Toddler Storytime: Fun with Opposites

Opposites are so much fun! Toddlers are discovering differences in the world with all their senses and it is never too early to broach the concept of opposites. Talking about opposites helps toddlers understand the function of comparative vocabulary (bigger, softer, louder) that they need to describe their world.  

After "Hello, hello, hello and how are you?" and "Open Shut them" we were ready to talk opposites. Well, what is an opposite? In toddler terms, opposites are things that are very, very different in a particular way. 

Book: Magic Opposites by Patrick George

This book is 'magic' due to the carefully placed shapes on the plastic see through pages. We read just the first ten pages or so to get our feet wet.

Action Rhyme: Two Little Blackbirds

(Jbrary does a good rendition of this rhyme.)

Traditional Lyrics:
Two little blackbirds sitting on a hill.One named Jack and one named Jill. Fly away Jack, fly away Jill. Come back Jack, come back Jill.

Additional lyrics for practicing opposites:

Two little blackbirds flying in the sky.
One named Low and one named High...

Two little blackbirds sitting on a pole.
One named Fast and one named Slow...

Two little blackbirds sitting on a gate...
One named Early and one named Late...

Two little blackbirds sitting on a cloud...
One named Quiet and one named LOUD!

Two little blackbirds scared by a sound,
One flew UP and the other flew DOWN...

Book: Animal Opposites: a pop-up book by Petr Horáček

Let the toddlers try to name the animals!

Action rhyme: Clap, clap, clap your hands

Clap, clap, clap your hands, as slowly as you can.
Clap, clap, clap your hands as quickly as you can!

Roll, roll, roll your hands, as slowly as you can.
Roll, roll, roll your hands as quickly as you can!

Shake, shake, shake your hands, as slowly as you can.
Shake, shake, shake your hands as quickly as you can!

Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle your fingers, as slowly as you can.
Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle your fingers as quickly as you can!

Give me five!

Action/counting song: Jumping and Counting by Jim Gill

This was a surprise smash hit. I disovered the song on our iPad, tried it out with some earlybird toddlers and they (and the rest of the kids) wanted to do it no less than 3 more times! 

Book: I'm the Biggest Thing in the Ocean by Kevin Sherry

Game: Animal sorting

I asked the kids to help me sort the animals. "Who is little? Who is big?"

Action rhyme: This Is Big (Thank you librarian Mel!)

This is big big big  Hold arms out to side

This is small small small  Cup hands together

This is short short short  Hold hands with palms facing each other

This is tall tall tall  Reach one hand high above head

This is fast fast fast  Circle fists quickly

This is slow slow slow  Circle fists slowly

This is yes yes yes  Nod

This is no no no  Shake head

We ended by playing with our parachute, demonstrating even more opposites.  We lifted the parachute high/low, tall/short, we shook the parachute fast/slow, and we walked toward each other for in and then back out again. You could also walk clockwise and counterclockwise or right and left. 

Extra book if you have time: Black & White by Tana Hoban

I ask the toddlers "Can anyone tell me what these shapes are?"