Reading, singing and playing with our babies and toddlers are powerful ways to strengthen our connection with them while captivating their attention for learning that is both fun and effortless. When the seasons change or when our little one's interests and abilities grow and shift, are ideal times to focus on a new topic or concept to explore. By doing this we can create an immersive learning experience that combines the joy of reading with the magic of music and play while being led by the power of meaningful context or our child's interest. During the spring and summer, when everything is green, growing and gorgeous, it is the perfect time to learn about bees. Read on to dive into the enchanting world of bees and explore how reading, singing and playing can engage the senses, ignite curiosity, enhance language skills, and foster a love for learning in our little ones.
BUZZING BOOKS
Books are windows to new worlds that can engage our senses of sight, hearing, and touch. When it comes to bees, there are delightful stories that can transport your child into the buzzing realm of these fascinating creatures. Books that feature colorful illustrations and either simple or complex narratives are wonderful for introducing scientific facts and warm stories alongside letters, letter sounds, and of course new vocabulary. To guide your little one's learning as you read together, ask open-ended questions, discuss the illustrations and consider drawing attention to the followiing when you read about bees.
Letters: B, E, H, Z, & Y
Letter Sounds: B, EE, H, Z, & EY
Vocabulary: bee, black, bug, buzz, hive, honey, & yellow
There are so many brilliant books about bees, but here are a few bee-themed books to consider:
Picture Books
"A Bear, a Bee, and a Honey Tree" by Daniel Bernstrom
"The Beeman" by Laurie Krebs
"The Honeybee" by Kirsten Hall
"Bee Dance" by Rick Chrustowski
"Swarm of Bees" by Lemony Snicket
Wordless Picture Books
"Bee and Me" by Allison Jay
Board Books
"Bee" by Britta Teckentrup
"Baby Bug" by Wednesday Kirwan
"That's Not My Bee" by Fiona Watt
"B is for Bee" by Charlotte Milner
"Hello Honeybees" by Hannah Rogge
Sharing these books with your child through an interactive reading experience will not only enhance their language skills while fostering a deeper understanding of bees and their importantc relationships in nature, but will strengthen your relationship with your little one as you connect and share attention with each story.
BUZZING BEATS
Music has a magical way of captivating the human heart and mind - this is especially true for our littlest learners. This selection of bee-themed songs will help to create a joyful literacy rich learning atmosphere while reinforcing the letter sounds, vocabulary and knowledge gained through reading. Here are a few bee-related songs you can sing with your little one that will engage their senses of sight, hearing and touch while encouraging movement:






Sing face-to-face to encourage interaction and engagement and use movement and gesture to match the lyrics. If your little one is old enough encourage your child to participate by clapping, tapping their feet, making buzzing sounds, pretending to fly like a bee or matching your gestures and movements. Most
importantly, have fun!
SWEET PLAY
Adding toys like plush or puppet bees or flowers, or using print outs as visuals can help create a multisensory musical experience that supports the development of fine and gross motor skills, reinforces the knowledge and concepts related to bees, and nurture the development of early numeracy, all while supporting an expanded vocabulary and language development. We love Folkmanis puppets and Jellycat plush toys.
As shown above:
Folkmanis Baby Bear Puppet on Amazon
Folkmanis Mini Bee Puppet on Modern Rascals
Jellycat Amuseable Florist in Crocus at West Coast Kids
Have fun creating captivating and immersive learning experiences for your little ones, centered around the fascinating world of bees. Through book and toys, we transport them into the enchanting realm of these incredible creatures, while singing engages their musical mind and reinforces the knowledge gained through multisensory experiences. Remember to let your little one guide you, re-visiting their favourite books, songs and toys most often.
When you intentionally weave reading, singing and playing about any subject into your daily routine, you are nurturing a lifelong love for learning and expanding your child's understanding of the world around them. If you haven't shared a book or a song with your little one today, make sure you choose a suggestion from this post to watch your little one buzz with excitement and the confidence that comes with newfound knowledge.
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