Wonderful Ones: Cuddly Teddy Bears

This week in Wonderful Ones, we explored the cuddly world of teddy bears!  Just like teddy bears, your babies are gentle, soft and cuddly!  Through the songs and rhymes, you and your baby will use gentle movements to learn about the space around them, such as, reaching for the sky or patting their knee.  Through the stories you read together, interact with your baby by playing the actions described in the book, such as, touching your nose.  Using songs, rhymes and books, you are helping to introduce new words and sounds to your child, which helps him or her develop a bigger vocabulary.

Teddy Bear Books to Read Together:
Everybody Has a Teddy by Virginia Kroll
A child describes teddy bears owned by other children, from Joshy's giant grizzly to the floppy bear Poppy's grandmother made from socks.
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That's Not My Teddy by Fiona Watt

Young readers may touch various surfaces on teddy bears while looking for the right one.
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Teddy Bears, Teddy Bears by William B. Winburn
Teddy bears can do many things, from touching their nose and toes to touching the sky and waving goodbye.
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Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear Rhyme:
Teddy bear, teddy bear, turn around
Teddy bear, teddy bear, touch the ground
Teddy bear, teddy bear, touch your shoe
Teddy bear, teddy bear, that will do
Teddy bear, teddy bear, reach for the sky
Teddy bear, teddy bear, touch one eye
Teddy bear, teddy bear, pat your knees
Teddy bear, teddy bear, sit down please
Teddy bear, teddy bear, pat the ground
Teddy bear, teddy bear, sit down without a sound.

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In addition to the Teddy Bear themed books and rhyme, we sang the song called, "Put Your Hands in the Air" by Hap Palmer.  This music CD is available to check out at the library.  Play the CD in your car so you and your baby can sing along while driving.  Or play the CD at home while baby is taking a bath and splash along with the music.  For additional resources from Hap Palmer, visit his website.  

Check catalog availability of "Hap Palmer sings classic nursery rhymes"

Put Your Hands In The Air
Words and Music: Hap Palmer

Activity:
Move with the rhythm of the music as you follow the directions in this song.

Lyrics:
Put your hands up in the air
Put your hands down on your nose
Put your hands up in the air
Now bend down and touch your toes
Everybody turn around
Now let's all jump up and down

Put your right hand in the air
Put your right hand on your lips
Put your left hand in the air
Now put both hands on your hips
Everybody turn around
Now let's all jump up and down

Tip toe quietly to your seat
Don't let anyone hear your feet
Put your hands down in your lap
Bow your head and take a nap

Instrumental:
What other body parts could you put up in the air? Can you put your foot in the air? Can you put your elbow in the air? Lower your elbow and find and contact it with a different part of your body.  Sing this song again using your ideas. For example:

Put your elbow in the air
Put your elbow on your knee
Put you thumbs up in the air
Bring them down and touch your heels