Welcome to another toddler music group post!
What’s that you say? If you’re not sure what that means, or would like to know how to host a toddler music group, start here.
Last month I presented a program with farm songs (and maybe you presented it to a group of toddlers, too).
This month, it’s all about our bodies, starting with our heads and travelling all the way down to our toes.
And this month, you may notice that I don’t make any prop suggestions. The best part of a music group program about the body is that you don’t need any special props. It’s attached to you!
Let’s get straight into it.
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Head, shoulders, knees and toes
This is a great song to start with to get the kids moving (but not too much!) and to cover the entire body in one go. Of course, if you’re from Tasmania, you’ll need to sing the very similar song Head, head, shoulders, knees and toes. (I’m sorry. My husband made that joke. But I’m not going to lie. I laughed.)
There are two popular versions of this song. We sing this version (with thanks to my beautiful assistant), and we sing it unaccompanied:
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Dancing face
This Justine Clarke song is a firm favourite of ours, and it didn’t take long for it to become a favourite of the entire group.
In Dancing Face, you are invited to wriggle your nose, blink your eyes, click your teeth and pull your ears. But not in that order, and it doesn’t end there! Lots of fun for everyone.
Music:
I Like to Sing (Justine Clarke CD) – buy from ABC Shop or, if you strike it lucky like we did, your local supermarket
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Do your ears hang low?
You’re probably all familiar with this song. Do your ears hang low? Do they wobble to and fro?
But we sing a fabulous version that has some extra verses that cover your nose and lips as well. Another song you can make up your own actions to, getting your faces involved in the fun.
Music:
There’s a Bear in there… (Play School CD – includes other songs from this program) – buy from ABC Shop
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Michael Finnegan
After messing around with the other parts of the face, we land on the chin with Michael Finnegan. You can ‘grow whiskers’ with your fingers, sprouting them from your chin and then whisking them away when the wind blows in again.
Something like this (with more thanks to my beautiful assistant, and to her gorgeous assistant too):
Music:
The Fantastic Big Book of Children’s Songs (sheet music – includes other songs from this program) – buy from Booktopia or Book Depository
…It’s Play School (Play School CD – includes other songs from this program) – buy from ABC Shop
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Open, shut them
From the faces down to the hands. We now sing a song about the hands and all the things they can do. All without mentioning the word ‘hands’ once. Pretty neat, huh?
Once again, the song dictates the actions. Open your hands, then shut them. Clap, and lay them in your lap. Creep them, then sit them on your chin. Shake them, roll them, then blow a kiss. All fun, and all easy for all ages.
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Can you point (your fingers and do the twist)?
Once you’ve finished singing about your hands, you move on to what’s on the ends of them. Your fingers! Time to stand up, shake off the cobwebs and start doing the twist.
It goes without saying that kids of all ages absolutely love this tune from The Wiggles. And after sitting down for most of the program so far dancing with your faces and hands, it’s great to stand up and twist around.
And of course, the second verse invites you to stand on one foot and shake your hands. Which leads perfectly to the next song on the program.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZK6N5sjBx8
Music:
Hot Potatoes (The Wiggles CD) – buy from ABC Shop, Kmart, Big W, your local supermarket, and pretty much anywhere that sells things for kids
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Standing on one leg
Every week, after pointing our fingers, doing the twist, standing on one foot and shaking our hands, I’d ask the kids if they wanted to try standing on one leg for a bit longer. They always shouted, “YES!”
This is a song you could leave out of your program if it’s running overtime. But it’s tremendous fun, and a great excuse to listen to John from ol’ skool Play School.
Music:
There’s a Bear in there… (Play School CD – includes other songs from this program) – buy from ABC Shop
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You can stamp your feet
The last dancing song. In this song, you stamp your feet, knock your knees, dance around to the music and then FREEZE when it stops.
To be honest, when I first presented this body parts program, I wasn’t sure how this song was going to go. We have a lot of youngsters in the group and I didn’t think they’d get the ‘freeze’ concept. But they did. To varying degrees (I’m pretty sure my son thinks that ‘freeze’ means ‘get into exactly the same position as your sister’), but eventually everyone would stop moving and hold their pose until the music started again. A super fun penultimate song.
Music:
…It’s Play School (Play School CD – includes other songs from this program) – buy from ABC Shop
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This little piggy
Time to wind down with the last song/rhyme. Sit down, free the toes, start with the big one, and start the rhyme. We just recited this one together (twice: once for each foot), but there is a song version if you’re interested.
Little tip: you might want to let parents know that they’ll need access to toes for this music group program. If your little girl is anything like mine, she might want to wear sock-pants (tights), but you’ll probably want to stick to socks for easier removal.
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And that’s where our program about the body ends.
If you’d like to include additional songs, or wish to change the program slightly (for example, you may wish to sing Do your ears hang low? without the additional verses), here are some other songs I considered while putting it together:
- Little Peter Rabbit
- Ch-ch-ch-ch (the toothbrush song)
- You can count on me (on your fingers)
- Do you put your hat on your… (foot/knee/elbow)?
- The Hokey Pokey
- Up, down, turn around
That last one, Up, down, turn around, is a great replacement for Head, shoulders, knees and toes if you’d like to do the program in the opposite order and work your way up the body.
So, are you ready to host your own toddler music group?
I hope so! Good luck. Let me know if you have any queries, and please let me know how it all goes! I’d love to hear all about it.
Do you host a toddler music group? Do you have any insights or suggestions to share?
Cute pics. Bet they loved doing that….
They did! At first, my daughter didn’t want to, so I was contorting one of her dolls and taking pics, but then she jumped in. So of course, little man jumped in for his favourite song too!
They must have a ball doing this! I wonder if I couldn’t integrate some of this into playgroup…
Definitely. That’s how this whole thing started! People who meet me for the first time always guess that I’m a primary school teacher. SO. TOTALLY. NOT. But very flattering.
Too cute. We had lots of dancing and singing when our three were little. Justine Clarke wasn’t on the scene then but we covered most of the classics and threw in the occasional Wiggles and Hi Five song.
Nothing beats the classics! We haven’t gone to Hi-5 but an occasional Peppa Pig song has made it into the program!
These songs are all firm favourites around our place – I’m going to incorporate this program into our next playdate 🙂
Great idea! It doesn’t have to be a formalised music group session at all. Would love to hear how it goes. x
All very cute. I don’t have kids but when my niece (now 18) was little she loved PlaySchool’s – Der Glumph (said the little green frog); and We’re Going on a Bear Hunt!
Oh yes, they’re big favourites! There’ll be a bear-themed post soon enough. And Der Glumph is hilarious! Have you heard the extended version with five animals? My favourite verse is the turtles. We all know turtles go COWABUNGA, DUDE!
Just quietly, I think you’ve just described my new workout schedule… x
You read my mind – future post titled ‘How to work out with the kids in tow’ features a LOT of these songs!
Open Shut them is a favourite with my boys and it’s all fun until they start actually trying to bite each other’s fingers!
Oh no! Yes, that would spoil the fun pretty quickly.
What a cute little toddler rave. All this needs is glow sticks, happy pants and sherbet.
Haha! Love it. Will suggest it at the next music group session.
I am struggling to sit still! I will have to do this session with my 19 month old. There are a couple of her favourites here
I hope she enjoyed it! Would love an update.
What a captive audience you have… Love it
Yes, they loved this one. It was one of those programs that no-one had to warm up to. Straight into it from week one.
So much fun! WHat about Dr Knickerbocker, always gets my kids moving.
GREAT suggestion! Thank you so much. And… now it’s in my head.
Open shut them is my absolute favourite!
My daughter’s too, Jodi. The screams at DO NOT LET THEM IN, oh my goodness!
How cute are your little assistants?! Without realising it, I’m hosting a toddler music group nearly every week. The girls and I love getting down to these tunes 🙂 Dancing face is a crowd favourite here.
Excellent! Glad to hear it, because I remember you saying you were too shy to do this. x
I’m living in hokey pokey hell – it’s Mr TT’s new favourite! Great songs Em – I bet the kids have an absolute ball. My tornadoes also love a song from Sam Moran called “I’ve got” that is good for a boogie. “I’ve got two eyes to see you…and I’ve got two ear to hear too…I’ve got two arms to reach out wide…and I’ve got two hips to sway side to side…I’ve got everything I need to keep the blues away..” Yes – I know all the words!
I am a bad person who has not checked out much of Sam Moran’s stuff despite absolutely adoring his voice. Must rectify that, pronto. Sounds like a great song.
Oh this takes me back, Em! And I always had a soft spot for Captain Feathersword 🙂
He’s a cracker! Gotta love someone so willing to make fun of themselves. Over and over and over again!
I almost wish I still had little ones, just to do a music group. Sounds like you had lots of fun. What is your next theme?
Good question! We’re currently doing an emotions-themed series, but I think the next one I’ll post on here will be alphabet, bear songs or things you find in the sky.
Way. too. adorable. What lovely memories your kids will have when they grow older of having so much fun singing songs and doing actions with their Mum. Beautiful. Xx
Thanks Sandra! I hope so! They really love it all so I hope it just inspires them to keep music in their lives in some shape or form.
Adorable photos to demonstrate the moves . Thanks for sharing Em, x
Thanks Jules! You’re welcome.