Yowzers - it's a Monster Palooza! Join us for fun learning with Episode 31 of the Storytime Seedlings Podcast - for storytime anytime, anywhere you want, just click the podcast play button below!
For a palooza-print-out of Monster fingerplays and songs -- click here!
Read all about Monsters in these BOOKS:
If your Monster Won't Go to Bed
There's A Nightmare in My Closet
Monster Moves and Fingerplays:
Horns, Fangs, Knees and Claws
(To the tune of Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes)
Horns, fangs
Knees and claws
Knees and claws.
Horns, fangs
Knees and claws
Knees and claws.
Eyes and ears and tail and paws
Horns, fangs
Knees and claws
Knees and claws.
Source: Jbrary.com
Five Little Monsters Underneath the Bed
FIVE little monsters underneath the bed
(hold up five fingers on one hand with the other hand over that as the bed)
One stood up and bumped his head;
(stand one finger up and bump on the bed and point to your head)
Mother called the doctor (make pretend phone with hand)
And the doctor said:
No more monsters underneath the bed! (shake finger)
(Now repeat the verse and count down backwards - four little monsters, then three, two, one.)
Source: Pasadena Library
Pre-Literacy Tip: Helping Our Children with Fears about Monsters
Fear of monsters in the dark, underneath your bed or in your closet - who does not have memories of those fears? I remember as a child myself, aged 4 - 5 years, feeling fearful unless a light was on and my father sitting in my bedroom until I feel asleep at night. Then when I was older and in third grade - I may have been scared of monsters from a movie I just saw, but I didn't need to have the light on or call a parent. I was able to cope by throwing the covers over my head!
Having a parent or caregiver's support can make all the difference in a child's growing capability in self comfort and their ability to manage uncertainty. Fears and fear management change with a child's maturity and brain development. Self control and reasoning ability grows with the development of the part of the brain called the prefrontal cortex. As noted in the article The Science Behind Your Child's Tantrums (New York Times, Oct. 15, 2020) - you can't reason with your young child when that part of their brain is not yet developed!
For ideas of what to do - this article - Help Kids Overcome Fear of Monsters Under the Bed - has a some do-able ideas for parents to help their child in "fear management," such as - validating your child's fears, helping them by utilizing dramatic play, looking under the bed together to look for the monster, drawing pictures to help them express their fear, asking them what they think would help or asking them if they'd like to practice staying in the dark, together, for brief amount of time. Parents can also create an environment that is free of fear inducing things - like monitoring their child's viewing of movies and television that may elicit fears, reading bedtime stories and creating a soothing bedtime routine.
Using creativity and time and support allows for your child to develop and grow into their own skill set for coping with challenges and uncertainty. These are skills that will stay with them throughout their growing up and life ahead.
Hello!
I'm Lauren Teixeira, Children's Librarian and Podcaster.
Find more podcast episodes on my blog page - Laurenjoan
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