Toddler Programs on HTSG
Shout out to Nina Roberts engineering and building our song time catalogue! WE LOVE YOU!
One of my favorite new programs that resulted in launching Hometown Stomping Ground is toddler music class. My favorite part of my week is logging on to our toddler sessions and seeing kids that have all become friends just from participating in Hometown Stomping Ground. As we wait for all the kids to log on, we talk about one day getting to play and be together in person. A few weeks into this program, one of the toddlers said, “Klee, maybe you could be my babysitter sometime?” It was then that I realized that even for a group this young valuable, genuine connection is made possible online. (Sidenote: I can’t wait to babysit all of them one day…)
As a part of our afterschool program we’ll be offering music classes twice a week. Music and song time has been the most successful toddler programming we’ve run, and it’s incredible to see our toddlers remember songs from the week before and ask for their favorite requests after being with us since March.
I am looking forward to the se1ason ahead of familiar faces and new friends we’ll meet as well! Here’s a look at our lesson planning process for our toddler after school program:
Klee’s Question of the Day jar!
Welcome campers
Hello song! - A simple welcome song opens the door for a safe and fun space for the kids to participate in. We sing the same song to start every class as repetition of material has proven to have built trust and confidence.
Question of the day: Each day we give each camper a chance to share a fun fact or story, which allows them to connect with other participants.
Song categories:
Warm up song - “Wheels on the Bus”
Call and response - “Yogurt, Spaghetti”
Song with hand motions - “Open Shut Them”
Song with prop of choice - “Grizzly Bear”
Song with instrument of choice - “Shake Your Shaker”
Movement Activity
Freeze Dance! - Disney songs and other dance jams are played to get people moving and being silly.
Closing
Goodbye song - It is a similar tune and sentiment as our “Hello Song” and keeps everybody engaged until the very end! We love to say each camper’s name during this song and thank them for coming.
Please reach out if you have any questions on this program! It has been an awesome experience to grow and learn with these families.
