Winter Storytime for Preschoolers

Winter storytime programs are so much fun! There are lots of exciting things that go along with winter. The winter themes are endless! With the number of items that are associated with winter, you can create weekly, entertaining programs for the entire season. I like to focus on specific elements associated with winter such as mittens, hats, snow, snowmen, ice skating, hot cocoa(hmmm), cold weather, boots, scarf, jacket, polar bears, and penguins. These are just a few ideas !

You can even come up with a catchy name for your program, for example, Winter Wonderland Storytime. Just be creative!

ACTION SONG: Winter Hokey Pokey

You put your right mitten in,

You take your right mitten out.

You put your right mitten in,

And you shake it all about.

You do the winter pokey, (shiver)

And you turn yourself around.

That’s what it’s all about!

Other Verses:

–You put your left mitten in–

–You put your right boot in–

–You put your left boot in–

–You put your long scarf in–

–You put your ear muffs in–

–You put your snowsuit in–

(original author unknown)

FELT BOARD ACTIVITIES

Try any of these two popular snowman videos in your storytime! Felt Board activities add so much fun to your preschool program. Felt boards can be made from a popular storybook or you can make your own.

Picture Books for Winter Storytime Theme

The Mitten by Jan Brett is adapted from a Ukrainian folktale. It tells the story of a little boy’s lost mitten and how, one by one, the animals seek shelter from the snow inside the mitten until the bear comes along.

The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats is an enduring tale about a little boy’s adventures in the snow. This book won the Caldecott Medal for its illustrations.

My Penguin Osbert by Elizabeth Cody Kimmel is the story of a little boy who finally gets what he wants from Santa, but soon finds out that owning a penguin may not have been a good idea after all.

The Hat by Jan Brett is a heart-warming story about a hedgehog who gets his head stuck in a stocking. When the other animals see hedgehog’s new hat, they start looking for a hat of their own.

Stella, Queen of the Snow by Marie Louise Gay tells the story of Stella and her little brother spending their day together and discovering the wonders of winter.

Snowballs by Lois Ehlert is an engaging picture book with vibrant illustrations. This is a delightful book that is sure to keep kids engaged as they see a family and animals made from snowballs and familiar household items.

Here’s another fun felt board activity for Winter.

This is a fun preschool activity to help preschoolers learn about winter clothes. In this video kids can participate along with the activity as they guess the clothing.

TIP: At the end of storytime, we sing a familiar and upbeat song that everyone can enjoy. I ususally sing “If you’re Happy and you know it.”

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