Books

“Brontorina” by James Howe
“Giraffes Can’t Dance” by Giles Andrea
“Dancing Feet!” by Lindsay Craig

Tommy Thumbs Up

This is sure to get some giggles, at my last place of employment I had a 2 year old start singing this song every time she saw me!

Tommy thumbs up
(hold up thumbs and raise arms)
Tommy thumbs down
(lower arms)
Tommy thumbs dancing all around the town
(wave arms side to side)
Dance them on your shoulders
(tap thumbs on shoulders)
Dance them on your head
(tap them on your head)
Dance them on your knees
(tap them on your knees)
And tuck them into bed
(whisper and tuck thumbs into fist)

(repeat while jumping up and down)

We Can Jump Jump Jump

We can jump, jump, jump
We can hop, hop, hop
We can clap, clap, clap
We can stop, stop, stop
We can nod our heads yes
We can shake our heads no
We can bend our knees a little
And we can sit down slow

If You’re Happy and You Know It

If you’re happy and you know it clap your hands
If you’re happy and you know it clap your hands
If you’re happy and you know it then your face will surely show it
If you’re happy and you know it clap your hands
…stomp your feet
…shout hooray

Silly Dance Contest by Jim Gill

Five Ballerinas

Five dancing ballerinas
Dancing on their toes
They twirl and spin and jump
Then off the stage one goes

(count down)

Now what do ballerinas do at the end of a show? (bow)
What does the audience do at the end of a show? (clap)

Source: Storytime Katie

Colored Tap Shoes

If you have a (color) tap shoe, a (color) tap shoe, a (color) tap shoe
If you have a (color) tap shoe, bring it to the board

How it Went: Dance is one of my favorite storytime activities, I love moving and grooving with little ones and their parents. It was very easy to come up with songs but I had a hard time finding age appropriate books. I mostly get two year olds and my book choice today was a little long for them, luckily I know my regulars can handle them. These aren’t the typical books I’d read to this age group but the kids who show up are excellent listeners and had no problem sitting (or laying in some cases) through the stories.