Here is a story that would go well with a Mother’s Day theme when we celebrate the power of mums! Mums and are always ready for anything. And this mother certainly is – with a little help from her magic handbag!
I like to use a big old-fashioned black handbag as a prop for this story – large enough for all the different props. But if you can’t get hold of this kind of handbag you could use any kind of bag and just change the words accordingly (mum’s shopping bag, mum’s backpack etc.).
I use the following props: raincoats or rain ponchos (the kind that pack away into a pouch are quite intriguing for children), oranges in a net bag (the net bag adds tactile interest), a torch, a hand warmer in a little bag or a yellow silk scarf (for the sun) and a little music box or tinkling bell or something similar (to represent peace and quiet).
But this story is very adaptable – you can make changes to the contents of the handbag so that you can use props and objects that you have to hand and/or to suit your child or class.
If you think it will confuse the children to hear a story about ‘mum’ you could change it to being about your own mum…
[Prop directions are in square brackets]
Mum’s Handbag
Mum was getting ready to take the children out for the day.
‘Right’ she said, ‘I’m all packed up and ready to go.’
But her handbag gave a little shoogle…and a shake…and a jump [Make the handbag shoogle, shake and jump]
and flew off and away, through the air and out of sight [‘Fly’ the handbag around in a circle and then bring it back. If you are telling the story to a group of children you could let them see and feel the bag as you fly it around.]
A little while later it flew back and landed at mum’s feet.
‘You forgot to pack…raincoats in case it rains!’ said the handbag.
And sure enough the handbag had fetched everyone’s raincoats. [Take the raincoats out of the bag and let the children see and feel them]
‘Right’ said mum, ‘I’m all packed up and ready to go.’
But her handbag gave a little shoogle…and a shake…and a jump [Make the handbag shoogle, shake and jump]
and flew off and away, through the air and out of sight [‘Fly’ the handbag around in a circle and then bring it back]
A little while later it flew back and landed at mum’s feet.
‘You forgot to pack…a bag of oranges in case anyone gets hungry!’ said the handbag.
And sure enough the handbag had fetched a bag of oranges. [Take the oranges out of the bag and let the children see and feel them]
‘Right’ said mum, ‘I’m all packed up and ready to go.’
But her handbag gave a little shoogle…and a shake…and a jump [Make the handbag shoogle, shake and jump]
and flew off and away, through the air and out of sight [‘Fly’ the handbag around in a circle and then bring it back]
A little while later it flew back and landed at mum’s feet.
‘You forgot to pack…a bright torch in case of emergencies!’ said the handbag.
And sure enough the handbag had fetched a bright torch. [Take the torch out of the bag and let children see it]
‘Right’ said mum, ‘I’m all packed up and ready to go.’
But her handbag gave a little shoogle…and a shake…and a jump [Make the handbag shoogle, shake and jump]
and flew off and away, through the air and out of sight [‘Fly’ the handbag around in a circle and then bring it back]
A little while later it flew back and landed at mum’s feet.
‘You forgot to pack…a little bit of sunshine in case we get cold!’ said the handbag.
And sure enough the handbag had fetched a little bit of sunshine down from the sky. [Let children feel the heat pad]
‘Right’ said mum, ‘I’m all packed up and ready to go!’
But her handbag gave a little shoogle…and a shake…and a jump [Make the handbag shoogle, shake and jump]
and flew off and away through the air and out of sight [‘Fly’ the handbag around in a circle and then bring it back]
A little while later it flew back and landed at mum’s feet.
‘You forgot to pack…a wee bit of peace and quiet in case things get too noisy!’
And sure enough the handbag had fetched a wee bit of peace and quiet. [Take the music box or bells out of the bag and let the children hear them]
‘Right’ said mum, ‘I’m all packed up and ready to go.’
‘Yes!’ said mum’s handbag ‘OFF WE GO!’
And off set mum and the children and the handbag, with the raincoats, the bag of oranges, a bright torch, some heat from the sun and a little bit of peace and quiet. [Finish by rattling the handbag and then use the music box or bells again]
Remember – not all of my props recommendations are toys! The props I suggest should not be used by children unsupervised.