Busy Bee Bulletin January - April 2015
Calendar Buzz Inside This Issue: Every Day Is a Great Day to Read Aloud
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Books for Busy Bees
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Head, Shoulders, Bees and Toes
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Baby Bees
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Bee Crafty!
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Farmington Reads!
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Preschool Fair
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Musical Movement (for walking one- and twoyear olds with an adult) Youngsters build vocabulary, selfawareness, coordination, and self-confidence as they move to new and familiar songs and rhymes. Physical and Occupational Therapists from Oakland County Early On lead the fun and are available to answer questions about your child’s development. Main Library Auditorium: Saturdays, Jan. 31; Feb. 28; March 28; April 25, 10:30 a.m.
Musical Story Time (for all ages) This music-filled story time is fun for the whole family. Musical stories, fingerplays, songs, rhymes and a cacophony of sound round out the 45-minute program. Farmington Branch Meeting Room: Thursdays, Feb. 5, 12, 19, 26, 7 p.m. Frozen Sing-Along with Anna and Elsa Anna and Elsa are ready to sing your favorite Frozen songs with you. If you choose, come dressed as your favorite Frozen character. Farmington Branch
Meeting Room: Saturday, Feb. 14, 2 p.m. Celebrate Dr. Seuss’s Birthday Join us as guest reader Jeff Pavlik, from the Sunflour Bakehaus, reads a favorite Dr. Seuss book. Afterwards, we will have a craft and –of coursebirthday cake. Farmington Branch Meeting Room: Monday, Mar. 2, 7 p.m. Saturday Story Time Dance Party (for all ages) One book, lots of dances, one craft and fun activities. Main Library Children’s Program Room: Saturday, Mar. 21, 10:30 a.m.
Every Day Is a Great Day to Read Aloud A primary goal of the Farmington Community Library is to encourage the love of reading from early childhood throughout one’s lifetime. The Children’s Department supports this goal with our book collections, story times and other
programs, outreach story time visits and our efforts to encourage child care providers and parents to read to their children every day. This year the American Academy of Pediatrics announced a new policy which recommends that doctors encourage families to
read aloud to children as young as infants. Families that establish the habit of reading aloud for fifteen minutes once or twice a day enjoy the benefit of a fun, shared experience and special memories that
will last a lifetime. Children who are read to each day learn many new words and develop speaking skills as they talk to their parents about what is on each page. Continued on page 12
Great Ideas for Child Care Providers from the Farmington Community Library
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Books for Busy Bees Board Books
Picture Books
Here is a list of baby-friendly board books. You can find them at the library or buy a copy for yourself at the bookstore.
Bee, William. DIGGER DOG. Digger dog loves to dig for bones. When his shovel doesn’t work, he tries bigger and bigger digging devices to get to the world’s biggest bone!
TOUCH AND FEEL 1 2 3. Dorling Kindersley. HONK, HONK! BAA, BAA! Horacek, Petr. KISS, KISS GOOD NIGHT. Nesbitt, Kenn. TWINKLE, TWINKLE, LITTLE STAR. Reasoner, Charles. (FA only)
Brocket, Jane. COLD, CRUNCHY, COLORFUL: USING OUR SENSES. Beautiful photographs illustrate examples of things we see, hear, smell, taste and touch. Marlow, Layn. YOU MAKE ME SMILE. A winter day is very special. Especially when you make a snowman smile! This is a quiet, sweet story for a wintery day. Murphy, Mary. SAY HELLO LIKE THIS! How do the animals say hello? With simple text and adorable illustrations, this story will tell you! How do you say hello? Perl, Erica S. GOATILOCKS AND THE THREE BEARS. You’ve heard of Goldilocks, well now you can meet Goatilocks! Similar story, different ending. Goatilocks has a bigger appetite than her predecessor, but she does something nice for the bears in return. Cute twist on a classic story.
Busy Bee Bulletin
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Head, Shoulders, Bees and Toes Mr. Groundhog Sung to: “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" Mr. Groundhog in the ground, Pop your head up, look around. Do you see your shadow? Look up high and look down low. Mr. Groundhog in the ground, Pop your head up, look around. If You Love Me and You Know It Sung to: "If You’re Happy and You Know It" If you love me and you know it, Clap your hands. If you love me and you know it, Clap your hands. If you love me and you know it, Then your face will surely show it. If you love me and you know it, Clap your hands. Other Verses: Say "I Love you." Blow me a kiss. Give me a hug.
The Leprechaun A leprechaun is small and green. (Use hand to indicate a small person.) He hides where he cannot be seen. (Cover eyes with hands.) But if you catch one on this day, (Shake finger.) He must give his gold away. (Pretend to put gold in pocket.)
The wind blew the great big ships at sea. (Repeat sweeping motion.) The wind blew the kite away from me.
Gingerbread Boy Song Sung to: "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" Eat, eat your Gingerbread Boy, Before he runs away. Faster, faster, faster, please, Don't let him get away! The Playful Wind Catch, catch the Gingerbread Boy, The wind came out to play one day. Catch him, yes, today. He swept the clouds out of his way. Faster, faster, faster (Make sweeping still, motion with For he has run away. hands.) Say bye-bye to the He blew the leaves Gingerbread Boy. and away they flew. Say good-bye today. (Make fluttering motions with Say so long for he is fingers.) gone. The trees bent low and their The fox ate him today. branches did too! (Lift arms high and lower them.)
Baby Bees The Healing Power of Touch
need to offer as much positive encouragement and affection as possible to help the baby’s brain We all feel better after a hug. start to understand and express Babies, in particular, feel emotions. As Gerhardt explains in connected and loved when they her book, being held and hugged are held. Sue Gerhardt, author of WHY LOVE MATTERS, states “being helps babies (and adults!) feel lovingly held is the greatest spur to supported. This gives them the confidence to explore, try new development.” Sharing warm things and eventually make new smiles, loving words, and snuggly friends. cuddles is so important. What better way to share them with At the Farmington Community infants than with a good book? Library, we offer several different When we are caring for infants, we kinds of books that help you to
engage with the infant in your life. Our parenting collections include books on infant massage and ideas for playing with your child. We also have many touch-and-feel board books that help you interact with your loved one in a very special way. Check one out today and feel more connected.
Great Ideas for Child Care Providers from the Farmington Community Library
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Bee Crafty! Snowman Slam What you will need: Six white cups Black and orange craft foam or construction paper Three white socks Glue Scissors Directions: Decorate each of the six cups like a snowman’s head. Ball up the white socks to make “snowballs.” How to play: Stack up the cups and toss the “snowballs” at them. Have FUN!!
Hot Chocolate Sensory Tub What you will need: White rice A zip seal bag Chocolate extract Brown food coloring or watercolors (optional) Cotton balls, cups, spoons Directions: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
Add the desired amount of rice to the zip seal bag. Squirt in a couple drops of chocolate extract. Add a few drops of food coloring or watercolors if a rich brown color is desired. Then add a few drops of water. (The water just helps the extract and coloring saturate the rice.) Seal the bag and mix until all the rice is saturated. Lastly, lay the rice out on a flat surface to dry. Once the rice is dry, pour it into a bin and add cotton balls (to act as marshmallows), cups, spoons, and a pot to cook the “hot chocolate” in. Activities from: www.growingajeweledrose.com Busy Bee Bulletin
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Bee Crafty! Ice Hands What you will need: Latex gloves Water Food coloring Twist ties Shallow baking pan Directions: 1. Fill glove with water. Do not fill all the way; leave room at the top so you will be able to twist shut. 2. Add a drop or two of food coloring and shake glove to disperse color. 3. Twist glove tightly a couple of times and secure snugly with a twist tie. 4. Lay glove in shallow baking pan, just in case it leaks. 5. Place pan in freezer overnight or outdoors if cold enough. 6. To remove ice hands from gloves, hold under running water and very gently slide gloves off hands.
Salt and Ice Fun What you will need: Ice hand Shallow pan Salt (table, kosher or driveway) Spoon scoops Directions: 1. Place hand in shallow pan. 2. Sprinkle or scoop salt over. 3. Watch what happens.
Activities from http://happyhooligans.ca/
Great Ideas for Child Care Providers from the Farmington Community Library
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Bee Crafty! Pom-Pom Hockey What you will need: Lots of pom-poms Wrapping paper tube Paper plate Masking tape Directions: 1. Cut the paper plate so that the sides and bottom are straight. 2. Tape it to the end of the wrapping paper tube. 3. Make square shapes on the floor using the masking tape (for goals). How to play: Get as many pom-poms as you can into your goal using only the scoop. No hands! Activity from learning4kids.net
Fine-Motor Skill Cereal Drop What you will need: Bowl of cereal Clean empty water or pop bottle How to play: Simply pick up the pieces of cereal and drop them into the bottle. Older children may want to try tossing the cereal into the bottle.
Activity from momtriedit.net/
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Bee Crafty! Fine-Motor Skill Spaghetti Sort What you will need: Uncooked spaghetti noodles Clay Colorful ring-shaped cereal Directions: 1. Push uncooked spaghetti noodles into a chunk of clay. 2. Place a bowl of colorful ring-shaped cereal nearby. 3. Have children slide the cereal pieces onto the noodles. 4. To incorporate math skills, encourage children to sort the cereal by color onto separate noodles or make a different pattern on each noodle. Activity from Mailbox Magazine Preschool Oct/Nov 2014
Walk the Line What you will need: Colored masking tape Pom-poms Straws Directions: Make a straight line, a zigzaggy line, and a wavy line on the floor using the tape. If possible, overlap the three designs and make each design out of a different color. Have children use their balance skills to walk the lines and then repurpose the lines. Put a pom-pom at one end of a line and let the children try to blow the pom-pom along the line to the other end with the straw. Activity from handsonaswegrow.com Great Ideas for Child Care Providers from the Farmington Community Library
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Bee Crafty!
Read: MY GARDEN by Kevin Henkes
Busy Bee Bulletin
Image from primarygames.com
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Bee Crafty! Tulip Painting What you will need: 3-pronged fork Paint Paintbrush Paper Directions: 1. Press the fork firmly in the paint. 2. Make sure that the prongs and the base are coated in paint. 3. Press the fork on the paper. 4. Use the paintbrush to make stems and leaves. Read: FLOWER GARDEN by Eve Bunting
Pom-Pom Painting What you will need: Pom-poms in various sizes Paint Paper Clothespins Directions: 1. Clip a pom-pom onto the clothes pin. 2. Dip the pom-poms into the paint. 3. Create pictures (clouds, snowflakes, flowers, bugs). Activity from Pinterest.com
Great Ideas for Child Care Providers from the Farmington Community Library
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Bee Crafty! Bottle Cap Caterpillar What you will need: Bottle caps Green construction paper Scissors White glue
Crayons Pipe cleaners Googly eyes
Directions: 1. Cut a leaf shape out of the construction paper. 2. Color the bottle caps any color. 3. Dip each cap into the glue puddle. 4. Stick the caps onto the leaf in a line. 5. Add little googly eyes and a pipe cleaner smile to the first bottle cap. 6. Cut small pieces of pipe cleaner to use as antennae and glue them to the first cap as well. 7. Draw legs underneath the remaining caps using a crayon.
Read: THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR by Eric Carle Activity from: allkidsnetwork.com
Farmington Reads! 2015: Perfect Square Once again, we are pleased to present Farmington Reads! This year’s book selection is PERFECT SQUARE by Michael Hall. Each licensed child care facility in Farmington and Farmington Hills will receive a copy of the book, thanks to generous support from the Farmington Friends of the Library. PERFECT SQUARE is a lesson for children on motivation, imagination, and ingenuity. When the Perfect Square is ripped, torn, or cut, he doesn’t wait for someone to put him back together—he makes himself into something new!
We encourage child care providers to share PERFECT SQUARE with children; and the library will share this book with families at our Farmington Reads! story time events. Parents and children will also be able to check out a copy from the library to share at home. We hope that you and your children will happily explore the many ways a seemingly simple square can become something colorful, unique, and different. Licensed child care facilities will receive a booklet containing rhymes, crafts, booklists and activities to accompany PERFECT SQUARE. Busy Bee Bulletin
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Farmington Reads! 2015 What Can You Make with a Square?
Copy onto colored paper, cut out, and tear me!
The Perfect Square can make itself into many different things! When it was torn into scraps, the square made itself into a garden. Cut out this square and tear it into scraps. What can you make with the pieces? Great Ideas for Child Care Providers from the Farmington Community Library
Busy Bee Bulletin Main Library 32737 West Twelve Mile Road Farmington Hills, MI 48334 (248) 848-4315 Farmington Branch 23500 Liberty Street Farmington, MI 48335 (248) 553-0300 ext. 220 Find Us Online at: facebook.com/fclbusybees pinterest.com/farmlib
Lisa Laesch-Vanstone Children’s Outreach Librarian (248) 553-6881 ll.vanstone@farmlib.org
Every Day Is a Great Day to Read Aloud (cont.) Reading fifteen minutes each day, for five years, adds up to over 456 hours and helps a child to be ready to learn in Kindergarten. The United Way of Southeast Michigan supports reading to young children and will send your child a free book each month, if you qualify. Visit http://www.misd.net/earlychild/ imaginationlibraryflyer.pdf to print an Imagination Library Registration Form, or pick up a copy of the form at the Library.
The Children’s Staff at the Farmington Community Library are always happy to help you find just the right books to read aloud. We have two special collections, Curious Kids and 101 Picture Books for Preschoolers, that are a quick way to find great read-alouds. Ask us for help locating these collections, or for suggestions of other books during your next visit. If it’s more convenient, call the Main Library (248) 848-4315 or Farmington Branch (248) 553-0300 ext. 220 and ask us to set books aside for you.
Busy Bee Bulletin
2015 Annual Preschool Fair Join us for our annual Preschool and Day Care Fair in February! Meet representatives from preschools and licensed child care facilities in our service area in an Adults Only atmosphere. Preschools and Day Cares may call (248) 553-6881 or email ll.vanstone@farmlib.org to reserve a space. Main Library Auditorium: Saturday, Feb. 7, 2015, 11 a.m.