Laptime Songs

Nursery Rhymes, Songs, and Fingerplays for Kids

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Free Train Storytime Printables

January 11, 2022 by ajpassey Leave a Comment

Train themed storytimes are always a big hit with the toddler and preschool crowds. It’s hard to resist doing a little chugga chugga chug action with a classic “Toot! Toot!” at the end. Today I’m offering two sets of train storytime printables for free! Each set comes with trains in 9 colors, great for helping little ones learn their colors. One set can easily be turned into flannel board pieces to use with a wide variety of train rhymes, songs, and books.

Free Train Storytime Printables

Train Rhymes

  • Little Red Train
  • The Train
  • 5 Train Engines
  • Choo-choo

Train Songs

  • Ride the Train
  • This Little Train
  • Down By the Station
  • The Good Morning Train
  • The Good-bye Train
  • If You Have a Train

Train Fingerplays

  • Here is the Engine

Train Storytime Printables

As mentioned earlier, these two train storytime printables can be used in a variety of ways. The full-size trains can be used with the song This Little Train holding each train up for the verse about its color. They can also be used to create a walking path if laminated/taped and secured to the floor. A fun game is to place the different colored trains in a circle and have children walk the circle to music like a cake walk. Then when the music stops each child sits on their colored train. This leads right into the song If You Have a Train (just switch the words “you have” for “you’re on.”)

Free Train Printable

Download this free printable to use in your next train-themed program. Each train is full-page sized and a different color. 9 pages, 9 trains, 9 colors: black, gray, white, red, orange, yellow, blue, green & purple.

Download Now

The second printable contains all nine colored trains on one page. Each train is about two inches wide; the perfect size for turning into flannel board pieces or creating stick puppets. A fun extension activity is two print two sets, laminate and cut them out and use them to play a matching game. Another extension activity is to hide the trains around your room and have the children find them.

Free Train Printable

Download this free printable to use in your next train-themed program. Each train is a different color: black, gray, white, red, orange, yellow, blue, green & purple. Print two copies to create a matching game!

Download Now

Music for your Train Storytime

Some of my favorite children’s musicians have some great train songs. They work great for the “train walk” mentioned earlier or as gathering music to play at the beginning of your program.

Purchase Anna and the Cupcakes on Amazon

Purchase Bubble Ride on Amazon

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: printables, trains, transportation

Winter Storytime Songs

January 7, 2022 by ajpassey Leave a Comment

Having grown up in mountainous, snowy states, I am a huge fan of winter. So even in regions with a mild winter, I love to have a winter-themed laptime program. Today I’ve gathered twelve winter storytime songs that work great for singing with toddlers and preschoolers. The full lyrics are listed below, but more info on each song including an instrumental track, if available, can be found through each song’s link.

Winter Storytime Songs

Hat and Scarf, Mittens and Boots

Hat and scarf, mittens and boots,
Mittens and boots,
Mittens and boots.

Hat and scarf, mittens and boots,
Warm and cozy
In the snow.

Once There Was a Snowman

Once there was a snowman
Snowman, snowman
Once There Was a Snowman
Tall, tall, tall.

In the sun he melted
melted, melted
In the sun he melted
small, small, small.

Winter’s Coming

Winter’s coming, winters coming.
It is Dark,
It is cold.

I am bundled snug and warm.
Animals sleep safe from harm.
Sleds and snow.
Cold winds blow.

I’m a Little Snowman

I’m a little snowman short and fat.
Here is my scarf and here is my hat.
When the snow is falling come and play.
Build a snowman every day.

I’m a Friendly Snowman

I’m a friendly snowman big and fat.
Here is my tummy and here is my hat.
I’m a happy fellow, here’s my nose.
I’m all snow from my head to my toes.
I have two bright eyes so I can see.
All the snow falling down on me.
When the weather’s cold I’m strong and tall.
But when it’s warm I get very small.

Snowman

I’m a little snowman
Short and fat
Here is my broom
and here is my hat
When the sun comes out
I tremble with fear
‘Cause soon I’ll melt and disappear!

Dance Like Snowflakes

Dance like snowflakes
Dance like snowflakes
In the air
In the air

Whirling, twirling, snowflakes
Whirling, twirling, snowflakes
Here and there
Here and there.

Frosty the Snowman

Frosty the Snowman, was a jolly happy soul,
With a corn cob pipe and a button nose, and two eyes made of coal.

Frosty the Snowman, is a fairytale, they say.
He was made of snow, but the children know he came to life one day.

There must have been some magic in that old silk hat they found,
For when they placed it on his head, he began to dance around!

Oh, Frosty, the Snowman, was alive as he could be;
and the children say he could laugh and play,
just the same as you and me.

Thumpety thump, thump, thumpety thump, thump,
look at Frosty go.

Thumpety thump, thump, thumpety thump, thump,
over the hills of snow.

Frost

The frost is on the roof
The frost is on the ground
The frost is on the window
The frost is all around

I’m a Little Snowflake

I’m a little snowflake, look at me.
No other snowflake is just like me.
I’m so unique, as you can see,
And just as special as I can be!

I’m a Little Penguin

I’m a little penguin, black and white.
I waddle to the left and I waddle to the right.
I cannot fly but I can swim.
So I waddle to the water and jump right in!

Snow Clothes

If it’s snowing and you’re cold, wear a hat!
If it’s snowing and you’re cold, wear a hat!
If it’s snowing and you’re cold, and your head is chilled to the bone
If it’s snowing and you’re cold, wear a hat!

More Resources for Winter Storytime Songs

I’ve created some laptime and storytime plans using these songs.

The Winter Poems theme uses “Once There Was a Snowman” and “Winter’s Coming,” plus books and activity recommendations along with a literacy tip to share with parents and caregivers.

The Winter Clothes theme uses “Hat and Scarf, Mittens and Boots” and “Snow Clothes,” plus books and activity recommendations along with a literacy tip to share with parents and caregivers.

Check out my Pinterest board of Winter Rhymes, Songs, and Activities for more ideas.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: traditional song, winter

There Are Witches in the Air

October 21, 2021 by ajpassey Leave a Comment

One of my favorite Halloween fingerplays is 5 Little Pumpkins. This collection of witch songs, fingerplays, books, and crafts is inspired by the witches flying in the air spotted by the second pumpkin.

Witches in Books

Cute rhyming story of witches gathering to party under the moon.
This witch has quite a lot of visitors on her broom!

Witches in Songs, Rhymes, and Fingerplays

Zoom on a Broom

Zoom, zoom, zoom
Climb aboard my broom.
Zoom, zoom, zoom,
We’re flying past the moon.

If you want to fly tonight,
To give a spok or give a fright.
Zoom, zoom, zoom,
Climb aboard my broom

In 5…4…3…2…1
BOO!

Five Little Witches

Five little witches standing by the door. (hold up five fingers)
One flew out and then there were four. (Flying motion with hand)
Four little witches standing by a tree. (four fingers)
One went to pick a pumpkin and then there were three. (picking motion with three fingers)
Three little witches stirring their brew. (stir)
One fell in and then there were two. (two fingers)
Two little witches went for a run. (run with fingers)
One got lost and then there was one. (one finger)
One little witch, yes, only one. (one finger)
She cast a spell and now there are none. (make motions as if to cast spell and then put hands in lap).

Witches’ Crafts

Witch’s Broomstick Fine Motor Activity from Happy Toddler Play
Paper Plate Halloween Witch from Glued to My Crafts

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: Halloween

5 Fall Songs for Preschoolers

October 15, 2021 by ajpassey Leave a Comment

Fall is a delightful time of year to have a preschooler in your life. From pumpkin patch field trips to candy apple treats, fall offers plenty of opportunities to explore new colors, new smells, and new songs. Use these five fall songs for preschoolers in your next circle time or storytime program.

Autumn Leaves Are Falling Down

Find the full lyrics to one of the fall songs for preschoolers “Autumn Leaves Are Falling Down” here.

I’m a Little Squirrel

Sung to I’m a Little Teapot

I’m a little squirrel, fuzzy and gray
When fall comes, I gather nuts all day
So that when the winter comes, you see,
I’ll have food for my family and me.

Fall Is Here

Sung to Frere Jacques

Fall is here.
Fall is here.
Yes it is.
Yes it is.
We can see the leaves change
Then they fall on the ground.
Blow away
Blow away

Juicy Apples

Find the full lyrics to one of the fall songs for preschoolers “Juicy Apples” here.

Leaves, Leaves

Sung to Row, Row, Row Your Boat

Leaves are falling down,
Falling on the ground.
Red and yellow
Orange and brown,
Leaves are falling down.

Books to go with Falls Songs for Preschoolers

Play to Learn Preschool compiled a list of the best books about fall for preschoolers. They make a great complement to the fall songs for preschoolers listed above.

fall songs for preschoolers

Filed Under: Blog

Tails and Tales Nursery Rhymes

May 19, 2021 by ajpassey 1 Comment

Tails and Tales nursery rhymes for storytimes

This year the theme for the summer reading program organized by Collaborative Sumer Library Program (CSLP) is Tails and Tales. I love the idea of combining animals and storytelling to bring a different level of interest and excitement to reading and early literacy activities. I’ve gathered some of my favorite Tails and Tales nursery rhymes to include in your next storytime.

Nursery Rhymes

  • A Cat Came Fiddling
  • Little Kitty
  • Pussy Cat and Queen
  • Hey Diddle Diddle
  • Old Mother Hubbard
  • The Hobby Horse
  • To Market, To Market
  • Horsey, Horsey
  • This Little Pig
  • 3 Blind Mice
  • Tommy Tittlemouse
  • Hickory Dickory Dock
  • Pop! Goes the Weasel
  • Little Bo Peep
  • Bunnies

Tails and Tales Nursery Rhymes Activities

If we ever feel comfortable post-COVID, a face painting party would be such a fun way to bring nursery rhymes to life for little ones. A fun idea to go along with 3 Blind Mice is to play “Pin the tail on the mouse” then kids can experience what it was like for those mice to scurry around the kitchen after the farmer’s wife. To gets lots of animals into an activity, create puppets for the animals in Hey Diddle Diddle and have little ones practice retelling the story.

Tails and Tales nursery rhymes for storytimes

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: Tails and Tales

Summer Nursery Rhymes

May 18, 2021 by ajpassey Leave a Comment

Summer is a season of growth: growing plants, growing produce, growing children. I’ve collected some summer nursery rhymes to use in your laptime programs to help growing bodies to also grow their minds.

6 Summer Nursery Rhymes

5 Fat Peas

Five fat peas in a pea-pod pressed,
One grew, two grew, so did all the rest.
They grew, and grew, and did not stop,
Until one day, to pod went pop.

Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary

Mary, Mary, quite contrary
How does your garden grow?
With silver bells and cockle-shells
And pretty maids all in a row.

Robin Redbreast

Little Robin Redbreast sat upon a rail,
Niddle, naddle went his head,
Wiggle, waggle went his tail.

Lavender’s Blue

Lavender’s blue dilly, dilly
Lavender’s green;
When I am king, dilly, dilly
You shall be queen.

Once I Caught a Fish Alive

One, two, three, four, five
Once I caught a fish alive.
Six, seven, eight, nine, ten,
Then I let it go again.

Why did you let it go?
Because it bit my finger so.
Which finger did it bite?
This little finger on the right.

Row Your Boat

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

Read-Aloud Suggestion

One of my favorite books may have a bedtime theme, but it’s a fun play on nursery rhymes and elicits giggles galore. Sheep 101 by Richard T. Morris hit all the right notes to create an engaging and clever story that kids can enjoy over and over again.

More Fun with Summer Nursery Rhymes

Several crafts and activities would be a great addition to these summer nursery rhymes. Simple Everyday Mom shares a cute robin redbreast craft using construction paper and a child’s handprint. You can use the printable found with 5 Little Fish to make fish puppets for little fingers.

Summer Nursery Rhymes for laptime

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: summer

5 Summer Song Lyrics for Storytime

May 15, 2021 by ajpassey Leave a Comment

With summer warming up, we are enjoying blue skies, lazy days, and summer reading programs. I love how busy the library is in the summer with families coming for books, prizes and programs. Summer storytimes are always larger than my school year programs and they have a special buzz of energy. These summer song lyrics for your storytimes are sure to help keep those busy bees active and engaged.

5 summer song lyrics for storytime

When faced with crowd control for large groups of little energetic bodies, I have found that it is much more successful to direct that energy than to quell it. Using songs and movement at the beginning and middle of the storytime helps little ones stay engaged and helps keep the group attentive while reading stories.

Summer Song Lyrics

To play an accompaniment to these summer song lyrics, just click on the title of the song you want. You’ll be taken to it’s page in the collection where you can play the music and sing along! Easy-peasy for getting comfortable with new lyrics to familiar tunes.

A Song of Flowers

Sing a song of flowers, flowers all around.
Flowers that are growing, growing in the ground
Flowers of each color make a pretty view.
Red and orange and yellow.
And blue and purple, too.

Flower Garden

The farmer plants the seeds
The farmer plants the seeds
Hi, Ho and Cheery-O
The farmer plants the seeds.

The sun begins to shine
The sun begins to shine
Hi, Ho and Cheery-O
The sun begins to shine.

The rain begins to fall
The rain begins to fall
Hi, Ho and Cheery-O
The rain begins to fall.

The plants begin to grow
The plants begin to grow
Hi, Ho and Cheery-O
The plants begin to grow.

The flowers smile at us
The flowers smile at us
Hi, Ho and Cheery-O
The flowers smile at us.

Here is the Beehive

Here is the beehive
Where are the bees?
Hidden inside
Where nobody sees
Watch as the bees
Come out of the hive
1, 2, 3, 4, 5

I’m a Little Daisy

I’m a little daisy, tall and slim (Stand on tiptoes)
Here are my petals (Place hands on side of head & wiggle fingers)
Here is my stem (Hold arms down at sides of legs)
When the sun comes up (Make sun with arms)
And the rain comes down (Flutter hands to floor like rain-end in crouching position)
I grow, grow, grow- up from the ground! (slowly raise up bring hand over head)

The Flower Song

Curl up like a tiny seed,
A tiny seed, a tiny seed.
Warm sun is what you need.
Now you can start growing,
Drink the rain and start to rise,
Start to rise, start to rise.
Stretch up tall, arms open wide,
Now a flower’s showing.

More Fun with Summer Song Lyrics

Here are a few activities that expand the flower and summer theme of these summer song lyrics. Because Babies Grow Up has a fun flower garden craft that has easy prep work, inexpensive craft items and fine motor skill work for little hands. No Time For Flashcards offers a sticky wing dragonfly craft using contact paper, sequins, and a dragonfly cutout. And for a more hands-on activity, Natural Herbal Living shares how to plant a bee-friendly garden with kids.

5 summer song lyrics for storytime

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: summer

The Hollow Trees: Hello Friend!

June 2, 2016 by ajpassey Leave a Comment

On my first listen through of The Hollow Trees’ newest album Hello Friend I connected with the familiar strains of bluegrass music that weave together with jazz, folk, country and more to create this lively musical feast. And what a feast it is. The first track is called “What Do You Want on Your Taco” and definitely gets your mouth watering for the next Taco Tuesday. This song is the most requested by our children.

Hello Friend!Hello Friend is a wonderful combination of covers and original songs that work together to capture the humor and experiences of childhood. “Merry Go Round” was inspired by a particularly exhilarating carousel ride. My favorite song on the album is “Harmony Hills” a lullaby that captures the golden hour of dusk in the band’s fictional universe of Nelsonville.

Hello Friend Track List

  • What Do You Want on Your Taco?
  • Merry Go Round
  • My Dog Has Fleas
  • I Can’t Dance (I’ve Got Ants in My Pants)
  • It Ain’t No Fault of Mine
  • Hello Friend
  • My Metaphor
  • Guitar You Going to Sing Along?
  • Poor Papa
  • Backward Bill
  • She’ll Be Coming ‘Round the Mountain
  • I Like to Draw
  • The Harmony Hills

The Hollow Trees

Hello Friend! for Use in Storytime

Many songs on this album are written in a call-response style making it easy to play the song and engage children (and adults) in singing along. Several songs also fall into common themes used in storytimes and preschool themes.

Call and Response Songs on Hello Friend!

  • Hello Friend
  • I Can’t Dance (I’ve got Ants in My Pants)
  • Guitar You Going to Sing Along?

Themes on Hello Friend!

  • Food (What Do You Want on Your Taco?)
  • Dogs/Pets/Animals (My Dog Has Fleas)
  • Art/Creativity (I Like to Draw)
  • PJ/Bedtime (The Harmony Hills)

You can connect with The Hollow Trees on Facebook or learn more about their music and upcoming performances on their website. Hello Friend! is available for pre-order on Amazon and will be released July 1, 2016.

Now through June 8 you can enter to win your own copy of The Hollow Trees’ newest album as part of Bundle #3. Just fill out to form on this post for the Kids Music Giveaway.

 

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: reviews, The Hollow Trees

Diana Panton: I Believe in Little Things

May 26, 2016 by ajpassey 2 Comments

Whimsical and melodic, with tendrils reaching from her voice to affectionately unlock our imagination, Diana Panton brings to life some of our favorite classic songs in her latest album, I Believe in Little Things. Diana meticulously curated magical songs from Disney, Sesame Street, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, the Muppets, Willy Wonka, reinventing them through her unique jazz style.

I Believe In Little ThingsWhile the album speaks to the child in all of us, I Believe in Little Things was born of Diana Panton’s desire to present a personal musical offering to her many fans who are parents of young children.  Diana explains, “I started to hear from moms that they were using songs from my albums like ‘Moon River’ and ‘Fly Me to the Moon’ to put their children to bed.  This inspired me to put together a collection of songs that would hold special meaning for children (and their parents). The recording process was a real treat, as every effort was invested in using the best musicians and production values to make this record equal in quality to any of the jazz albums I’ve previously released.”

Diana PantonOur family has thoroughly enjoyed I Believe in Little Things. It is a terrific addition to our music library. We have enjoyed arts and crafts time with Diana Panton’s voice inspiring our creativity. We’ve also brought her along on car rides for some much needed crooning which soothes all our car-cramped crankiness and exhaustion from running errands with four kids in tow.

Since I Believe in Little Things includes many songs from my childhood, this album proves to be a great way for me to share those memories with my children and bring them to life again for the next generation. Parents and children can bond over these timeless melodies and the unique way Diana Panton has preserved them in her album.

I Believe in Little Things for Use in Storytime

Songs from I Believe in Little Things would work for the following themes:

  • Alice in Wonderland (In a World of My Own, Alice in Wonderland)
  • imagination (Pure Imagination, Imagination)
  • friendship (I’m Going Back There)
  • lullabies or bedtime (When You Wish Upon a Star, Everybody Sleeps, Sleep Is a Precious Thing, Hushabye Mountain, Slumber My Darling)
  • colors (The Rainbow Connection)

You can connect with Diana Panton on Facebook or learn more about her and her music on her website. You can purchase I Believe in Little Things on Amazon or on her website.

Now through June 8 you can enter to win your own copy of Diana Panton’s I Believe in Little Things as part of Bundle #1. Just fill out to form on this post for the Kids Music Giveaway.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: Diana Panton, reviews

Kids Music Giveaway

May 25, 2016 by ajpassey 2 Comments

I’m excited to bring this kids music giveaway to you! For the next two weeks I will be introducing you to the kids music artists that we have grown to love over the last few years and some new artists we are quickly falling in love with. More than anything, these artists want to get kid-friendly music into the hands of families who will be able to bond, create memories and laugh together while engaging in this music. More than anything, I want to get kids music into library and classroom collections so it is available to kids and families year after year.

Kids Music GiveawayThis giveaway will, hopefully, reach families, teachers and librarians and provide another opportunity to get kids music into the hands of those who know and love kids on a daily basis.

Kids Music Bundles

Giveaway Bundle #1

Kids Music Bundle #1

Hullabaloo: I Chew

Diana Panton: I Believe in Little Things Review: click here

Boxtop Jenkins: You’re Happier When You’re Happy!

Giveaway Bundle #2

Kids Music Bundle #2

Eric Herman: Bubble Wrap

Charity and the JAMband: EARTH

Laurie Berkner: Laurie Berkner’s Favorite Classic Kids’ Songs

Giveaway Bundle #3

Kids Music Bundle #3

The Hollow Trees: Hello Friend! Review: Click here

Miss Nina & The Jumping Jacks: Every Day’s Your Birthday

Lisa Loeb: Nursery Rhyme Parade

Giveaway Bundle #4

Kids Music Bundle #4

 

Doctor Noize: Phineas McBoof Crashes the Symphony (release date July 15, 2016)

The Singing Lizard: Club Called Awesome

Pete Seeger: Pete DVD/CD set

Kids Music Artists

I’m excited to introduce you to the musicians that keep us moving, laughing, bonding, and sharing our love of music. These are artists who love connecting with kids and families at their events. Some go on concert tours, some teach music and movement classes, some perform at libraries and schools, and all of them enjoy seeing children learn and grow through the power of music.

Diana Panton: website, Facebook

Boxtop Jenkins: Facebook

Hullabaloo: website, YouTube, Facebook

Charity and the JAMband: website, YouTube, Facebook

Eric Herman: website, YouTube, Facebook

Laurie Berkner: website, YouTube, Facebook

Lisa Loeb: website, YouTube, Facebook, Pinterest

The Hollow Trees: website, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram

Miss Nina: website, YouTube, Facebook

Paul Winter & Pete Seeger: website, Facebook

Doctor Noize: website, Facebook

The Singing Lizard: website, YouTube, Facebook

Kids Music Giveaway

You can win one of these amazing bundles to add to your home, classroom or public library collection. Just fill out the form below. Giveaway is open May 24, 2016-June 8, 2016. Open to all US residents, ages 18 and over. One entry per individual. Winner will be notified via email on June 9 and must reply with mailing address by June 10 to claim kids music bundle. Good luck!

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: Boxtop Jenkins, Charity and the JAMband, Diana Panton, Doctor Noize, Eric Herman, Hullabaloo, Laurie Berkner, Lisa Loeb, Miss Nina, Pete Seeger, The Hollow Trees

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