I spy with my little eye- a listening song.

I sing this one at the park. We listen to sounds that we can hear, and make up the verses as we go along.

This builds up cumulatively.

I spy with my little eye, you can hear with your little ear.
The dog in the park goes woof woof woof,
And we all go travelling by by by, and we [...]

What shall we do with baby Rowan?- A rocking and tickling song.

This is to the tune of  ‘What shall we do with a drunken sailor’. You can use the name of your child, or in a group, say what shall we do with the little children. My 4 year old still likes this. Feel free to change to suit you.

(rock baby from side to side)
What shall we [...]

Row row row the boat- a rocking and rowing song

An all time favourite. Here are some different versions and verses that I have come across over the years.

For Babies:

Verse 1:Lay baby on back and let them grip your fingers. Gently rock them from side to side.

Verse 2: If old enough, gently pull them up into a sitting position and back down again.

Rock rock rock the [...]

Sleepy bunnies: a jumping game!

Another favourite of mine!

Children lie on the floor and pretend to sleep

See the little bunnies sleeping til it’s nearly noon,
Won’t you help us gently wake them with a merry tune.
Oh how still? Are they ill?
Wake up soon.

(children get up and jump!)

So,
hop little bunnies hop hop hop (x3)
hop hop hop and stop! (children freeze!)

(I cradle younger babies [...]

Jig Jog: a bouncing song!

Have an older baby or toddler on your lap, facing out, and bounce them up and down to the beat of the music. Younger babies can be cradled and swayed. This was one of my eldest’s favourite songs.

I want someone to buy me a pony,
Jig-jog jig-jog jigga jog-jig.
Not too fast and not too bony,
jig-jog jig-jog jigga jog-jig.
I just want [...]

Drunken Sailor: Using Musical Instruments with Young Children

You can use this with any instrument. I play along with the children, modelling the different ways to play.

Sing to tune of What shall we do with a drunken sailor?In the first 4 lines, play the claves with the pulse of the music (play on the bold syllables).

What shall we do with our claves today? (x3)
Early in [...]

Old Macdonald: Using Musical Instruments with Young Children

You can use this with any instrument. I play along with the children, modelling the different ways to play.

To the tune of Old Mcdonald had a Farm, play the claves with the pulse of the music (play on the bold syllables).

This is the way we tap our claves,
E, I, E, I, O (x2).
With a tap tap [...]

Hello & Goodbye songs

Several hello and goodbye songs to sing with your baby. [...]