Bookbug Session Plans: Follow the Trails Trucks

The Hello Song

Benefits

Familiar start – lets everyone know a Bookbug session has started.

Tips

Smile and use the names of the children. Clap or tap along to the beat and use signs if you know them. You can also use Makaton to support The Hello Song.

Creeping, Creeping Goes the Little Cat

Benefits

This familiar short rhyme is great for positive touch, building trust between wee ones and their grown-ups, and playing with volume and pace.

Tips

If you're tickling, the little cat can creep on lots of different body parts. Older children might enjoy tickling their grown-up or a younger sibling with their pointer finger, using the same sort of motor skills as this Session's book. In the book, the kitten climbs a tree and is rescued by the fire engine. Maybe your arm could become a tree?

Mum and Dad and Uncle John

Benefits

A brilliant rhyme that offers lots of opportunities for face-to-face play. It's also a great one to feel the strong beat together and allows you to play with your tone of voice.

Tips

There’s a bit of danger in this rhyme! Play with anticipation and model how grown-ups can reassure their wee ones. You are always there to catch Bookbug before any falls can happen!

The Wheels on the Bus

Benefits

This popular song has lots of opportunities for joining in with the actions, learning some new vocabulary and developing gross motor skills. It's a great one to use Makaton with, too.

Tips

Have fun trying out different actions, such as touching your nose (or your child's) for 'the horn on the bus. . .' or moving their hands gently from side to side for 'the wipers on the bus. . .' Sing slowly and clearly so children can join in the singing and some actions and signs with you. It's a lot to co-ordinate so give them plenty of time to join in!

Hurlin' Up and Doon in the Big Green Tractor

Benefits

This Scots song is sung to a familiar tune, helping families to join in even if they don’t know the words.

Tips

Bounce Bookbug gently as you go along in your tractor, encouraging grown-ups to cuddle their wee ones close. Older children will enjoy standing up and bouncing along. Give them a chance to explore the apples, onions, tatties and anything else in your tractor. What might they want to put in the tractor? What colour is their tractor?

I wonder what's in my bag today?

Benefits

Builds anticipation and keeps the children's attention.

Tips

Sign the key words if you know them. Sing to the tune of 'Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush': 'I wonder what's in my bag today, bag today, bag today. I wonder what's in my bag today, come and take a look. . . at Bookbug's favourite book!'

Follow the Trail: Trucks by Rachael Parfitt Hunt, Charlotte Milner and DK

Benefits

This brilliant board book offers transport-loving wee ones a chance to follow where the vehicles go. The lines on each page are subtly textured to encourage the development of fine motor skills and children will enjoy exploring colour, shape and sound words as you share this book.

Tips

If you're sharing this book at a session, it would be great to have multiple copies to hand so that families can enjoy the tactile elements. Encourage grown-ups with babies and younger children to trace their wee one's finger along the lines. Older children will enjoy joining in with the sound words and learning new vocabulary.

I wonder what's in my bag today?

Benefits

Creates anticipation and keeps the children's attention as you prepare to share songs and rhymes using the sparkly blanket.

Tips

Produce the bag containing the sparkly blanket and encourage wee ones to have a feel. 'What is in the bag? Is it soft? Does it make a sound? Is it heavy?' Sing the song again, signing the key words if you know them. 'I wonder what's in my bag today, bag today, bag today. I wonder what's in my bag today, come and take a look. . .' Say 'one, two three!' and tip the blanket out into the middle of the group, encouraging everyone to join in.

Creeping, Creeping Goes the Little Cat

Benefits

Recycle your material! Families will enjoy revisiting this rhyme from earlier in the session as part of sparkly blanket play. The rhyme becomes tactile, and families will enjoy scratching, tapping and shaking the blanket.

Tips

Encourage everyone to take hold of the blanket with one hand and create two cat's ears with their fingers appearing from underneath. Can some of the older children make cat noises as the cats creep around under the blanket? Bounce a flat palm on the top of the blanket when the bunnies appear!

The Skye Boat Song

Benefits

This gentle song is calming and relaxing.

Tips

Even if families don't know the words, encourage them to join in any way they can by modelling a lovely cuddle with Bookbug, gently swaying from side to side. You can then finish by humming the melody.

The Goodbye Song

Benefits

Tells everyone the session is coming to an end.

Tips

Smile, wave and use the children's names again.