Firefighter Sensory & Toddler Storytime
Introduce fire safety with a firefighter storytime! Choose two of the following firefighter-themed storytime books and pair them with a few of these songs, crafts, and sensory play ideas to boost engagement and fun in your next Toddler or Sensory Storytime for ages 2 and up. Offer a firefighter storytime in October for National Fire Prevention Month, or anytime. Visit The Youth Desk’s Sensory Storytime page for more detailed guidance and outlines.
Firefighter Toddler & Sensory Storytime Books
Firefighter Storytime Songs & Rhymes
Here are my favorite firefighter-themed songs and rhymes for toddlers and children of all abilities.
The Wheels on the Truck
The wheels on the truck go round and round
Round and round, round and round
The wheels on the truck go round and round
All through the town
The doors on the truck go open and shut…
The doggie on the truck goes bark, bark, bark…
Fire Trucks Up with Paper Trucks
Print fire truck illustrations on cardstock, cut them out, and distribute them to attendees to move along with you. Print them in different colors if you also plan to use them with the song “Red Truck” found below.
Fire trucks up, fire trucks down (lift truck up and down)
Fire trucks zooming all around the town (zoom truck around)
Zooming on your shoulders (tap truck on shoulder)
Zooming on your head (tap truck on your head)
Zooming on your knees (tap truck on your knee)
Then tuck them into bed (fold between hands next to head)
Red Truck
My favorite song for collecting storytime props!
If you have a red truck, a red truck, a red truck
If you have a red truck, please put it in the bag.
If you have a blue truck… orange… green…
Dress Like a Fire Fighter
Sing to the tune “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes.”
Helmet, jacket, pants and boots (touch head, torso, thighs, and toes)
Pants and boots (touch thighs and toes)
Helmet, jacket, pants and boots (touch head, torso, thighs, and toes)
Pants and boots (touch thighs and toes)
A tank on my back and a mask over my face (pat back and face)
Helmet, jacket, pants and boots (touch head, torso, thighs, and toes)
Pants and boots (touch thighs and toes)
(Credit: Stratford Library)
Down By the Fire Station Flannel Board
Place 5 fire trucks on a board and remove them when appropriate, OR hold up 5 fingers.
Down by the fire station early in the morning
Five red fire trucks sitting in a row
Ring goes the bell, and one starts its engine
Honk, honk, whee-oo, off it goes.
Down by the fire station early in the morning
Four red fire trucks sitting in a row… three… two…
Down by the fire station early in the morning
One red fire truck sitting all alone
Ring goes the bell, and it starts its engine
Honk, honk, whee-oo, off it goes.
(Credit: Handley Regional Library System)
Hurry Hurry
Hurry, hurry, drive the truck (pretend to turn wheel)
Drive the truck, drive the truck
Hurry, hurry, drive the truck
Ding, ding, ding, the bell.
Hurry, hurry, turn the corner…climb the ladder…spray the water…
Firefighter Sensory Play & Craft Activities
Ending Sensory Storytime with free play provides children and their caregivers with an excellent opportunity to explore and socialize. Set out any puppets or flannel board pieces you used during storytime for attendees to enjoy, and offer one of these great firefighter-themed play activities.
Touch a Truck Or Meet a Fireperson!
Invite your local fire department to bring a truck to your library for kids to explore OR host your storytime at the fire department. Fire personnel typically enjoy the opportunity to share fire safety tips with families or show off their fire equipment too. For example, our local fire staff enjoys picking a storytime attendee to “dress up” in their fire suit, hat, and face mask, and often distributes stickers and coloring sheets as part of their outreach initiatives.
Toy Trucks
Set out any trucks you’ve got for open-ended play. A variety of sizes and types support both fine and gross motor skills as kiddos grasp, push, and steer them. Fire trucks are encouraged, obviously, but any toy trucks will do!
Fire Truck Shapes Craft
Provide a sheet of construction paper, precut shapes, and glue. Encourage kids to glue shapes together to form a truck. Printable pieces can be found at the blog Ms. Stephanie’s Preschool.
Putting Out Chalk Fires
Use chalk to draw small fires and provide kids with squirt guns or spray bottles to “put the fires out,” aka wash them off the sidewalk. It can take a lot of water to “put them out,” so have a bucket or hose nearby to refill your spray bottles, and don’t draw the fires too big. Small fires are fine!
