Laptime Songs

Nursery Rhymes, Songs, and Fingerplays for Kids

5 Little Chickens

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5 Little Chickens

Said the first little chicken with a queer little squirm,
“Oh, I wish I could find a fat little worm!”

Said the second little chicken with an odd little shrug,
“Oh, I wish I could find a fat little bug!”

Said the third little chicken with a little sigh of grief,
“Oh, I wish I could find a green little leaf!”

Said the fourth little chicken with a sharp little squeal,
“Oh, I wish I could find some nice yellow meal!”

Said the fifth little chicken with a faint little moan,
“Oh, I wish I could find a wee gravel stone!”

“Now see here!” said their mother from the green garden patch,
“If you want any breakfast, you just come here and scratch!”

Learning

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Learning

This is high and this is low
Only see how much I know.

This is narrow, this is wide,
Something else I know besides.

Up is where the birds fly free,
Down is where my feet should be.

This is my right hand, as you see,
This is my left hand, all agree.

Overhead I raise them high,
Clap 1, 2, 3, and then let them fly.

Follow the words for the actions to this rhyme.

Balloons

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Balloons

This is the way we blow our balloon.
Blow! Blow! Blow!
{Stretch arms out wider and wider}
This is the way we break our balloon.
{Clap hands together}
Oh, oh, no!

Open Them, Shut Them

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Open, Shut Them

Open them. Shut them.
Open them. Shut them.
Give a little clap.
Open them. Shut them.
Open them. Shut them.
Place them in your lap.

Then creep them, creep them,
Creep them, creep them
Right up to your chin
Open wide your little mouth,
But do not let them in!

5 Little Squirrels in a Tree

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5 Little Squirrels in a Tree

Five little squirrels are sitting in a tree
The first squirrel said, “These nuts are for me.”
The second squirrel said, “I like to eat!”
The third squirrel said, “Nuts are a treat.”
The fourth squirrel said, “Do you want some?”
The fifth squirrel said, “You may have one.”

The five little squirrels went bob, bob, bob.
{jump}
The five little squirrels went nod, nod, nod.
{nod head}
The five little squirrels went patter, patter, patter.
{wiggle}
The five little squirrels went chatter, chatter, chatter.
{open and close fingers in a talking motion}
The five little squirrels scolded you and me
{shake head and wag finger}
As they sat and ate the nuts on the big, tall tree.
{pretend to eat nuts}

Tickle the Clouds

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Tickle the Clouds

Tickle the clouds
Tickle your toes
Turn around and tickle your nose
Reach down low
And reach up high
Story time’s over —
Wave good-bye!

The words are pretty clear on the actions that go along with the rhyme.
This is a great rhyme for the end of a storytime or laptime

Variation: Change “Story time” to “Laptime”

5 Little Pumpkins

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5 Little Pumpkins

Five little pumpkins sitting on a gate{Hold up five fingers and sit hand on opposite are, like it’s a gate}
The first one said, “Oh my, it’s getting late.”{Hold one finger up. Put hands on cheeks and make a surprised face}
The second one said, “There are witches in the air.”{Hold two fingers up. Move hands around like they are flying in the air}
The third one said, “But we don’t care!”{Hold up three fingers. Shrug shoulders}
The fourth one said, “Let’s run and run and run.”{Hold up 4 fingers. Move arms in a running motion. If standing, run in place}
The fifth one said, “I’m ready for some fun.”{Hold up 5 fingers. Nod head with a bigger than life motion}
Oooo went the wind
And OUT went the light{Clap hands on “OUT”}
Five little pumpkins rolled out of sight.{Roll hands}

As soon as our little ones could clap, they loved to clap with this rhyme. The same thing with rolling hands. Older kids like to practice holding up different numbers of fingers.

5 Little Ducks with Actions

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5 Little Ducks

Five little ducks went out one day
{Hold up 5 fingers}
Over the hill and far away.
{Move hand like a snake moving up and down.}
When the mama duck said:
“Quack. Quack. Quack!”
{Form hand like a beak. Open and close beak fingers.}
Four little ducks came waddling back.
{Hold up 4 fingers and move hand in a waddling motion.}

Four little ducks went out one day
{Hold up 4 fingers}
Over the hill and far away.
{Move hand like a snake moving up and down.}
When the mama duck said:
“Quack. Quack. Quack!”
{Form hand like a beak. Open and close beak fingers.}
Three little ducks came waddling back.
{Hold up 3 fingers and move hand in a waddling motion.}

Three little ducks went out one day
{Hold up 3 fingers}
Over the hill and far away.
{Move hand like a snake moving up and down.}
When the mama duck said:
“Quack. Quack. Quack!”
{Form hand like a beak. Open and close beak fingers.}
Two little ducks came waddling back.
{Hold up 2 fingers and move hand in a waddling motion.}

Two little ducks went out one day
{Hold up 2 fingers}
Over the hill and far away.
{Move hand like a snake moving up and down.}
When the mama duck said:
“Quack. Quack. Quack!”
{Form hand like a beak. Open and close beak fingers.}
One little duck came waddling back.
{Hold up 1 finger and move hand in a waddling motion.}

One little duck went out one day
{Hold up 1 finger}
Over the hill and far away.
{Move hand like a snake moving up and down.}
When the mama duck said:
“Quack. Quack. Quack!”
{Form hand like a beak. Open and close beak fingers.}
No little ducks came waddling back.
{Make hand a fist or form fingers into a zero.}

But when the Daddy duck said:
“Quack! Quack! Quack!”
{Use two hands to make a big beak and clap them together}
Five little ducks came waddling back.
{Hold up 3 fingers and move hand in a waddling motion.}

5 Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed with Actions

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5 Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed

Five little monkeys jumping on the bed.
{Hold up 5 fingers and bounce hand like the fingers are jumping.}
One fell off and bumped his head.
{Hold up one finger. Then pat head.}
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said:
{Hold fingers like a phone and put to face as though talking on the phone.}
“No more monkeys jumping on the bed.”
{Wag one finger back and forth r up and down.}

Four little monkeys jumping on the bed.
{Repeat actions for each verse changing the number of fingers to match the verse.}
One fell off and bumped his head.
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said:
“No more monkeys jumping on the bed.”

Three little monkeys jumping on the bed.
One fell off and bumped his head.
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said:
“No more monkeys jumping on the bed.”

Two little monkeys jumping on the bed.
One fell off and bumped his head.
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said:
“No more monkeys jumping on the bed.”

One little monkey jumping on the bed.
He fell off and bumped his head.
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said:
“No more monkeys jumping on the bed.”