Nursery Rhymes, Songs, and Fingerplays for Kids
(Tune: “Frere Jacques“)
It is raining,
It is raining,
On my head.
On my head.
Pitter patter raindrops
Pitter patter raindrops
I’m all wet!
I’m all wet!
Download this instrumental version of Frere Jacques (Are You Sleeping) to listen and practice offline.
“April showers bring May flowers”
This old adage has always had special meaning for me. My mom’s birthday is in April and my birthday is in May. I imagined this phrase was coined just for me that my mom, represented by April showers, brought me, represented by May flowers, into the world. Such is the innocence and simple understanding of a young child.
It is probably also the main reason why I love April showers so much. Rain, storms, thunder and lightning have always filled me with awe and appreciation for nature. I love the sound of rain dripping, dropping and tapping on my windows and roof.
So it’s no surprise that I’ve amassed quite a list of songs and poems about April showers. I’m excited to share this treasured collection with you today. I hope it will help in filling out your storytime program centered on your favorite book about rain. Side note: my all-time favorite book to read aloud about rain is Listen to the Rain by Bill Martin Jr and John Archambault.
Just click on the title of the poem and you’ll be taken to the page with the full lyrics.
Raindrops by The Harmonica Pocket on the album Sundrops
Thunder & Lightning by Recess Monkey on the album Hot Air
Rainy Day Dance Party by Milkshake on the album Got a Minute?
Rain Dance by Rachel Coleman and the TreeSchoolers on the album Plants & Flowers
In Belgian Rain by Hot Peas ‘n Butter on the album Catchin’ Some Peazzz, The Lullabies
It’s raining, it’s pouring
The old man is snoring
He bumped his head
And went to bed
And didn’t get up till morning.
(Possible variation: Sing to “Frere Jacques“)
I hear thunder, I hear thunder,
Hark, don’t you? Hark, don’t you?
Pitter-patter raindrops,
Pitter-patter raindrops,
I’m wet through,
So are you.
Download this instrumental version of Frere Jacques (Are You Sleeping?) to listen and practice offline.
Spring is bursting with new energy. I can feel it, and I can see my little ones are feeling it, too. We all get a little restless during spring. After months of cold winter stillness, spring is a time to get active. These five spring fingerplays will help busy hands connect with spring.
All around our neighborhood we are watching bunnies, squirrels and birds come out of their winter hiding. I picked fingerplays that match and will build on the experiences of little ones. A spring nature walk or scavenger hunt would be a great activity to introduce these spring fingerplays.
As little ones learn these spring fingerplays and songs, they are building emergent literacy skills. Learning rhyming sounds and rhythm from these fingerplays helps build phonological awareness. We can also build vocabulary by using new words within a familiar context; for example, 5 Little Bunnies includes the words “hop” “grass “lawn.” Children develop a deeper understanding of words when they can place them in context and associate them with other words.
Create a pond: Lay a blue blanket down and have little ones jump onto it pretending it is the pond that the speckled frogs jump into.
Make a kite: These lunch sack kites are easy to make for little fingers and use common materials. Check out Lovely Commotion for the full list of materials and her tutorial.
Wooden Spoon Bee Craft: This bee craft is so simple and darling. Find the full tutorial on Easy Peasy and Fun.
Today I’ve gathered 6 spring songs for preschool from some of my favorite musicians. These musicians are part of the Kindie Music world which focuses on creating quality music with lyrics and melodies that are relatable to little ones and enjoyed by listeners of all ages.
Spring is such a fun time for me because everything seems to come alive again after the stillness of winter. Just as plants turn green, shoots spring up, and birds build nests, preschoolers seem to explode in growth during the spring. The sunshine, rain and warmer weather is good for physical growth as well as all areas of a child’s development. The spring songs for preschool I chose for this list celebrate the sun, the rain, rainbows, and the tender feelings and bursting energy of little ones.
These spring songs for preschool make a great playlist to accompany a variety of activities to explore spring. Below are just a few possible activities that pair well with this playlist.
Using a flashlight and an old CD, little ones can explore rainbows. Lemon Lime Adventures gives a great tutorial on how to make this activity easy for little ones to create their own rainbow.
A spring scavenger hunt for kids would be a great activity to accompany this playlist of spring songs for preschool. KC Edventures offers a free printable scavenger hunt list.
Anna and the Cupcakes from Bari Koral and the Family Rock Band
Good Morning My Love from Vered
Sundrops by The Harmonica Pocket
Hot Air by Recess Monkey
Got a Minute? by Milkshake
Bubble Ride by Vanessa Trien and the Jumping Monkeys
Toddlers and spring are a perfect match! Watching a toddler discover the newness of spring growth is so inspiring. To help little ones connect to the world around them and build literacy skills, these spring songs for toddlers will get you started.
Toddlers, an all young children, learn best through repetition. The more you sing these spring songs for toddlers, the more they will learn about spring, about music, and about language. Don’t be afraid to repeat the same song several times in a row. Even when adults begin to tire of a song or think it might be getting boring for a toddler, toddlers are usually just figuring it out and ready to participate themselves.
These Spring songs for toddlers are all action songs. Toddlers love actions and usually learn them faster than the words. I love seeing toddlers at play spontaneously remember actions to a song and incorporate the song and the actions into their play.
Click on each song for the full lyrics and ideas for actions to do with these spring songs for toddlers. Below you will find some resources to accompany these songs.
These albums contain songs that are a great fit for spring and the above spring songs for toddlers.
Sundrops by Harmonica Pocket includes the song Raindrops and is a perfect partner for Rain, Rain Go Away.
Rock and Roll Garden by Bari Koral includes the song Hey Ducky and is a darling companion to 5 Little Ducks.
This easy to make recycled CD frog craft from Fun Handprint Art pairs well with 5 Green and Speckled Frogs.
This spring showers umbrella craft from No Time For Flashcards is a great choice to go with Rain, Rain, Go Away.
Spring is such a fun season! Preschool spring songs are a great way to celebrate the warmer weather and the new growth of spring. From rainstorms and rainbows to baby birds and bunnies, these preschool spring songs will definitely have the little ones noticing all the beauty of spring.
This list of preschool spring songs can be used in several ways to build early literacy skills. For including reading, you could write the lyrics on a chart to hang to use as you learn the words. To incorporate reading and writing, you could choose just one song and pair it with a book and craft. Another option would be to focus on playing by making up actions with the kids for each song.
Click on the title of each of the preschool spring songs to find the full lyrics. Some rhymes are set to traditional tunes. You will find an instrumental version of the tune to practice singing the new rhyme to the familiar tune.
My Spring Robin by Anne Rockwell
Nest by Jorey Hurley
And Then It’s Spring by Julie Fogliano
Make a rock garden to go along with Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary
from Because Babies Grow Up.
This bunny hiding in the grass craft is simple and adorable! What a great craft to go with the 5 Little Bunnies rhyme. From Crafty Morning
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5 little bunnies sitting on my grass
The first one said, “I’ll hop away fast”
The second little bunny said, “I’ll hop away now.”
The third little bunny said, “But I don’t know how!”
The fourth little bunny said, “I’ll show you the way.”
And the fifth little bunny followed after them to play.
As five little bunnies hopped across my lawn,
I watched from the window till they were all gone.
(Tune: “London Bridge Is Falling Down“)
Little ducks go quack, quack, quack.
Quack, quack, quack.
Quack, quack, quack.
Little ducks go quack, quack, quack,
In the springtime.
Download this instrumental version of London Bridge Is Falling Down to listen and practice offline.
