Circle Time - Yes You Can!

Why can't parents sing and tell stories each day?  Of course we can, but why don't we?  Are we daunted by our lack of singing experience? Our poor reading voice?  Having a hard time reading the picture book while holding the pictures up for all to see?  

Well, guess what!  Our kids don't care that we cannot belt out that tune like Celine Dion, or that our reading voice is not as smooth and calming as Patrick Stewart or Morgan Freeman.  And what if you miss a word or have to improvise because you can’t see?  Make it up for crying out loud!  The pictures tell the story and, guess what, you’re in charge of making it fun.

Circle time with your kids could consist of one or two storybooks, with 1-3 songs and a large motor skill activity that goes along with the theme. You and your kid(s) could hook together like the engine and caboose to make a train trip around the house picking up passengers at different stops (maybe a favorite stuffed animal, or a blankey from their bedroom).  

Circle time is fun, it's easy, and it's totally something YOU can do, and just think, you can be just like your story time librarian only your child will be looking up to YOU!

Thanks to Liesl Soltani, stay-at-home mom, creative person, and life-saver, for sharing this information and writing this post

Mid-Columbia Libraries has great music CDs for Circle Time!  Try these:

Family Time (CD) by Ziggy Marley

Rocketship run (CD) by Laurie Berkner Band

Check out these great train books at your public library:

Freight Train/Tren de Carga By Crews, Donald Translator Infante, M. J. 2003-08 - Greenwillow Books 9780060562021 Check Our Catalog SPA Brief text and illustrations trace the journey of a colorful train as it goesthrough tunnels, by cities, and over trestles. Full color. …More

I Saw an Ant on the Railroad Track By Prince, Joshua Illustrator Pamintuan, Macky 2006-03 - Sterling Publishing (NY) 9781402721830 Check Our Catalog The liveliest rhythm and rhyme, and really cool art, carry children off on a captivating journey along the railroad tracks with a hungry little ant and the gentle giant of a switchman who cares for him. …More

Trains By Barton, Byron Illustrator Barton, Byron 2006-10 - HarperFestival 9780061150180 Check Our Catalog Passenger trains and electric trains. Here come the trains. All aboard! …More

I Love Trains! By Sturges, Philemon Illustrator Halpern, Shari 2006-06 - HarperFestival 9780060837747 Check Our Catalog The very youngest train enthusiasts will delight in flatcars, tanker cars, cabooses, and more in this charming companion to "I Love Trucks!." Full color. …More

Choo Choo By Horacek, Petr 2008-06 - Candlewick Press (MA) 9780763634773 Check Our Catalog Hop in! The bold illustrations and playful sound words in these two board books with die-cut pages will beckon to preschoolers who love things that go. What could be more fun than an old-fashioned train ride? Off go the passengers, past the town, into the woods (SHHH, SHHH), over the bridge (CLACK, CLACK), into the tunnel (TOOT, TOOT), and back out into the sunshine. Who could guess that the destination is -- a day at the seaside? …More