Farm Baby Storytime
Cows, sleepy sheepies, and chickies, oh my! Choose one of the following farm-themed baby storytime books and pair it with a couple of these songs and playtime ideas for more engagement and fun in your next Baby Storytime. I recommend repeating many of your rhymes and movement songs each week (repetition is key for cognitive development!), but sprinkling in new thematic songs and activities will keep things fresh and exciting. Visit The Youth Desk’s Baby Storytime page for more detailed guidance.
Farm Baby Storytime Books
Farm Baby Storytime Movement Songs
Here are my favorite farm-themed movement songs for babies. Encourage caregivers to gently move their baby’s hands, arms, etc.
The Cow in the Barn with Puppets
Sing to the tune of “Wheels on the Bus.” For more engagement, hide animal puppets in a bag or bucket and take each out when appropriate. The babies will be mesmerized.
The cow in the barn goes moo, moo, moo
Moo, moo, moo, moo, moo, moo
The cow in barn goes moo, moo, moo
All around the farm.
The pig in the pen goes oink, oink, oink…
The hens in the coop go cluck…
The lambs on the hill go baa…
The ducks on the pond go quack…
The Lady Rides
Bounce baby throughout and end by leaning waaaay back on “Whoa!” This song has been a favorite in every Baby Storytime I’ve ever conducted. It can’t be beat!
This is the way the lady rides
This is the way the lady rides
Lady rides, lady rides
This is the way the lady rides
On her way to town
This is the way the gentleman rides… (Faster)
This is the way the doctor rides…(Even faster)
This is the way the cowpoke rides…(Even faster and a bit clumsy)
Whooooooa! (Lean way back to end the song)
Hey Diddle Diddle
Hey diddle diddle
The cat and the fiddle
The cow jumped over the moon
The little dog laughed to see such sport
And the dish ran away with the spoon.
The Farmer in the Dell
Bounce baby throughout and lean back, side, or forward during animal sounds.
The farmer in the dell
The farmer in the dell
Hi-ho, the derry-o
The farmer in the dell
The farmer takes a horse, Neigh (lean baby back)…
The horse takes a cow, Moo (lean baby side)…
The cow takes a dog, Woof (lean baby to the forward)…
Farm Baby Playtime
Ending storytime with free play is an excellent way for babies and caregivers to socialize and observe others. You don’t need anything fancy. Simply setting out blocks, musical instruments, or puppets would suffice, but here are some farm-themed ideas to further enhance your program.
Farm Animal Match
Lay out toy farm animals to match with the pages of a sensory farm animals book, such as Touch and Feel Farm by Anne Millard, Baby Touch and Feel: Farm by DK, or On the Farm by Roger Priddy.
Rollable Farm Friends
Balls are a great toy for playtime with babies. Mix these soft farmyard balls in with your existing sensory balls or set them out on their own. You can purchase the Melissa Rollable Farm Friends set on their own or spend an additional $4 to get the combined Safari and Farm set.
