Little Stars

This is our rowdy music circle! It is very rare that I get all the children sitting in the circle. It is actually the older boys who always want to step it up a notch. Here we are singing "Twinkle Twinkle". Noah and B. had to get to the highest point in the room, so their stars could reach as high into the 'sky' as possible. Thomas is right in there with the gang!

 Leila also really loves music circle, and always tries to reach into my bag of props. Her favourite is "Itsy Bitsy Spider".

Look who's graduated from the high chair! One day Thomas climbed right up into one of the booster seats. I figured this was a pretty clear sign he was ready to move up. The other kids all moved onto the booster seats at 20 months as well. Geesh...time flies!

Five Little Ducks

FIVE LITTLE DUCKS
(This is a popular Raffi song. You could also use duck cutouts as props, without the mama. Just hide one duck at a time, and bring them out again in the last verse.)



Five little ducks went out one day
Over the hills and far away
Mama duck said
"Quack, quack, quack, quack!"
But only four little ducks came back.


Four little ducks went out one day

Over the hills and far away

Mama duck said

"Quack, quack, quack, quack!"

But only three little ducks came back.

Three little ducks went out one day

Over the hills and far away

Mama duck said

"Quack, quack, quack, quack!"

But only two little ducks came back.

Two little ducks went out one day

Over the hills and far away

Mama duck said

"Quack, quack, quack, quack!"

But only one little duck came back.

One little duck went out one day

Over the hills and far away

Mama duck said

"Quack, quack, quack, quack!"

But none of her five little ducks came back.

Sad mama duck went out one day

Over the hills and far away

Mama duck said

"Quack, quack, quack, quack!"

And all of her five little ducks came back.

Five Little Pumpkins

FIVE LITTLE PUMPKINS
This is originally a Raffi song. Very fitting not just for Halloween, but also because as of next week I will be looking after five little "pumpkins" in the daycare (including my son). Use real pumpkins or cutouts. I have added some actions we have also used for this song.



Five little pumpkins sitting on a gate
The first one said 
"Oh my, it's getting late!" (Point to outer wrist for watch.)
The second one said 
"There are witches in the air." (Arms up, flutter fingers.)
The third one said
"But we don't care." (Shake head.)
The fourth one said
"Let's run and run and run." (Move arms in running motion.)
The fifth one said
"I'm ready for some fun."
Ooo ooo went the wind (Blow on child's head.)
And out went the light
And the five little pumpkins
Rolled out of sight. 

Three Little Monkeys

THREE LITTLE MONKEYS (From OEYC)



Three little monkeys (Hold up 3 fingers - the monkeys)
Swinging in a tree (Sway fingers side to side)
Along came a crocodile (With other hand - the crocodile, make a chomping motion toward first hand)
As quiet as can be
Shhhh! (Finger to mouth)


The first monkey said (Swing one finger downward, side to side)
"You can't catch me!
And...... (Move other hand in open chomping position, toward first hand)
Snap! (Clap)


Two little monkeys (Hold up 2 fingers - 2 monkeys)
Swingin' in a tree
Along came a crocodile (With other hand - the crocodile, make a chomping motion toward first hand)
As quiet as can be
Shhhh! (Finger to mouth)


The second monkey said (Swing one finger downward, side to side)
"You can't catch me!"
And......(Move other hand in open chomping position, toward first hand)
Snap! (Clap)


One little monkey (Hold one finger up)
Swinging in a tree
Along came a crocodile (With other hand - the crocodile, make a chomping motion toward first hand)
As quiet as can be
Shhhh! (Finger to mouth)


The last monkey said (Swing one finger downward, side to side)
"You can't catch me!"
And....(Move other hand in open chomping position, toward first hand)
Snap! (Clap)


"Missed me, missed me (Swing one finger downward, side to side)
Now you gotta kiss me!


*Kiss* (Move the 'chomping crocodile' hand to the 'monkey' hand to pretend they kiss)

On My Foot There is a Flea

ON MY FOOT THERE IS A FLEA (From the Ontario Early Years Centre)



On my foot there is a flea (Fingers on foot)
Now he's climbing up on me (Crawl fingers up body)
Past my tummy (Crawl fingers over stomach)
Past my nose (Crawl fingers over nose)
On my head, where my hair grows (Crawl fingers onto head)


On my head there is a flea (Leave fingers on head)
Now he's climbing down on me (Climb fingers down face)
Past my tummy, past my knee (Crawl fingers past stomach, knee)
On my foot (Crawl fingers onto foot)
Shoo! (Gently slap foot)
Take that you flea! (Point at foot)

Bumping Up and Down In my Little Red Wagon

BUMPIN' UP AND DOWN IN MY LITTLE RED WAGON (Originally Raffi....modified by OEYC)



Bumpin' up and down in my little red wagon (For the duration of this verse, have the child sit on your lap, and bounce them up and down)
Bumpin' up and down in my little red wagon
Bumpin' up and down in my little red wagon
Won't you come and join me?


One wheel's off and the axle's broken (For the duration of this verse, move the child on your lap from side to side)
One wheel's off and the axle's broken
One wheel's off and the axle's broken
Won't you come and help me?


We're gonna fix it with our hammer (For the duration of this verse, open one hand flat, and pat the fist of another hand into the flat hand)
We're gonna fix it with our hammer
We're gonna fix it with our hammer
Oh, we are so clever!

Wind the Bobbin Up

WIND THE BOBBIN UP (We do this at OEYC and at the Annette Street Library Drop-in)



Wind the bobbin up (Roll your forearms round)
Wind the bobbin up (Roll your forearms round)
Pull, pull (Start with your hands together in a pinching action, then pull apart
Clap, clap, clap (Clap 3 times)


Wind the bobbin up (Same as above)
Wind the bobbin up
Pull, pull
Clap, clap, clap


Point to the ceiling (The rest of the song is self-explanatory!)
Point to the floor
Point to the window
Point to the door


Put your hands together
Clap, clap, clap
Put them gently on your lap

Tony Chestnut

TONY CHESTNUT (From OEYC. Can do it on yourself or child.)







To (touch toes) ny (touch knee) Chest (touch chest) nut (touch head) 
Knows (touch nose) I (touch eye) love (cross arms on chest) you (point to child)
To (touch toes) ny (touch knee) knows (touch nose)
To (touch toes) ny (touch knee) knows (touch nose)

To (touch toes) ny (touch knee) Chest (touch chest) Nut (touch head) 

Knows (touch nose) I (touch eye) love (cross arms on chest) you (point to child)

That's what To (touch toes) ny (touch knee) knows (touch nose)

A Little Bit Up

A LITTLE BIT UP
(This is a song we do at the Early Literacy Centre, at Indian Road Public School.)



A little bit up and (Arms straight out, lift arms up)
A little bit down (Lower arms)
A little bit up and (Arms straight out, lift arms up)
A little bit down (Lower arms)
A little bit up and (Arms straight out, lift arms up)
A little bit down (Lower arms)
And that's what makes the world go round


I've got two hands, I'm gonna make them (Hold hands in front of you, apart)
Clap (Clap hands together)
I've got two hands, I'm gonna make them (Hold hands in front of you, apart)
Clap (Clap hands together)
I've got two hands, I'm gonna make them (Hold hands in front of you, apart)
Clap (Clap hands together)
And that's what makes the world go round

A little bit up and (Same as first verse)

A little bit down

A little bit up and

A little bit down

A little bit up and

A little bit down

And that's what makes the world go round

I've got two feet, I'm gonna make them (Look at, and/or point to feet, bend knees)

Stomp (Stomp feet)

I've got two feet, I'm gonna make them (Feet rest)

Stomp (Stomp feet)

I've got two feet, I'm gonna make them (Feet rest)

Stomp (Stomp feet)

And that's what makes the world go round

A little bit up and (Same as first verse)

A little bit down

A little bit up and

A little bit down

A little bit up and

A little bit down

And that's what makes the world go round

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

TWINKLE TWINKLE LITTLE STAR
(The action for this song is just to reach your hands up while wiggling your fingers. At the drop-in centre at the Annette Street Library (run by The Macaulay Child Development Centre - www.macaulaycentre.org), the staff use many props during their music circle. The kids love it, so I've decided to copy them. I made the props for this song by taping Popsicle sticks to pictures of stars.)



Twinkle twinkle little star
How I wonder what you are
Up above the world so high
Like a diamond in the sky
Twinkle twinkle little star
How I wonder what you are

I'm a Little Teapot

I'M A LITTLE TEAPOT (An oldie but a goodie!)



I'm a little teapot
Short and Stout
Here is my handle (Place one hand on your hip)
Here is my spout (Bend other arm and extend hand to side, to look like spout)
When I get all steamed up
Hear me shout
Tip me over (Bend at the hips to the "spout" side)
And pour me out

Rain is Falling Down, Again

I made a video of "Rain is Falling Down" again, forgetting that I already had it on my list. But I just had to put this video up anyway. The first time I saw it, (okay, and the 2nd) it had me laughing so hard I was crying. It's just something about the way L. is vacuuming at the end. It's so random!

Three Little Bluebirds

THREE LITTLE BLUEBIRDS (I can't do this song like the rock star at the OEYC can, but I try anyway!)


Three little Bluebirds (Hold up 3 fingers)
Sitting on a fence
Oooooh look! (One hand on forehead as if shielding sun - turn head to side)
Over there (Point in the direction to which you have just turned your head)
One little bluebird (Raise one finger)
Flew away (Wave your hands to pretend you are flapping your wings)
To..... (Hands on legs, show anticipation)
Take a trip around the world (speed up the tempo - slap your hands to your lap on "take", clap for "a", and repeat for each syllable)
Singin' hey bop she bop she bop she bop
Singin' hey bop she bop she bop she bop
Singin' hey, huh, I'm (Stop the clapping)
All shook up (shake your head from side to side - kids LOVE when you can make your cheeks flap for the "all")

Two little Bluebirds (Hold up two fingers)

Sitting on a fence

Oooooh look! 

Over there

One little bluebird 

Flew away

To.....

Take a trip around the world

Singin' hey bop she bop she bop she bop

Singin' hey bop she bop she bop she bop

Singin' hey, huh, I'm

All shook up

One little Bluebird (Hold up one finger)

Sitting on a fence

Oooooh look! 

Over there

One little bluebird 

Flew away

To.....

Take a trip around the world

Singin' hey bop she bop she bop she bop

Singin' hey bop she bop she bop she bop

Singin' hey, huh, I'm

All shook up

*2nd and 3rd verse actions same as 1st

Rain is Falling Down

Rain is Falling Down (From the Early Years Centre)



Rain is falling down (Start with arms reaching up above head, wiggle fingers as you bring arms down)
Splash! (Hands make contact with lap - or tummy if singing it during diaper change!)
Rain is falling down
Splash! (Same as above)
Pitter, patter, pitter, patter (tap fingers of both hands to one side of lap, then the other)
Rain is falling down
Splash! (same as first verse)

Sun is peeking out (hide face behind hands)
Peek! (peek out)
Sun is peeking out
Peek! (same as above)
Peeking here, peeking there (peek out from behind hands twice)
Sun is peeking out
Peek! (same as first verse, second stanza)

Open and Shut Them

OPEN AND SHUT THEM (Also from the Early Years Centre. Start with your hands in fists. Get the kids to open and shut their hands a few times.)



Open and shut them (Open hand, fingers apart, palms out, then make fist)
Open and shut them (Open hand, fingers apart, palms out, then make fist)
Give them a little clap, clap, clap (clap 3 times)



Open and shut them
Open and shut them (Same as above verse)
Put them on your lap, lap, lap (Pat your hands on your lap 3 times)



Now, creep and crawl them (Fingers climb from legs upwards)
Creep and Crawl them
Right up to your chin, chin, chin (Fingers rest on chin)

Open wide (Open your mouth)
Your little mouth
But do not let them in! (Shake head and bring hands behind back)

One Finger, One Thumb, Keep Moving

ONE FINGER, ONE THUMB (We learned this one from the Early Literacy Centre.)



One finger, one thumb, keep moving
One finger, one thumb, keep moving
One finger, one thumb, keep moving
We'll all be merry and bright
(Move your index finger and thumb throughout the verse)

One finger, one thumb, one arm, keep moving
One finger, one thumb, one arm, keep moving
One finger, one thumb, one arm, keep moving
We'll all be merry and bright
(Move your finger, thumb and arm throughout the verse)

One finger, one thumb, one arm, one leg, keep moving
One finger, one thumb, one arm, one leg, keep moving
One finger, one thumb, one arm, one leg, keep moving
We'll all be merry and bright
(Move your finger, thumb, arm and leg at the same time)

One finger, one thumb, one arm, one leg, a nod of the head, keep moving
One finger, one thumb, one arm, one leg, a nod of the head, keep moving
One finger, one thumb, one arm, one leg, a nod of the head, keep moving
We'll all be merry and bright
(Move your finger, thumb, arm, leg throughout the verse. Nod your head once when singing the part.)

One finger, one thumb, one arm, one leg, a nod of the head and a sound like this, keep moving
One finger, one thumb, one arm, one leg, a nod of the head and a sound like this, keep moving
One finger, one thumb, one arm, one leg, a nod of the head and a sound like this, keep moving
We'll all be merry and bright
(Same as the last verse, but add a silly sound after singing "a sound like this")

Old Macdonald - Letter Recognition

OLD MACDONALD (An old favourite! I don't normally encourage the kids to sing while eating, but thought it would be a better way to demonstrate on camera how we are linking letters with sounds in songs.)



Old MacDonald had a farm
E-I-E-I-O (point to each letter as you clearly sing it)
And on his farm he had a cow (show picture of, or toy of)
E-I-E-I-O (point to letters)
With a moo moo here
And a moo moo there
Here a moo, there a moo
Everywhere a moo moo
Old MacDonald had a farm
E-I-E-I-O (point to letters)

For those NOT familiar with the song, you can choose different animals and animal sounds for different verses.

Ooo Aaa Went the Little Green Frog

Ooo Aaa Went the Little Green Frog
 (I've heard this one many different places. Kids like it because you can make really silly sounds and they find it fun to watch you contort your face. You can use any old sounds you like. You can use different vowel sounds or a vowel sound with a silly sound.)

Ooo aaa went the little green frog one day

Ooo aaa went the little green frog
Ooo aaa went the little green frog one day
But he didn't go ooo ooo aaa
Cause we all know frogs go (Clap)
La di da di da (Raise hands while wiggling thumb and fingers)
La di da di da (Raise hands while wiggling thumb and fingers)
La di da di da (Raise hands while wiggling thumb and fingers)
We all know frogs go (Clap)
La di da di da (Raise hands while wiggling thumb and fingers)
They don't go ooo ooo aaa

BINGO Song

BINGO (Noah and Aidas have been fans of this song for a while. It is on one of our children's cd's. Though you can't see it in the video, we have the letter cards in front of us. Both of them take turns turning them over, and then I clap above the overturned card. I'm just hoping to familiarize them with some of the letters in the alphabet in a fun way. Start with all 5 letters facing up, and make sure that they are right side up to the kids.)

There was a farmer had a dog
And BINGO was his name-o
B-I-N-G-O, B-I-N-G-O, B-I-N-G-O,
(Slap your hand just under each letter as you say it - just make sure they can still see the letter as you do this)
And BINGO was his name-o

There was a farmer had a dog
And BINGO was his name-o
(Clap) -I-N-G-O, (Clap) -I-N-G-O, (Clap) -I-N-G-O,
(Clap your hand over the overturned "B", and slap your hand just under each of the rest of the letters as you say them)
And BINGO was his name-o

There was a farmer had a dog
And BINGO was his name-o
(Clap, clap) -N-G-O, (Clap, clap) -N-G-O, (Clap, clap) -N-G-O,
(Clap your hand over the overturned "B" and then over the overturned "I", and slap your hand just under each of the rest of the letters as you say them)
And BINGO was his name-o

There was a farmer had a dog
And BINGO was his name-o
(Clap, clap, clap) -G-O, (Clap, clap, clap) -G-O, (Clap, clap, clap) -G-O,
(Clap your hand over the overturned "B" and then over the overturned "I" and "N", and slap your hand just under the "G" and the "O" as you say them)
And BINGO was his name-o


There was a farmer had a dog
And BINGO was his name-o
(Clap, clap, clap, clap) -O, (Clap, clap, clap, clap) -O, (Clap, clap, clap, clap) -O,
(Clap your hand over each overturned letter and slap your hand just under the "O" as you say it)
And BINGO was his name-o

There was a farmer had a dog
And BINGO was his name-o
(Clap, clap, clap, clap, clap), (Clap, clap, clap, clap, clap), (Clap, clap, clap, clap, clap),
(Clap your hand over each overturned letter)
And BINGO was his name-o

Row Row Row Your Boat

ROW ROW ROW YOUR BOAT (Like I said, many songs I'll add will be old favourites. The only action for this song is demonstrated in the video.)

Row, row, row your boat
Gently down the stream
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily
Life is but a dream

Row, row, row your boat
Gently down the stream
If you see a crocodile
Don't forget to scream! (kids love to scream at this part!)

Row, row, row your boat

Gently down the stream
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily
Life is but a dream

Row, row, row your boat
Gently down the stream
If you see your mommy or daddy
Don't forget the squeeze (hug!)