Nursery Rhymes, Songs, and Fingerplays for Kids
Ten little firefighters sleeping in a row
Ding, ding goes the bell and down the pole they go.
Off on the engine, oh, oh, oh.
Using the big hose so, so, so.
When all the fire’s our, home so slow.
Back into bed, all in a row.
Six little ducks that I once knew.
Fat ducks, skinny ducks, fair ducks, too.
But the one little duck with the feather on his back
He led the others with a quack, quack, quack
Down to the river they would go,
Wibble-wobble, wibble-wobble, to and fro
But the one little duck with the feather on his back
He led the others with a quack, quack, quack,
A quack, quack, quack, A quack, quack, quack,
He led the others with a quack, quack, quack!
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}
| 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.
On the first day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
A partridge in a pear tree.
On the second day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Two turtle doves and
A partridge in a pear tree.
On the third day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Three french hens
Two turtle doves and
A partridge in a pear tree.
On the fourth day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Four calling birds
Three french hens
Two turtle doves and
A partridge in a pear tree.
On the fifth day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Five golden rings
Four calling birds
Three french hens
Two turtle doves and
A partridge in a pear tree.
On the sixth day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Six geese a-laying
Five golden rings
Four calling birds
Three french hens
Two turtle doves and
A partridge in a pear tree.
On the seventh day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Seven swans a-swimming
Six geese a-laying
Five golden rings
Four calling birds
Three french hens
Two turtle doves and
A partridge in a pear tree.
On the eighth day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Eight maids a-milking
Seven swans a-swimming
Six geese a-laying
Five golden rings
Four calling birds
Three french hens
Two turtle doves and
A partridge in a pear tree.
On the ninth day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Nine ladies dancing
Eight maids a-milking
Seven swans a-swimming
Six geese a-laying
Five golden rings
Four calling birds
Three french hens
Two turtle doves and
A partridge in a pear tree.
On the tenth day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Ten lords a-leaping
Nine ladies dancing
Eight maids a-milking
Seven swans a-swimming
Six geese a-laying
Five golden rings
Four calling birds
Three french hens
Two turtle doves and
A partridge in a pear tree.
On the eleventh day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Eleven pipers piping
Ten lords a-leaping
Nine ladies dancing
Eight maids a-milking
Seven swans a-swimming
Six geese a-laying
Five golden rings
Four calling birds
Three french hens
Two turtle doves and
A partridge in a pear tree.
On the twelfth day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Twelve drummers drumming
Eleven pipers piping
Ten lords a-leaping
Nine ladies dancing
Eight maids a-milking
Seven swans a-swimming
Six geese a-laying
Five golden rings
Four calling birds
Three french hens
Two turtle doves and
A partridge in a pear tree.
Thanks to this site for helping me remember the last couple of verses.
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.}
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.”