Receptive language, Expressive language
Toddlers participate in a book sharing about different ways to carry a baby.
[Invite several toddlers to join you to look at pictures of different ways to carry a baby. Show the cover of the book. Point to pictures as you describe them.]
Look at the picture of the baby and parent on the cover of our book.
Where is the baby in our picture? Where is the parent?
The baby is being carried on the parent’s back. Our book shows pictures of different ways to carry a baby. Our book is called Carry Me. Let’s look inside our book.
[Read the book text and use your own words to describe pictures. Point to features of pictures that you describe.
Draw attention to how the baby is being carried, such as in a blanket or a basket or riding in a backpack or in a parent’s arms.
Repeat and extend toddlers’ comments and pointing. Example: “You are pointing to the beautiful hat the baby is wearing. The mom is wearing a hat, too. I think it is cold outside in this picture.”
Spend more time on pictures that seem to be of particular interest to toddlers.
Skip the last two pages of small pictures and country names.]
We looked at pictures of different ways to carry a baby. Some babies were on their parent’s back. Other babies were on their parent’s side or in their parent’s arms.
Watch toddlers’ gazes to determine whether some pictures may be especially challenging to figure out. In general, you may wish to use a slower pace so toddlers have time to look at each picture. The book’s pictures, each of a different set of infant and parent in varying dress and positions, will take longer to view than similarly styled illustrations offered in many books. The diversity of people shown in the book will be novel to many children.
Extra support
Enrichment
Receptive language, Expressive language
Older toddlers participate in a book sharing focused on different ways to carry babies, with opportunities to explore wearing a doll carrier.
Be Prepared: This activity is for older toddlers (18 months and above) who are familiar with the Carry Me book through participation in Option 1 or a similar book sharing. The age parameter ensures all toddlers can wear a doll carrier, if they wish. If possible, also secure a sling for carrying a baby doll.
Invite 2–3 toddlers to join you to look at pictures of different ways to carry a baby. Remind children we have looked at this book before. Show and describe photos that you anticipate will be of interest to toddlers in the session. Emphasize how the baby is being carried. Invite toddlers to help you describe the photos. Examples: “What do we see in this picture?” “How is the baby being carried?”
Introduce the doll carrier and a baby doll. Invite a volunteer child to show how it is worn. Help the toddler put the doll in the carrier. Describe how the item is being worn and how it protects the baby. Encourage the volunteer child to walk around briefly while wearing the carrier. If the carrier is new to the child, ask how it feels on his/her body. Invite other toddlers to try wearing the doll carrier. You may wish to encourage toddlers wearing a carrier to position the baby in different ways (facing out versus in). Describe difference for the baby (doll) and the person wearing the carrier. Also, introduce the baby blanket for a toddler(s) to use in holding a baby doll. Encourage using the blanket to partially and then fully cover the baby. Explain how we do not tightly cover the doll’s head with a blanket. Draw toddlers’ attention to how their peers are carrying the doll. Help toddlers connect their explorations with a carrier to an appropriate book photo. Encourage toddlers to talk about what they are doing and what they see their peers doing. Conclude the session by inviting toddlers to help you tell what happened.
Look for ways to support toddlers’ descriptions of photos in the book and especially their hands-on extension of the book with a doll carrier. It is not necessary for the toddlers’ explorations to replicate book photos, but there is cognitive benefit in comparing a photo to a toddler’s experiences with a carrier. An Enrichment tip seeks to enhance this learning. Some toddlers may be highly familiar with a doll carrier, especially if a carrier is regularly available in your room, whereas other toddlers may find it challenging to put on and use the item. Provide help as needed.
Extra support
Enrichment
Materials Needed: Carry Me (Babies Everywhere) by Star Bright Books, doll carrier (including a sling, if available), blanket, several baby dolls
Arrange the book and other items on the floor or a low table. Invite toddlers to interact with the materials in ways of their choosing. Some toddlers may enjoy looking at the book photos again whereas other toddlers may wish to extend or elaborate on the Option 2 use of the carrier(s) and doll(s). Talk with toddlers about their actions and, if appropriate, encourage different ways to position the doll in a carrier without directing the play.
Materials Needed: Carry Me (Babies Everywhere) by Star Bright Books, doll carrier (including a sling, if available), blanket, several baby dolls
Engage a preschool-age child in Option 2 by himself/herself or with another preschool-age child. Encourage the child(ren) to tell how their use of a carrier is similar to and different from a pertinent photo in the book. Serve as an observer and commentator, not a decision-maker, about a child’s explorations.
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