 Add Variety to your program

Always be on the lookout for new books, puppets, music, fingerplays or felt board activities to use in your program. I like making my own felt board characters and writing my own songs. Be creative! Just adding one or two new activities can enhance your program tremendously.

This Monarch Butterfly Finger Puppet helped to enhance the song and grabbed the attention of the children!

Tip# 4 Use music in your Program

I’ve been using music in my programs for years. Not only does it help children develop motor skills, it also help them to get the wiggles out. I use music in all of my preschool programs usually at the beginning, the middle and the end. If you don’t want to sing, you can use a music CD. My two favorites are More Singable Songs by Raffi and Getting to know Myself by Hap Palmer.

Tip #5 Begin and end your storytime with a familiar song

I always begin my storytime with the same familiar song (Open, Shut Them). This signals to the children that storytime is starting. At the end of storytime, I sing the song, “If You’re Happy and You Know It.” This let’s the children know that storytime has come to an end.

Here is a list of books that are useful in planning storytimes.

*Family Storytime: 24 Creative Programs for All Ages by Jane Cobb

*Storytime Slam: 15 Lesson Plans for Preschool and Primary Story Programs by Rob Reid

*Storytime Magic: 400 Fingerplays, Flannelboards, and Other Activities by Kathy Macmillan