Nursery Rhymes, Songs, and Fingerplays for Kids
Do your ears hang low?
Do they wobble to and fro?
Can you tie them in a knot?
Can you tie them in a bow?
Can you throw them over your shoulder
like a continental soldier?
Do your ears hang low?
Find more nursery rhymes on the Ultimate List of Mother Goose Nursery Rhymes.
(Tune: I’m a Little Teapot)
Original words by Amber Passey
I’m a little Firefly
Dark and bright.
You’ll see me appear
On a warm summer night.
First I am gone and
Then I shine bright.
All because of
My blinking light.
Roses are red
Violets are blue
Sugar is sweet
And so are you!
An early version of the poem read:
The rose is red
The violet’s blue
Sugar is sweet
And so are you.
Hello, Friends
Hello, Friends
Hello, Friends
We’re glad you came today!
This song can also be adapted to introduce each child to the group. Replace “Friends” with a child’s name. Wave at the child during the lines where the name is said. For the last line, clap in rhythm.
Hush-a-bye, Baby,
In the tree top,
When the wind blows
The cradle will rock;
When the bough breaks
The cradle will fall,
Down tumbles cradle
And Baby and all.
This song is also known as Rock-a-Bye and can work as a lullaby or as an action song. See Rock-a-Bye for more details on the actions.
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.
To market, to market, to buy a fat pig;
Home again, home again, jiggety jig.
To market, to market, to buy a fat hog;
Home again, home again, jiggety jog.
To market, to market, to buy a white caked;
Home again, home again, never was baked.
To market, to market to buy a plum bun;
Home again, home again, market is done!
I can fly here,
I can fly there,
Look at me now,
I’m HIGH in the air!
This action poem is perfect for laptime with your baby. You can move your baby “here” and “there” and then lift baby up high on the last line. These actions can also be adapted to toddler and preschooler physical abilities. Flapping arms and moving side to side shows flying. Then giving a big, two-footed jump for high in the air!
(Tune: “The Farmer in the Dell”)
My friends are here today
My friends are here today
Let’s give a cheer
Let’s give a cheer
My friends are here today!
This song can also be adapted to introduce each child to the group. Replace “My friends” with a child’s name. Wave at the child during the first two lines. Fist pump in the air for the next two lines. Finish by waving again or clapping the rhythm. Be sure to cheer loudly at the end with lots of claps.
*Child’s name is here today
*Child’s name is here today
Let’s give a cheer
Let’s give a cheer
“Cause *Child’s name is here today!
When cows get up in the morning,
They always say “Good Day!”
When cows get up in the morning,
They always say “Good Day!”
Moo, moo, moo, that’s how they say “Good Day!”
Moo, moo, moo, that’s how they say “Good Day!”
Cows can be replaced with a variety of animals:
When pigs get up in the morning,
They always say “Good Day!”
When pigs get up in the morning,
They always say “Good Day!”
Oink, oink, oink, that’s how they say “Good Day!”
Oink, oink, oink, that’s how they say “Good Day!”
When birds get up in the morning,
They always say “Good Day!”
When birds get up in the morning,
They always say “Good Day!”
Chirp, chirp, chirp, that’s how they say “Good Day!”
Chirp, chirp, chirp, that’s how they say “Good Day!”