After last week’s sombre poem, I thought we all deserved something a bit lighter and sillier this week. So today I’m taking you inside my weekly baby times for a glimpse at some of the adorable shenanigans we get up to together! Baby time is one of the highlights of my week – there’s nothing quite like being in a room full of wiggly, giggly, sweet little babies to brighten your spirits!
Poetry is everywhere in library story times. We sing, we wiggle, we dance, we tickle and we bounce in a half-hour celebration of rhythm and rhyme. Lap bounces are a big part of baby programs as they help babies develop strong core muscles and improve their balance, which are key components of learning to crawl and walk. They’re also just so much fun!
This is one of my all-time favourite lap bounces. It’s absolutely ridiculous, uses a lot of early literacy supporting repetition, includes an opportunity for a snuggle, and celebrates the wonderful (and perhaps surprisingly dangerous) hippopotamus!
So silly, and so, so much fun. Who says poetry has to be serious all the time? Sometimes a silly poem can be just what you need, especially when it includes an opportunity to squish a giggly little hippo on your lap.
Hope everyone has a great week, friends!
ha! You’re squishing us Mr. Hippopotamus! Thank you for your time with those wiggly giggly babies and for sharing with all of us. xo
I love it! All I can think of is Fiona the Baby Hippo turned one bouncing to this 😉
This is great! I’ve never heard this one before. My little boy will love it!
I love this fun and silly poem! Maybe I should plan a trip to the zoo to visit a hippopotamus or two.
Yes! Especially if you can see a baby one, they’re so adorable. 😍
This reminds me so much of my husband’s grandmother. She would sit and bounce our children reciting silly little rhymes. “Trot little horsey, trot to town. Trot little horsey, don’t fall down.” Thank you for stirring up these precious memories.
One of the things we’re always finding in early literacy research is that our mothers and grandmothers knew what they were doing! They didn’t always know the science behind childhood brain development or things like that, but they knew what worked!
Love the adorable silliness. Made me smile today. Thanks!!
Such a funny poem! LOL I love picturing your baby time.
Jane, my little grandbaby (7 months) loves to go to the librarian for the baby read aloud program. She enjoys the music and loves to listen to the stories. My daughter sends me photos of the event. I am sure Sierra would be thrilled to be one of your babies with the fun you dish up for the little ones.
I may need to share with my kinders.
What a magical time this must be for mothers and their wee ones. Silly hippopotamus! It got me thinking of the song I want a hippopotamus for Christmas! If you don’t know it, you must watch it here! https://youtu.be/7oOzszFIBcE
Very cute, Jane – sounds like you enjoy baby time as much as the baby!
I definitely do! Such a much-needed dose of cuteness. 🙂
Oh, the hippo poem is darling! I need a few more grandchildren to bounce on my knee and “squash” with a hug at the end. Thanks for sharing it!
There are lots of things that are in danger of getting lost…glad you are still “bopping and hopping and not really dropping” (lol!) those little ones! They really do need that rhythm, rhyme and core strength!
More more more silly poetry! Love it! 🙂
The Cincinnati Zoo has a famous baby hippo named Fiona. She started tiny and completely in the care of the zoo keepers, but she is a healthy (HUGE) one year-old now. It was fun to watch her grow up via social media!
I am sending this post (along with the idea of bounces and squishes) to my brother to use with his little ones!
I’m babysitting my 19-month-old grandson later, so I’ll be trying out your bouncing rhyme!
What fun, Jane! I wish I knew about this lap rhyme when my kids were small. I might even try it on them now, but not sure what kind of reaction I’ll get from my 15 and 17 year olds… especially the 17 year old. Plus he might hurt me. LOL
So fun! Thank you! This made me smile. Ruth, thereisnosuchthingasagodforsakentown.blogspot.com
Very welcome fun, Jane – and those rhymes and together-times are so important, too! :0)
I look forward to trying this out with my grandbaby!
You know that loud ROARing picture book manuscript I was caught-out reading? Well – it wasn’t about a hippopotamus, but it does have to get a run up on a big word like this. 🙂 #hiphiphippopotamus Adorable picture and fun poem!
Fun lap poem Jane and I like the hippo pic too! Sounds like a grand time with the little babes thanks.
Hehe! Silly poems with silly kids are the best!