Toddler Programs Chapter
Jumping and Jiving
Books to Share
- Calling All Toddlers by Francesca Simon.
- Clap Your Hands by Lorinda Bryan Cauley.
- Dancing Class by Lucy Dickens.
- Toddlerobics Animal Fun by Zita Newcome.
Books to Show and Booktalk
- Barnyard Dance by Sandra Boynton.
- Baby Danced the Polka by Karen Beaumont.
- Jungle Jive by Sally Lloyd.
Fingerplays
Open, Shut Them
(Traditional)
Open, shut them, (Hold up closed fists and open and shut them)
Open, shut them.
Give a little clap, clap, clap. (Clap hands.)
Open, shut them, (Hold up closed fists and open and shut them)
Open, shut them.
Put them in your lap, lap, lap. (Put closed fists in lap)
Creep them, crawl them, (Creep fingers up chest to chin)
Creep them, crawl them.
Right up to your
Chin, chin, chin.
Open up your little mouth, (Open mouth)
But do not let them in. (Put hands behind back.)
Songs
Jack Be Nimble
(Traditional)
Prepare for this action activity by cutting out a picture of a candle for each child. Place the candles on the floor and let the children jump over the candle as they recite the rhyme.
Jack be nimble.
Jack be quick.
Jack jump,
Over the candlestick.
Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes
(Traditional. Lead the children in touching each body part as it is named. Repeat the song several times. Begin singing slowly and increase the tempo with each repetition.)
Head, shoulders, knees, and toes,
Knees and toes.
Head, shoulders, knees, and toes,
Knees and toes.
Here's my mouth, my eyes,
My ears and my nose.
Heads, shoulders, knees, and toes,
Knees and toes.
Ring-a-Round the Rosies
(Traditional. The children hold hands and walk in a circle. At the words,” we all fall down,” everyone sits on the floor.)
Ring-a-round the rosies,
A pocket full of posies.
Ashes, ashes, we all fall down.
Sing “I Like to Dance” to the tune of “Skip to My Lou.” Words are available in Songs and Games for Toddlers by Carol Gnojewski, and on the KIDddles Web site at www.kididdles.com.
Dance and Movement Songs
The Bunny Hop
Do the Bunny Hop. Music and lyrics may be found on the NIEHS Kids Page at www.niehs.nih.gov/kids/lyrics/bunnyhop.htm. Don’t worry if the children don’t get left and right straight, they’ll still have fun hopping. It’s also on Brave Combo’s Group Dance Epidemic.
Action Chants
Can't Stop Moving
(Adapted by Shelly Lane)
My feet, they won't stop stomping,
My feet, they won't stop stomping,
My feet, they won't stop stomping,
Around in a circle I go.
(Repeat the verse, substituting action words such as hopping and running.)
We Be Moving
(Adapted by Shelly Lane)
My fingers wave, wave, wave.
My feet stomp, stomp, stomp.
My body shakes, shakes, shakes.
My nose wiggles, wiggles, wiggles.
Audio Recordings
“Shake my Sillies Out” on The Singable Songs Collection by Raffi.
Crafts
Dancing Partner
Materials
- Patterns of a bear, a monkey, and a clown with their arms extended
- Strips of ribbon or survey tape (survey tape is used to mark trees for cutting and can be purchased at hardware stores)
- Craft Sticks
- Crayons
- Hole punch
- Scotch tape
Directions
Enlarge and copy the patterns of the bear, monkey, and clown. Glue them to construction paper to reinforce them. Precut one picture for each child. Punch a hole in the hands of each character and thread the survey tape or ribbon through the holes. Tape it in place on the back of the picture. Tape a craft stick to the back of the picture. Let the children color them and dance and spin while holding the “dancing partners” by the craft sticks. The ribbon or tape will float around. (Additional patterns for a ballerina and a leprechaun marionette style puppet that would work for this activity can be found on the Enchanted Learning Web site at www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/puppets/.)
Videos/DVDs
Display these videos for home use or show them if you have public performance rights.
- Dem Bones. (9 minutes)
- The Foolish Frog. (7.75 minutes)
Professional Resources
- Hop 'Til You Drop (Movement and Activity Songs for Kids) by John Jacobson and Alan Billingsley.
- Songs and Games for Toddlers by Carol Gnojewski.
