Nursery Rhymes, Songs, and Fingerplays for Kids
Thumb in the thumb place,
Fingers all together.
This is the song we sing
In mitten weather.
When it is cold
It doesn’t matter whether
Mittens are wool or
Made of finest leather.
Thumb in the thumb place,
Fingers all together.
This is the song we sing
In mitten weather.
Wave high, wave low
I think it’s time we’ve got to go.
Wave your elbows, wave your toes,
Wave your knees, wave your nose.
Wave your chin, wave your lips,
Blow a kiss from your fingertips.
Wave your ears, wave your eyes,
Wave your hands and say “Good-bye!”
Lay the infant on a blanket or on your lap. Tickle each body part as it is mentioned. Help the infant wave good-bye with their hands.
Either sit facing your sitting toddler, or have your toddler sit on your lap. If facing each other you can mirror your toddler by waving each body part as it it mentioned. If toddler is sitting on your lap, you can help them wave each body part as it is mentioned.
Banana
Form banana
Form, form banana
Peel banana
Peel, peel banana
Go bananas!
Go, go bananas!
Orange
Form the orange
Form, form the orange
Peel the orange
Peel, peel the orange
Squeeze the orange!
Squeeze, squeeze the orange!
Potato
Form potato
Form, form potato
Peel potato
Peel, peel potato
Mash potatoes!
Mash, mash potatoes!
Here is the engine on the track (hold up thumb)
Here is the coal car, just in back (hold up pointer finger)
Here is the boxcar, to carry freight (hold up middle finger)
Here is the mail car, don’t be late! (hold up ring finger)
Way back here at the end of the train (hold up little finger)
Rides the caboose through the sun and the rain.
(Tune: “She’ll Be Coming Round the Mountain“)
The Good-bye train is leaving.
See you soon. Choo! Choo!
The Good-bye train is leaving.
See you soon. Choo! Choo!
The Good-bye train is leaving.
The Good-bye train is leaving.
The Good-bye train is leaving.
See you soon. Choo! Choo!
Pumpkin, Pumpkin is an interactive chant for you and your little one. Hold your baby or toddler on your lap and gently bounce as you chant the words. Sitting on a wall: perch child right on your knee. Tip and fall: rock child side to side, dipping as far as is comfortable. Rolling down the street: Holding child’s hands, roll them like you would in Pat-a-Cake. You’re so sweet: bring child in for kisses or tickles.
Pumpkin, Pumpkin sitting on a wall
Pumpkin, Pumpkin tip and fall
Pumpkin, Pumpkin rolling down the street
Pumpkin, Pumpkin you’re so sweet!
(Tune: “I’m a Little Teapot“)
I’m a little pumpkin short and round.
I grow on the vine and on the ground.
I start as a seed and grow and grow.
Soon I’ll be carved and then I’ll glow!
Five little witches sitting on a gate.
The first one said, “I’m glad it’s getting late.”
The second one said, “There are spiders in my hair!”
The third one said, “Well, I declare!”
The fourth one said, “Trick or treating would be fun!”
The fifth one said, “Let’s run and run and run!”
So, Wooo oooo went the wind.
And out went the light!
And the five the little witches flew out of sight!
I’m a little witch with a big black cat (pretend to pet cat)
Here is my broomstick. (Hold imaginary broom)
Here is my hat. (Pretend to place hat on head)
You’d better be careful. (wag finger)
You’d better beware.
Three jellyfish, three jellyfish. (hold up hands by head)
Three jellyfish sitting on a rock.
One fell off. (drop one hand)
Two jellyfish, two jellyfish. (wave hand by head)
Two jellyfish sitting on a rock.
One fell off. (drop other hand)
One jellyfish, one jellyfish. (wiggle head)
One jellyfish sitting on a rock.
One fell off. (fall to the floor)
No jellyfish, no jellyfish.
No jellyfish sitting on a rock.