This summer, two of the gals on the Early Literacy Team, Miss Sarah and Miss Kelsey (Library Bonanza) and myself did a series of toddler dance programs entitled Toe Tappin’ Tots. They were every other week on Friday mornings for children aged birth to three and their caregivers.  OH BOY DID WE DANCE. We also packed the house.  I highly recommend doing this type of programming. It’s so choice! WHY? WHY YOU ASK??
Reasons WHY you should do toddler dance programming:
1. It isn’t terribly difficult to plan – you may use any of the following plans as well as these to get you started.
2. Big bang for your buck. It doesn’t cost any money. Really. We didn’t spend a cent.
3. It gets kids and their caregivers up and moving (for at least part of the program).
4. Kids, once warmed up, really like to dance, even if it is in their own way.
5. The program is all about early literacy skills and prompts!

Without further ADO – our planz:
Our welcome song was always “I’m in the mood” by Raffi with the verses singing, dancing, clapping and sitting. We sang the “Itsy Bitsy Spider” for a warm-up song each week adding verses to that too, including eensy weensy and great big spider. For our closing song we sang “If you’re happy and you know it” from the Songs for Wiggleworms CD.
June 26 Plan
1. Flannel Song: Oh Dinosaurs!
2. Lapsit Song: When cows get up in the morning
3. Floor Song: Dinosaur went over the mountain
4. Floor Song: Everybody knows I love my toes
5. Action Song: Toes are tapping
6. Free Dance with Props: Word up by Little Mix
7. Free Dance with Props: My type by Saint Motel
8. Bubbles Song: Popcorn by Joanie Leads
July 10 Plan
1. Flannel Song: 5 Elephants in the Bathtub
2. Lapsit Song: Open, Shut Them
3. Floor Song: Tommy Toes is Up
4. Floor Song: Mmm, Ahhh Went the Little Green Frog!
5. Action Song: Spaghetti Legs by Jim Gill
6. Free Dance with Props: Best Day of My Life by American Authors
7. Free Dance with Props: Tightrope by Janelle Monae (clean)
8. Bubbles Song: Popcorn Calling Me by Laurie Berkner
July 24 Plan
1. Flannel Song: Going on a Picnic by Raffi
2. Lapsit Song: Duke of York by Kathy Reid Naiman
3. Floor Song: Wheels in the City by Laura Dougherty
4. Floor Song: Peace Like a River by Elizabeth Mitchell
5. Action Song: Silly Dance Contest by Jim Gill
6. Free Dance with Props: Shut Up and Dance with Me by Walk the Moon
7. Free Dance with Props: I Want You Back by Jackson 5
8. Bubbles Song: All the Fish by Caspar Babypants
July 24 Plan
1. Flannel Song: Going on a Picnic by Raffi
2. Lapsit Song: Duke of York by Kathy Reid Naiman
3. Floor Song: Wheels in the City by Laura Dougherty
4. Floor Song: Peace Like a River by Elizabeth Mitchell
5. Action Song: Silly Dance Contest by Jim Gill
6. Free Dance with Props: Shut Up and Dance with Me by Walk the Moon
7. Free Dance with Props: I Want You Back by Jackson 5
8. Bubbles Song: All the Fish by Caspar Babypants
August 14 Plan
1. Flannel Song: Five Little Froggies (Tune: Turkey in the Straw)
2. Lapsit Song: Bar of Soap!
3. Floor Song: Shoo Fly
4. Floor Song: Mr. Sun by Raffi
5. Action Song: Heartbeat by Laura Dougherty
6. Free Dance with Props: By my side by Sleepy Man Banjo Boys
7. Free Dance with Props: Something that I want by Grace Potter (Tangled)
8. Bubbles Song: Bubbles by Heather Bush and the Uppercuts (Rattle & Strum)
August 28 Plan
1. Lapsit Song: Little Red Wagon
2. Floor Song: Wishy Washy Washer Woman by Carole Peterson
3. Floor Song: The Bathtub Song by Carole Peterson
4. Circle Song: The Uninvited Parade by Sandra Boynton
5. Circle Song: We are the dinosaurs by Laurie Berkner
5. Free Dance with Props: I will wait by Mumford and Sons
6. Free Dance with Props: Twist and Shout by The Beatles
7. Bubbles Song: Popcorn by The Barenaked Ladies

If you’d like to see more adorable pictures – check out our Flickr album!

Three wiped out librarians. 5 programs. 580 patrons. Dancin’. It’s all worth it.