Self-control
Toddlers watch a caregiver calm down after pretending to be a teapot.
Be Prepared: Be familiar with the words, tune, and actions of the song “I’m a Little Teapot.”
[Invite several toddlers to join you for a song. Encourage the toddlers to take turns holding and exploring the toy teapot as they join you. Point to parts of the teapot as you describe each.]
This is called a teapot. A teapot is used to make tea. Tea is something we can drink. Many adults like to drink tea. The tea is made in this part of the teapot.
This is the teapot’s handle.
[Invite each toddler to run his/her fingers up and down the shape of the handle.]
This is called the spout. This is where the tea comes out of the teapot.
[Invite each toddler to touch the spout and look in the hole where the tea comes out.]
I am going to sing a song about a teapot. I am going to pretend to be a teapot when I sing the song.
[Demonstrate the following actions while seated or standing.]
I am going to make a handle. See how my arm looks like a handle?
[Place hand on hip with elbow out.]
Then I am going to make a spout with my other arm! Do you think this looks like a spout?
[Place other arm in an arch to represent a spout.]
I am ready to sing the little teapot song. Please watch me pretend to be a teapot!
[Enthusiastically sing the song while doing all of the corresponding actions. Smile and make eye contact with each of the toddlers while you sing. Have fun with this song!]
Would you like me to pretend to be a teapot again?
[If toddlers respond positively, repeat the song with actions.]
I had fun pretending to be a teapot. I am excited.
Now I am going to calm down. I am going to help my body rest.
[Demonstrate ways to calm down in a sitting position. Close your eyes briefly. Take several slow, deep breaths. Relax your arms. Put your hands in your lap. Quietly hum or sing a familiar song. Use a softer voice to describe your actions.]
I pretended to be a teapot. I sang a song and had fun tipping over for tea to pour out! I got excited pretending to be a teapot. I did some things to help my body calm down. Now I feel calm.
Self-control
Toddlers practice calming down after pretending to be teapots.
Be Prepared: Be familiar with the words, tune, and actions of the song “I’m a Little Teapot.”
Invite several toddlers to join you for a song about a teapot. Introduce the toy teapot and point out the handle and the spout. Encourage the toddlers to feel the shapes of the handle and spout. Invite the toddlers to stand up with you. Use the Option 1 suggestions to demonstrate how to be a teapot. Then invite toddlers to join in doing the teapot actions without the song. Describe actions as you do each. Pause after each action, so toddlers have time to copy your effort. Then lead the toddlers in doing the actions again, this time with the song. Lead toddlers in a second round if they remain interested.
Explain that our fun activity can make us feel excited. It is time to calm down. Encourage toddlers to sit quietly with you so we can help our bodies rest. Use a quieter voice to invite toddlers to do the following actions as you demonstrate each:
Close the activity by describing what happened with the teapot actions and then in calming down. Emphasize that we are resting. We are feeling calm.
Pay attention to whether toddlers seem familiar with a teapot. Provide additional time for toddlers to hold and manipulate a toy teapot, including tipping the teapot. Anticipate that some toddlers will prefer to watch rather than do actions. Remember that observing is a useful way to learn.
It is not necessary or appropriate to promote precise copying of your teapot actions in Option 2. The intent is to generate fun and mildly stimulating excitement, not adherence to specific body movements.
Monitor toddlers’ excitement levels in both options and adjust upward or downward the amount of excitement you offer in the demonstrations. Also, emphasize calming-down strategies that seem most helpful to toddlers in your gathering. The slow, deep breathing may be more helpful than some other strategies, for example. Anticipate that some toddlers will be reluctant to close their eyes.
Extra support
Enrichment
Materials Needed: 1 or more toy teapots, 2–4 toy cups, water table or tub with several inches of warm water
Place the toy teapots and cups in the water. Invite several toddlers to practice pouring and filling a teapot. If necessary, show toddlers how to tip the teapot and pour out real water into a cup or the water table. Say or sing the words of the song and encourage toddlers to do the actions with a toy teapot instead of their bodies. Afterwards, invite toddlers to put the teapots and cups on a shelf to dry. Encourage toddlers to calm their bodies before moving to another activity.
Materials Needed: I’m a Little Teapot by Annie Kubler, toy teapot
The “I’m a Little Teapot” song can be enjoyed by children of all ages. Introduce the song by reading the book with interested toddlers. Invite toddlers and older children to act out the song as you sing. Older children will enjoy singing along with you as they do the corresponding actions. Babies may enjoy being held and tipped gently during the song. After the song, invite children to pretend to be an empty teapot sitting on a shelf, getting calm.
© 2024 The Trustees of Purdue University | All Rights Reserved