Resources


My Favourite Rhyme for Baby Rhymetime

Cross, Cross (aka Criss, Cross)
(Sit baby sideways across your lap)


Cross Cross (make diagonal strokes across baby's back to make a cross )
Line, line (make downward two strokes from shoulder to waist)
Fingers walking up your spine (walk fingers up centre of back)
Over here, over there (touch each sholder in turn)
Fingers mussing up your hair (fingers ruffling baby's hair)
Tight squeeze (a big hug)
Cool breeze (blow on the back of baby's neck)
Now you’ve got the shivers! (hug and gently shake at the same time)


STORYTIMES & FLANNEL BOARDS
The Best Kid's Book Site (USA) Storytime topics and projects 
Pre-school Favorites (USA) Accompanies the book by Diane Briggs (not all links are functional) 
Southwest Iowa Library Service - Story Kits (USA) Complete stoytimes, including flannel templates
Storytime Magic (USA) Templates to accompany the book of the same name
Storytimes Online (USA) Books by theme, songs, fingerplays, poems & book awards
SurLaLune (USA) Storytimes book recommendations and activities

CRAFTS & PRINTABLES
Artists Helping Children (USA) All sorts, including crafts-by-theme.
DTLK's Crafts for Kids (CA) Printable children's crafts, colouring pages and more.    
Highlights Kids Magazine (USA) Activities and Crafts
LearnEnglishKids (UK) Craft ideas and more from The British Council.
Mrs Pancake (USA) Masks and Doodads to print.
Silkysteps (UK) Colouring pictures, activity sheets, outlines/templates, rhyming sheets from UK-based early years provider.
The Drawbot (USA) Drawing and colouring pages
Twinkl (UK) Classroom signs and displays

DISPLAYS
Bulletin Board Ideas (USA) Literacy bulletin board ideas

EARLY YEARS LITERACY
Colorado Libraries for Early Literacy (USA)
Mel's Desk (USA) Blog with early literacy tips for storytellers (and lots more besides)
PBS.org: ABCs of Child Development (USA) Developmental milestones by developmental area.
Ready To Read (USA) King County Library System's literacy advice to parents

Reach Out and Read (USA) Lists developmental milestones for early literacy by age
Scottish Book Trust (UK-Scottish) Incs. Early Years Bookbug Scheme, sharing books & Tracy's Early Years Lowe-down blog
Words for Life (UK) National Literacy Trust's web site for parents
Zero to Three (USA) Tips on how parents can use playtime to maximize their child's learning opportunities


LESSON PLANS
Hummingbird Educational Resources (USA) Themed lesson plans for early childhood to kindergarten.






PICTURE BOOKS
A-Z Teacher's Stuff (USA) Links to story props for books and nursery rhymes
Kid's Club (USA) Books with printable activities
Making Learning Fun (USA) Story sticks for popular books
Mimi's Motifs (USA) Props for popular books to buy
Silkysteps (UK) Themed activities in a forum (e.g. foggy binoculars with Foggy, Foggy, Forest)

PUPPETS
Puppet Resouces (Australia) Free puppet scripts to download
Puppet Tales (USA) Archive of Puppet Tales Magazine (Library Palouza)

SONGS & RHYMES
BusSongs (USA) Lyrics and words for children's songs and nursery rhymes
KIDdles (USA) Children's song lyrics
King County Library System (USA) Rhymes and songs in alphabetical order and by theme, including YouTube videos 
Pre-School Express (USA) Music and rhymes arranged in themes
Perpetual Pre-school (USA) Songs and more posted by early childhood educators (lots of adverts though)

SPECIAL NEEDS
All Join In (UK) Activities for children with Autism and other special needs.  Including templates, printables and ideas
Virtual Vine (USA) Special education information
Animated Social Gadget - Blogger And Wordpress Tips