I wrestled for a long time before I decided which path to take with the babies (who are 21 months today). I have always felt that it is important to engage children in meaningful activities as well as provide an environment that is conducive to exploratory play. My personality type is not one that does well with all day free for alls. For many families that path is perfect, but our family has always needed something a little different. I will be the first to say that one way isn't right and one way isn't wrong, I firmly believe it is a matter of seeking what is best for your family at that time. Back to the wrestling...

After much study, thought and prayer I decided to do a hybrid of sorts. We have a sit down (albeit about 4 min) lesson from the Nursery manual every morning followed by two Primary songs that the babies enjoy with fun visuals. Then it's off to stations in the playroom - I set out different toys (blocks, little people, play mats etc.) for them to play with every morning so they don't tire of their toys too quickly. When it's snack time (they sit longer while they're eating!) we do Book of Mormon stories. I have found a great resource - Book of Mormon for Toddlers - that we have a great deal of fun with. I will talk more about that in a later post. After their naps we start storytime (again with snacks). Here's where the hybrid comes in - should we do themes? circle time? lap books? etc. etc. etc. I have opted to take favorite books and create a storytime theme that lasts about three storytimes. Something like Five in a Row, but more adapted to my children. 

We started this week with one of their all time favorite books - The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Here's an outline of yesterday's storytime -

Welcome Song (same every time) - Here We Are Together
Fun Song - Wheels on the Bus
Story - The Very Hungry Caterpillar 
Song - I Wish I Were a Little Butterfly
Story Retell - Bulletin Board Set (I found the above bulletin board set at Joann's. Perfect for retelling the story! 50% off coupon and we were set!)
Fingerplay - Caterpillar to Butterfly
Book - How Many Butterflies?
Musical Instruments (same every time) - Follow the Prophet
Closing Song (same every time) - Zip a dee do dah

For each Very Hungry Caterpillar story time I have one or two different activities that I will add in. The Tot Packs on 1+1+1= 1 have some great free printables that I've enjoyed using.

We have art time right before dinner, during which we have made little projects that coordinate with storytime - hand butterflies, fingerpaint caterpillars etc. I, then, try and use those projects in the next storytime. For example, we used the hand butterflies in our Caterpillar to Butterfly fingerplay.

Our next book is another crowd favorite - Chicka Chicka Boom Boom. I am in the midst of making a fun retell prop, fingers crossed that it works!