As infants and toddlers, all my kids were night owls. They stayed up late checking out the world around them and then slept in each morning. Most of my friends, however, had early bird babies who rose before the sun came up. They would call from their cribs or seek out a parent for company and breakfast at 5 a.m.
Nora Ericson depicts this early riser routine in her picture book, Too Early. The storyline is simple: Daddy and daughter enjoy some predawn time together while Mama and baby continue to sleep. Their interactions emphasize the messiness and beauty of making connections with self, others, and the natural world in the early morning.
Read the book with children 2-8 years and share in one or more of the following activities together.
Sounds. Shushs, shuffles, snuffles, creaks, and sips punctuate the Daddy-daughter morning routine. Leaves rustle, birds coo, and the baby starts to cry. Pause together, close your eyes, and listen to the sounds around you. After a minute or two, open your eyes and share what you heard. Ask: How do you feel when you hear these sounds? Which sounds help you feel connected to the world around you?
Sights. The child and Daddy look for the morning star, watch the mountains reappear, and celebrate the purple and pink streaks that herald the sun’s rising. Invite children to draw a picture of what they see when they wake up in the morning. Ask: Are there any special things you look for each morning? Is there something you see that helps you feel positive as you start your day?
Stretches. When the doggies wake up, they stretch their bodies. The birds untuck their wings and get ready to fly. Invite children to engage in a movement meditation. Say: Let’s curl up in a ball like a sleeping dog or bird. (pause) Now open your eyes and begin stretching your body. Move your arms like a bird getting ready to fly. (pause) Arch your back and stretch your legs like a dog waking up. (pause) Reach toward the sky and welcome the sun! Repeat these movements as many times as you like.
Snuggles. As night turns to day, Daddy and the child snuggle. They feel the wind tickle their cheeks, the fuzziness of their pajamas, robe, and hair, the warmth of their mugs. Ask children: What activities and experiences help you feel warm and fuzzy? How do others let you know you are loved? How do you show others that you love them? Using lego figures, dolls, or other props, act out scenarios that show loving interactions between people.
Good morning! Morning routines vary in families. The family in the story starts the day slowly and then they rush through breakfast, getting dressed, and heading off to work and school. Ask children: How does your [our] family start the day? Invite kids to write a 6-8 sentence story about their morning routine. Then show them a emotions color chart (see Related Resources) and suggest that they use a colored marker, crayon, or pencil to indicate how they feel during each part of that routine.
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