Nursery Rhymes, Songs, and Fingerplays for Kids
(Tune: “If You’re Happy and You Know It“)
Hello, Mr. Turkey
How are you? (clap, clap)
Hello, Mr. Turkey
How are you? (clap, clap)
With a wobble, wobble, wobble
and a gobble, gobble, gobble
Hello, Mr. Turkey
How are you?
If You’re Thankful and You Know It
Handprint Turkey Craft for Toddlers
(Tune: “Are You Sleeping?“)
Mr. Turkey, Mr. Turkey
Run away, Run away
If you don’t be careful
You will be a mouthful
Thanksgiving Day
Thanksgiving Day
You put your antlers in. You put your antlers out.
You put your antlers in and you shake them all about.
You do the Reindeer Pokey and you turn yourself around.
That’s what it’s all about!
Additional verses:
You put your hooves in…
You put your red nose in…
You put your fluffy tail in…
You put your reindeer body in…
This is a simplified version of the original lyrics to A Slippery Fish (Octopus Song). In the original lyrics, each creature moves through the water in a different way. For example, the octopus squiggles through the water or the tuna fish flashes through the water. This simplified version is perfect for babies and young toddlers and their caregivers!
A slippery fish, a slippery fish,
Swimming in the ocean.
A slippery fish, a slippery fish,
Glub. Glub. Glub.
Oh no, I’ve been eaten by an octopus!
An octopus, an octopus,
Swimming in the ocean.
An octopus, an octopus,
Glub. Glub. Glub.
Oh no, I’ve been eaten by a tuna fish!
A tuna fish, a tuna fish,
Swimming in the ocean.
A tuna fish, a tuna fish,
Glub. Glub. Glub.
Oh no, I’ve been eaten by a great big shark!
A great big shark, a great big shark,
Swimming in the ocean.
A great big shark, a great big shark,
Glub. Glub. Glub.
Oh no, I’ve been eaten by a humongous whale!
A humongous whale, a humongous whale,
Swimming in the ocean.
A humongous whale, a humongous whale,
Glub. Glub. Glub.
Oh no, I’ve been eaten by a human!
Was it you?
Slippery fish: hold hands together, palms touching, and move hands like a fish swimming in the water
Oh no! I’ve been eaten by…: Clap hands to your face making a surprised looked
Octopus: 1) lock thumbs together and wiggle 8 remaining fingers as legs or 2) place fist of one hand on back of the other and wiggle the second hand’s fingers as legs
Tuna fish: Keep hands together, palms touching. Keep fingers connected while moving hands from close together to making a circle or bowl shape, like a puffed up fish. Move them back and forth during this verse.
Great big shark: Extend arms out long spread apart then bring them together clapping hands like a giant mouth closing
Humongous whale: Place hands on hips with arms rounded out, taking up as much space as possible. Rock from side to side while singing this verse.
Was it you? Point at a child and ask them if they ate the whale. If this is a smaller, more personal group or with your own child, this is a great tickle opportunity.
You can find the book on Amazon (affiliate link): Slippery Fish in Hawai’i by Charlotte Diamond
Shoe the colt, Shoe the colt,
Shoe the wild mare;
Here a nail, there a nail.
Colt must go bare.
Birds of a feather flock together,
And so will pigs and swine.
Rats and mice have their choice,
And so will I have mine.
I like little kitty, her coat is so warm.
And if I don’t hurt her she’ll do me no harm.
So I’ll not pull her tail, nor drive her away,
But kitty and I very gently will play.
I had a little hobby horse,
And it was dapple gray.
Its head was made of pea-straw,
Its tail was made of hay.
I sold it to an old woman
For a copper groat;
And I’ll not sing my song again
Without another coat.
Cock-a-doodle-doo,
My dame has lost her shoe.
My master’s lost his fiddlestick,
And knows not what to do.
Sing a song of sixpence
A pocket full of rye
Four and twenty blackbirds
Baked in a pie!
When the pie was opened
The birds began to sing
Wasn’t that a dainty dish
To set before the king?
The King was in his counting house,
Counting out his money;
The Queen was in the parlour
Eating bread and honey.
The maid was in the garden,
Hanging out the clothes,
Along came a blackbird
And snapped off her nose.
One, Two, Buckle My Shoe
Peter, Peter, Pumpkin Eater
Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star
Rain, Rain Go Away
A Week of Birthdays