Reading stories aloud together builds vocabulary, improves comprehension, and promotes speech development. By adding a craft to the experience, you continue to build on story time learning; practicing motor skills and creativity, while reminding your child of themes and words from the story. It becomes active engagement, in the same way that the added movement of Bendy Bookworm’s yoga poses are, in order to benefit the child’s optimal ability to learn through play.

This craft is ideal for ages 18 months - 5 years old because it supports early developmental skills like practicing cutting with scissors, drawing shapes, and making independent creative choices. Pair it with any of the suggested titles for a great At Home: Story Time and Craft activity!

Cognitive Skills: vocabulary (learned from picture book)
Motor Skills: glueing and scissor practice
Emotional Skills: self expression, creativity, and autonomy/ independent choice (practiced during the craft)

Materials: 

• Paper Plate OR White Paper

• Glue

• Scissors

• Crayons

Optional: Colored Tissue Paper, Construction Paper, OR Washable Paint AND Yarn

Step One: 

* Out of a paper plate or piece of paper, cut the design pictured below.

Step Two: 

* Paint, color, cover the paper plate (or a cut circle out of paper) with any color you want!

Step Three: 

* Use one of the cut off pieces to make a trunk.
*Glue on the trunk and draw in eyes!

Pair With:

These titles can be found on overdrive/ hoopla, ebook catalogs
you may be able to access with your library card!

WANT EVERYTHING A STORY TIME CAN OFFER? ADD IN BENDY BOOKWORM YOGA; MOVEMENT YOUR CHILDREN CAN PRACTICE ON THEIR OWN. THEY WILL GAIN ALL THE BENEFITS OF A READ A LOUD STORY TIME PLUS PARTICIPATE IN ACTIVE ENGAGEMENT THROUGH MOVEMENT!