Songs, Finger Plays

Unique seasonal and every day songs, finger plays, and activities forinfants and toddlers, areall organized in one place, at your fingertips with the click of a mouse.
That precious little person in your life is definitely the cutest thing on the planet earth, and positively the most intelligent! Why, he was born speaking Greek, and you don't even know any foreign languages!
But seriously, language is one of the first waysdevelopmental growth in children is noticed by the general population. Mom and Dad and Grandma and Grandpa know this baby is the next Baseball Hall of Famer or Albert Einstein, but the cashier at the supermarket won't know diddly squat about that adorable big blue eyed baby unless she can speak intelligentlywhile strapped safely in the shopping cart.
So how can one help promote language skills besides reciting the abc's and Mary Had a Little Lamb and Twinkle Twinkle Little Star over and over again?
Starting with finger plays, action rhymes, and songs to sing,there will be numerous activities listed. Each will explain the multi purposes ofand the age of the child for which the activity is intended. More will be added over time as they are found.
FOR MOTOR SKILLS WITH TODDLERS:
Start with clapping and tapping your hands and feet. Let your toddler mimic your actions.
Read the following rhyme, clapping and tapping when indicated:
I have two little hands that clap, clap, clap.
I have two little feet that tap, tap, tap.
Clap, clap, clap.
Tap,tap, tap.
Clap,clap, tap.
Encourage your child to SAY "Clap" and "Tap" as you say the rhyme.

FOR SELF-CONCEPT BODY AWARENESS WITH TODDLERS:
Sing the following song to the tune of "The Farmer In The Dell."
Where are your piggy toes?
Where are your piggy toes?
Oh no, where have they gone,
(pull off socks)
I see your piggy toes.
Pulling off socksis one of the first skills a toddler learns. Sing this songwhile pulling off your child's socks, then let your child pull them off by himself. Encourage your child to pull off the socks without any help while you sing the song.

SELF-CONCEPT AND MOTOR SKILLS FOR TODDLERS:
One of the most challenging things a toddler is learning is how to dress herself. Somehow it always seems the diapers gee off easier than the shoes go on!
Encourage your child to practice motor skills and begin recognizing opposites by giving her a hat that fits easily on her head. Have her put the hat on and take it off, saying Hat on, hat off, hat on, hat off as she does.
SELF-CONCEPT AND BODY AWARENESSFOR TODDLERS:
Sing the following to the tune of "Are You Sleeping?"
Head and shoulders,
Head and shoulders.
Knees and toes,
Knees and toes.
Eyes and ears,
Eyes and ears.
Mouth and nose,
Mouth and nose.
Have your child touch each body part as it is sung, then repeat the songnaming different parts of the body.
THINKING SKILLS FOR TODDLERS:
Recognizing that an object is still there though it can't be seen is a significant milestone for toddlers. Play peek-a-boo often with your child, and play games where an object is hidden with a blanket, scarf or bandana, or inside another object.


MOTOR SKILLS FOR TODDLERS:
Recite the following rhymewith your toddler sitting on your knees. Moveyour knees and toddler up and down following the lyrics.
Marching, marching,
Up we go.
Marching marching,
Nice and slow.
Marching, marching,
Down, down, down.
Marching, marching,
Through the town.
Let your child stand andstretch up high and bend down low, or be lifted high or put down low as you recite the poem.
MOTOR SKILLS, LISTENING, AND EXERCISE FOR TODDLERS:
Large motor skills are needed in order to develop as well. Sing the following song to the tune of "The Farmer In The Dell" and let your child giggle and wiggle as you both do the movements to the song. Substitute different body parts and actions.
Shake your arms like this,
Shake your arms like this,
Clap your hands and turn around,
Shake your arms like this.
MOTOR