Why Children Need Singing, Rocking, Lullabies, and Finger-Plays

All children love music. And when you sing to and rock your child, you are helping their emotional and intellectual growth, enhancing language learning and hand-eye coordination, and relaxing them all at the same time. Children love the affection and attention, too. Singing together builds a bond of love and memories that last a lifetime!

Here are some original rhymes and finger-plays that you can do with your baby, toddler or preschooler. Don’t worry about how you sound. To your child, your voice is beautiful.

 

Farmer Lucy

(To the of tune, “Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush”)

Farmer Lucy lost her cow, lost her cow, lost her cow,  (make milking motions)

Farmer Lucy lost her cow,

The baby is crying for milk! (wipe away tears)

She won’t have cookies, pudding or pie (shake forefinger and head back and forth)

Pudding or pie,

Pudding or pie!

She won’t have cookies, pudding or pie!

She only wants truffles (make “O’s” with thumbs and forefingers)

All tied up in silk! (make fists go round and round then apart, tying motion)

 

A Jersey Cow

A Jersey cow came dancing, dancing, dancing.

A Jersey cow came dancing

To the county fair.

She wore a pretty ribbon, ribbon, ribbon.

She wore a pretty ribbon,

To the county fair.

Her milky was so creamy, creamy, creamy.

Her milky was so creamy,

At the county fair.

 

Hig, Pig, Pen 

Hig, pig, pen! A hog and a hen, (make a fist, pop one thumb up, then the other)

Fell in the mud with ten fat men! (all ten fingers on baby’s tummy, lift up and down, as if stuck in mud)

Some stayed in and some got out. (set hands on baby’s tummy, then open to side)

And some had ribs with sauerkraut! (hands back on tummy, walk fingers up rib cage, gently tickling)

 

Tea Time

Tea time, tea time, (pretend to drink from tea cup)

Sip a cup of tea. (continue drinking)

Pour in honey, pour  in milk, (make pouring motions)

Make your tea as smooth as silk. (make stirring motions)

Tea time, tea time, (pretend to drink from tea cup)

Sip a cup of tea. (continue drinking)

We have biscuits we have jam, (put out left palm, then right)

We have sandwiches with ham. (make a “C” with thumbs and fingers, as if holding sandwich – quickly pretend to take a bite!)

Tea time, tea time, (pretend to drink)

Sip some tea with me!! (point to self)

(Note ~ These rhymes area also great for skipping rope. Children can take turns turning and jumping, and try to make it all the way through.)

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