Sign Language Song For Early Literacy

     I am doing my first ever story time for babies! I have done oh so many preschool story times and I just love them so I volunteered to do a baby story time when the opportunity arose. Baby story times differ significantly from the preschool story time though the end goal is the same, help develop early literacy skills. Baby story times seem to have books that are more interactive and shorter than with preschool story times. There are also more finger plays and songs that get parents interacting with their children.
     I thought it would be good to work with parents and their babies on sign language because sometimes, even though babies can't express their needs verbally, they can do it with gestures. I looked long and hard for a song or rhyme that would help parents remember basic signs that are good for babies to know. At long last, I didn't find one that suited my needs so... I made one up. I hope that my efforts can be helpful to others who are looking to do something similar. The following song can be sung to the tune of "Frere Jacques".

More more milk please

More more milk please

More to eat

More to eat

Now that I am done

Now that I am done

May I have some help please

May I have some help please

Now I need a change

Now I need a change

Time to sleep

Time to sleep

 

    

     Another useful resource is of course ALA where they have some examples of baby story time activities. Here is the web address to that resource. http://www.ala.org/alsc/more-storytimes

 

     I hope that these resources are helpful to anyone else interested in doing baby story times or lap sits.