An important part of music development for toddlers is learning to repeat back small phrase and physicalize music. Fingerplays can be an important part of that musical stimulation and allow a fun and meaningful music time that is easy to do.
Itsy-Bitsy Spider
This is a favorite fingerplay for young toddlers who need a shorter tune to mimic. The repetitive nature of the fingerplay is exciting to little children who soon learn the spider will return and look forward to the end of the song. The intricate hand motions of the crawling spider are difficult for most toddlers to grasp at first but their attempts to imitate you should be encouraged and praised.
The itsy bitsy spider climbed up the water spout, (Use thumb and pointer fingers to “walk” your hands up like crawling spiders.)
Down came the rain and washed the spider out, (Let your fingers trickle down as though raining.)
Out came the sun and dried up all the rain, (Hold your hand together over your head to make a giant circle like the sun.)
And the itsy bitsy spider climbed up the spout again. (Use your thumb and pointer fingers to “walk” upwards again.)
Where is Thumbkin?
Another favorite toddler fingerplay song, this is a bit more involved and names each of the five fingers one-by-one allowing preschoolers the element of anticipation again. Once the toddler grasps the concept of the song they usually love to sing this over and over. The fact that their fingers become like little people is something preschoolers find funny and amusing about this song.
Where is Thumbkin? Where is Thumbkin? (Hold hands behind your back so nothing is showing.)
Here I am! (Bring out one hand with the thumb up.)
Here I am! (Bring out the other hand with the thumb up.)
How are you today, Sir? (Bend one thumb as though it were talking or bowing to the other thumb)
Very well, I thank you. (Bend the other thumb as though it were replying)
Run away. Run away. (Each thumb hides behind the back again one at a time as you sing the ending.)
Continue the fingerplay song for each finger as follows:
Where is Pointer?/ Where is Tall Man?/ Where is Ring Man?/ Where is Pinky?
The Hokey Pokey
This is an awesome song to sing with kids who love the movements set to music and catchy upbeat tune.
Put your hand in/ put your hand out/ put your hand in and you shake it all about. (Follow the directions)
You do the Hokey Pokey and you turn yourself around. (Wave your hands in the air and spin around in a circle.)
That's what it's all about! Clap! Clap! (Stop spinning and then clap your hands and jump in between the verses.)
Many verses can be sung as part of the Hokey Pokey. Put your foot in, put your head in, put your whole body in, etc. You can even begin teaching right and left by helping kids put their right hand in and then the next time put their left hands in.
It is easiest to do this song in a group day care or nursery type situation if you have all the kids stand in a big circle.
Angela England - Angela England is a problogger, mother of four (yes I know what causes that), speaker, teacher, labor doula, gardener and so much more.
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