Songs and rhymes
Song and rhyming ideas to uses when interacting with a child.
- Always start with a hello song
- Use the child’s name in songs
- Pick up on what the child is doing and label their action
- Use musical instruments to match the child’s actions, e.g. bang on a drum for jumping or stamping
- Repeat songs
- Make up your own songs to familiar tunes
- Include favourite tunes from the television
- Always finish with a goodbye song
Songs for following a child's lead
- What can we do with the ... (Tune: Drunken sailor)
- This is the way we go round the mulberry bush (Tune: Mulberry bush)
- Let’s all jump/tap together
Songs to build anticipation
- Round and round the garden
- Put this hat upon your head
- This little piggy
- Songs for interaction
- Row, row, row your boat
- Bouncing up and down on my little red tractor (Tune: In and out the dusky bluebells)
- Action songs
- Roly poly, roly poly, up and down
- Open, shut them
- Wind the bobbin up
- Head, shoulders, knees and toes
- If you’re happy and you know it
- Songs with changes in pace, rhythm or volume
- Row, row, row your boat
- Round and round
- Songs for calming down and soothing
- Stroking N’s cheek
- Twinkle, twinkle
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