Virtual Sensory Story Time: Bath Time!

It feels good to blog on a cold, snowy evening in January....2021. I have been recording monthly sensory story time videos since August of last year, including a few on Zoom with Ed, which were more geared to all ages in an effort to reach Wing Lake Developmental Center students (ages 3 - 26 with multiple disabilities). We also assembled sensory story time supply bags to go along with these videos, which our patrons could pick up via curbside. 

This past fall was also a time for reflection and some much needed evaluation of personal time. As a result, I may not be blogging here as often, but will certainly still be sharing new accessibility service highlights and some adaptive program favorites here and on Twitter. 

Bath time has always been one of my favorite themes for story time. There are so many wonderful opportunities for sensory engagement, including the use of my favorite sensory tool, bubbles! And don't forget to check the read-aloud permissions on publisher sites for recorded story times. Both of the stories I read were published by imprints of Penguin Random House. Here's their permissions page: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/penguin-random-house-temporary-open-license/ 

Story time plan:

1. Hello and talk about bath time. What do you like about bath time? Do you put bubbles in your bath? Rubber duckies? Toy boats? Show materials in sensory story time supply kit.

Rhyme/song supplies: bubbles and scarf

Supplies for story with sensory experiences: small piece of fine sand paper, pipette/eye dropper, bags of cornmeal and small black pipe cleaners, hot cocoa mix

Supplies needed from home: small ball and bowl of snow or artificial snow

2. Story Time Ball Song 

(Using small ball, roll back and forth on floor or on table with caregiver or family members - I rolled mine back and forth with our large plush Big Bird again!)

tune: "Wheels on the Bus"

(Rolling ball back and forth to each other)

The story time ball rolls back and forth,

back and forth, back and forth.

The story time ball rolls back and forth,

Let's see who it found. Hi ______!

Now roll it back to me.

(Keep rolling back and forth until each person has said their name.)

3. Yoga pose: "Boat pose" (Adapted pose: For people who cannot lift their legs off the floor, they can keep feet on the floor or stay seated and gently rock back and forth -- "rocking the boat on the water.")

4. Sensory tool rhyme: "Bubbles" (using bubbles supplied in kit)

tune: "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star

Bubbles floating all around 

Bubbles fat and bubbles round (look at all those bubbles!)

Bubbles on my toes and nose

Blow a bubble, up it goes! (blow bubbles and look up!)

Bubbles floating all around

B..u..b..b..l..e..s f..a..l..l..i..n..g ... to....the....ground (follow bubbles as they slowly fall to the ground)

(source unknown)

5. Flannel story and book: Dog's Colorful Day by Emma Dodd

6. Sensory tool song: "Washing Song" (using scarf in kit)

tune: "Here We Go 'Round the Mulberry Bush"

This is the way we wash our face,

wash our face, wash our face.

This is the way we wash our face,

so early in the morning.

Additional verses with hands, hair, shoulders (upper body parts that can be seen in the limited screen view)

7. Story with sensory experiences: How Do You Take a Bath? by Kate McMullan

Kit supplies used during this story:

fine sand paper (cat's rough pink tongue)

pipette/ eye dropper and bowl of water (elephant's shower)

hot cocoa mix in a bowl with a bit of water (pig's mud)

black pipe cleaners (honeybee's hairy legs)

bag of cornmeal (chicken dust)

8. Goodbye stretch: "Tickle the Clouds"

Tickle the clouds.

Tickle your toes.

Turn around and tickle your nose.

Reach down low.

Reach up high.

Story time's over.

Wave goodbye!

9. Goodbye! and supply suggestions for animal bath follow-up activity: 

• 1 bin of dirt or mud (can also be chocolate pudding)
• 1 bin of clean water
• scrub brush
• small plastic animal toys