Fingerplay - Songs for Fun and Learning

Tom loves fingerplay songs like "the Itsy Bitsy Spider" and "the Wheels on the Bus." He already knows the music and actions to about six songs. They get him so excited and it is a great way for children to learn pre-school concepts.

Recently, Tom was working with his occupational therapist and she said open and he took his hands and put them together and then pulled them apart. She was shocked and asked if he knew sign language for open. I said no, but then I realized that he did know the hand motions for open and close from "the Wheels on the Bus." It is impressive to see that the concepts learned in a song can be applied elsewhere by a child that's not even two!

Itsy Bitsy Spider at the top of the spout!

Check out the fingerplay song index on the Songs for Teaching website. It's a great resource in case you have forgotten the lyrics to your old favorites or you want to learn some new ones. This pdf is another good resource.

Tom's favorite fingerplay songs

• Itsy Bitsy Spider
• Wheels on the Bus
• Patty Cake
• A Sailor Went to Sea
• Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes
• She'll be Coming Around the Mountain
• Row, Row, Row your boat
• Ring Around the Rosy 

No matter your child's age or ability, you can find ways to adapt these songs and motions for your child to enjoy. Tom plays Ring Around the Rosy by laying on his back and I grab his feet and spin him on the floor while I sing. When it's time to "all fall down" I put his legs back down. It's simple, but he loves it!