A Theoretical Framework for Themes

There are two kinds of themes: 
Skills-Based Themes and Subject-Based Themes. 

Both kinds of themes are used for the sake of the parents. The babies don't know or care if you use themes, but they can be extrememly useful for parents.

• Skills-based themes help parents to see books as a body of resources pertaining to particular skills their child is in the process of learning. 
• Subject-based themes help to make the program entertaining by giving adults something to contemplate about the skills they are imparting to their children through various simple rhymes and games. 

Many activities may fulfill both kinds of theme categories at once.  For instance, the Itsy Bitsy Spider is a perfect example of something that teaches spatial relations (up and down), cause and effect (rain washes, sun dries), and can also tie it to an program teaching about different kinds of animals.

A List of Themes to Use
( with a few examples of easy-to-find books or activites that fit each theme)

Skills-Based Themes:

• Alphabet
       Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin
       The Alphabet Song (a,b,c,d...)
• Colors
       Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin
• Counting
      Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed…
       Five Little Ducks
       This Old Man song
• Five senses
       Eye Winker, Tom Tinker…
       I Touch by Rachel Isadora and other books by Isadora
• Spatial relations
       Noble Duke of York
       Itsy Bitsy Spider
       Here is a Doughnut rhyme from Mother Goose Time (see Resources)
       Hickory Dickory Dock
       Halfway Down the Stairs by A. A. Milne (add gestures and/or   sing)

Subject-Based Themes:

• Animals
       I Had a Rooster folksong, sung by Pete Seeger
       Over in the Meadow, illus. by Ezra Jack Keats
• Food
       Five plump peas
       Popcorn from Corner Grocery Store album by Raffi
       The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
• Friends
• Transportation
       Wheels on the Bus
       I Love Trucks! By Philemon Sturges
       Truck by Donald Crews
       Airport by Bryon Barton)
• Weather
       It's Raining, It's Pouring folksong
       Rain on the Rooftops, from Mother Goose Time (see Resources)
       Puddles by Jonathan London
       Ducks Like Rain fr. Rise and Shine by Raffi)