Summer Baby Storytime
Sunshine, sand, and swimming, oh my! Choose one of the following summer-themed baby storytime books and pair it with a few 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, such as those below, helps keep things fresh and exciting. Visit The Youth Desk’s Baby Storytime page for more detailed guidance and outlines.
Summer Baby Storytime Books
Summer Baby Storytime Songs & Rhymes
Here are my favorite summer-themed movement songs and rhymes for babies:
Mr. Sun
Oh, Mr. Sun, Sun, Mr. Golden Sun (hold arms above head in a circle)
Please shine down on me. (lower arms and hug baby)
Oh, Mr. Sun, Sun, Mr. Golden Sun (hold arms above head in a circle)
Hiding behind a tree. (put hands in front of baby’s face)
These little children are asking you, (Tickle baby’s tummy)
To please come out so they can play with you (dance baby’s arms above head)
Oh, Mr. Sun, Sun, Mr. Golden Sun (hold arms above head in a circle)
Please shine down on me! (lower arms and hug baby)
(Credit: Raffi)
My Little Red Wagon
Bumping up and down in my little red wagon (bounce baby)
Bumping up and down in my little red wagon
Bumping up and down in my little red wagon
Won’t you be my darling?
Down the hill and around the corner…(Lean baby forward and gently swing around and upright)
One wheel’s off, and the axle’s broken… (Tip baby to the side)
(Credit: The Singable Songs Collection by Raffi)
Row Your Boat
Row, row, row, your boat (Row baby’s arms forward and back)
Gently down the stream
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily
Life is but a dream
Rock, rock, rock the boat (rock baby side to side)
Over the rapids we go
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily
Hope we don’t need a tow
The Lady Rides
This is the way the lady rides (Gently & slowly bounce baby)
The lady rides, the 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 all over the place)
Whooooooa! (Lean way back to end the song)
Froggy On My Toes with Bean Bags
Sing to the tune “If You’re Happy & You Know It.” Provide caregivers with a bean bag or scarf to “hop” on baby.
There’s a froggy on my toes, on my toes (tap baby’s toes with bean bag)
There’s a froggy on my toes, on my toes (tap baby’s toes with bean bag)
There’s a froggy on my toes, then he hopped to my nose (“hop” bag from toes to nose)
There’s a froggy on my toes, on my toes (tap baby’s toes with bean bag)
There’s a froggy on my knee…you’ll both be filled with glee…(tap baby’s knee)
There’s a froggy on my head…now put that frog to bed…(tap baby’s head then put between hands & pretend to sleep)
Bubble Bubble Pop Flannel Board Song
Place flannel or cardstock printouts of colorful fish on a board as you sing.
One little red fish swimming in the water (Hold up one finger, then swim hands)
Swimming in the water, swimming in the water (Swim hands)
One little red fish swimming in the water (Hold up one finger, then swim hands)
Bubble, bubble, bubble, bubble, POP! (Cup hands like holding a bubble and make them bigger, bigger, and clap!)
Two little yellow fish…
Three little blue fish…
Summer Baby Playtime Activities
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 bean bags would suffice, but here are some summer-themed ideas to further enhance your program.
Bubbles!
Bubbles aren’t just fun; they support babies’ development of visual tracking, spatial awareness, and more! Set out bubble wands for caregivers to blow or turn on a bubble machine! Let babies pop, explore, and enjoy. The Zerhunt Bubble Machine is a favorite, and Fubbles Bubbles No-Spill Tumblers are a great choice for less mess individual fun.
Ocean Sea Animal Toys
Place sea animal toys in a bucket for open-ended play. You can set them in a shallow bin of water for even more fun, or simply set them out on their own for less mess. These Munchkin Baby Bath Toys have been in my collection for years and are the perfect size for little hands. However, once you put them in water, mold can form, so don’t hesitate to skip the water.
Summer Animal Puppets
Nothing captures a baby’s attention quite like an animal puppet. Set one or more out for free play or walk around to let babies “pet.” Our Folkmanis Black Bear Hand Puppet has been well-loved in both our baby and preschool storytimes for years and is also available via Amazon. Other summer puppets could include a frog, a moose, a butterfly, or a bee.
