Preschool Storytime: Hugs

In the week before Valentine’s Day, I wanted to do something with the concept of love, but not tie it to the holiday itself. Hugs seemed like a good option. We talked about the different ways to show love and affection, but I also thought it was important to spend a little time talking about consent and the understanding that not everyone will welcome a hug. Thankfully, there have been a few children’s books that hit on this concept recently, so I was happy to feature two of these.

You can see the virtual program that does not include the full books read aloud here.

Social/Emotional Learning Tip: Help your child understand that their bodies are their own and that they have the right to make decisions about their body. This includes letting your child decide if they would like to offer or receive a hug or kiss family members or friends rather than making them. Learn more about discussing consent with young children here: https://bit.ly/3cH6IIk

Welcome Song: We Clap and Sing Hello

Discussion: What does it mean to love someone? Do you have people in your life that you love? What do you do to show them you love them? I like hugs. How many of you like hugs?

With any rhyme that specifies left and right, I try to remember to let everyone know they can mirror me (so I do the opposite) and that it’s a hard thing to learn so parents can help their kiddos until they get the hang of their left and right.
Action Rhyme: Up and Down
Put your arms up, Put your arms down
Put them in the middle, Move them all around
One arm to the left, One arm to the right
Give yourself a hug, And hold on tight!
Credit: Mansfield/Richland County (OH) Public Library

Read: Kitty’s Cuddles by Jane Cabrera

The version I saw was “Give Mom a Hug” but I prefer to generalize for those kids who have different primary caregivers.
Action Rhyme: Give a Hug
Roar like a lion, growl like a bear
Give a hug, show you care
Hop like a bunny, flap like a bird
Quiet as a mouse now, don’t say a word
Credit: SurLaLune Storytime via Storytime Katie

Again with consent – for any bounce I offer options that kids can be bounced in laps, bounce themselves on a couch, jump, or just watch, and that tickling should only be if the child likes it.
Bounce: Bounce, Tickle, Hug
I bounce you here, I bounce you there
I bounce you, bounce you everywhere
I tickle you here, I tickle you there
I tickle you, tickle you everywhere
I hug you here, I hug you there
I hug you, hug you everywhere
Credit: Mansfield/Richland County (OH) Public Library

Bounce: Up, Up, Up
Up, up, up, in the sky like this (lift child)
Down, down, down, for a great big kiss (lower and kiss)
Up like this (lift), Down for a kiss (lower)
You’re my special baby! (hug)
(substitute your own nickname for your baby: “little pumpkin,” etc)
Credit: Mel’s Desk

Read: Hug Machine by Scott Campbell

Once again, emphasize that families can substitute any loved one for this. The “flannel” is a printout made from a Canva image I was able to customize in different colors.
Counting Rhyme with Flannel: Five Hugs
I have five little hugs that I want to give away
Who should I hug today?
I’ll hug…Mommy!
(count down using family or friends; for the last, parent hugs child)
Credit: adapted from Storytime Secrets

Song with Stuffed Animal: Bear Song
(tune of Row, Row, Row Your Boat)
Hug, hug, hug your bear,
Squeeze him very tight
Hold him high, Help him fly,
Then hug with all your might!
Credit: Mansfield/Richland County (OH) Public Library

Action Rhyme: I Can Hug
I can hug, hug, hug,
I can hop, hop, hop,
I can kiss, kiss kiss,
I can stop, stop, stop.
I can nod my head yes,
And I can shake my head no,
I can bend my knees a little bit,
And I can sit down very slow!
Credit: Sunflower Storytime

Hugging can be great, but sometimes you don’t feel like it, or don’t feel comfortable with a hug. That’s okay. It’s always okay to say, “I don’t feel like a hug right now.” And your friends might feel that way, too, so it’s good to ask before giving hugs.
Read: Can I Give You a Squish? by Emily Neilson

Song: Skinnamarink
Skinnamarinky-dinky-dink, Skinnamarinky-doo
I love you!
Skinnamarinky-dinky-dink, Skinnamarinky-doo
I love you!

I love you in the morning, and in the afternoon
I love you in the evening, underneath the moon

Skinnamarinky-dinky-dink, Skinnamarinky-doo
I love you!
Credit: traditional, motions from Jbrary

Craft: Mail-A-Hug
This seemed like a perfect craft for our pandemic reality, so props to Sunflower Storytime for the idea and printable! In my take-home bags, I included a long length of curling ribbon and squares of construction paper that parents could use to personalize the hand prints and the arm spans of their kiddos, as well as a few random stickers. (This craft has been stuck in between a bunch of papers for several weeks so the ribbon is squished!)

I also booktalked these alternative titles during the permanent YouTube video.
One More Hug by Megan Alexander & Hiroe Nakata
Nobody Hugs a Cactus by Carter Goodrich
Will Ladybug Hug? by Hilary Leung

Closing Rhyme: Tickle the Stars

This storytime was presented virtually on 2/9/21.

Storytime Handout: