Fine motor development, Gross motor development
Toddlers practice physical movements named in a song.
Be Prepared: Learn the song “Shake My Sillies Out,” which is available on the internet and other resources, such as “Raffi in Concert.” Singing the song (versus using a recording of the song) helps you use movements that are appropriate for children in your group, regulate the pace of the song, and clearly say movements that may be difficult for children to hear on a recording. You may wish to use carpet squares to help toddlers stay in their personal space.
Begin an informal gathering with a familiar song. Playfully ask toddlers if they have any wiggles or jiggles inside themselves! Invite children to engage in several movements (one movement at a time) that helps them shake out their wiggles. Lead toddlers in movements included in the song, such as shaking a leg, stretching an arm, and yawning widely.
Explain that you will sing a song that helps us practice getting our sillies out. Sing the song so all toddlers can hear you. Lead toddlers in motions, such as shaking and clapping. Use motions that toddlers in your room can readily do (see What to Look For).
Generally toddlers are interested in spirited songs and activities. To help children calm their bodies and minds after shaking their sillies out, encourage toddlers to give themselves a hug at the end of the song. Suggest toddlers hold up their fingers and pretend to blow out candles.
Two different types of toddler actions are important to monitor during the activity. One is the ease with which children engage in the gross motor skills you include in the song. Provide more time or practice or adaptations for movements that seem challenging. Look for hints of emerging movements that you can include in the song today or at a later point. Example: At approximately 22 months of age, many toddlers have the strength, balance, and coordination skills for jumping in place with two feet together. Include jumping in the song if you see evidence of this emerging skill. Encourage toddlers who are not ready to jump to reach up high.
The other important set of actions to observe is toddlers’ skills in controlling their behaviors. The activity supports the development of self-control by encouraging children to follow a request, wait for a signal (words in your song) to start or stop a specific action, and to move in a specific way. You may want to provide additional time for toddlers to act as requested and/or repeat the request.
Extra support
Enrichment
Fine motor development, Gross motor development
Toddlers practice three different sets of physical movements.
Be Prepared: Learn the thumb song with hand motions described in the activity below. Arrange the colored mats or carpet squares in a large circle to allow for plenty of movement. Cue up recorded music just before you start the activity. The activity has three separate segments: clapping, wiggling thumbs, and walking around a circle of mats or carpet squares. At this age, it is not suggested that you wait until all toddlers are paying attention to introduce a new segment. Promptly begin a new segment. Toddlers will turn their attention to the activity when they hear or see action.
[Invite toddlers to an informal gathering. Ask each toddler to choose one of the colored placemats or carpet squares. Toddlers will use the place mat as their spot to sit later in the activity.
Begin a clapping rhythm as soon as two toddlers arrive at the gathering area. Encourage toddlers to join you in energetic clapping. Continue clapping as you sing a song using toddlers’ names. (Tune: “Skip to My Lou”)]
We see Jordan, clap our hands
We see Angel, clap our hands
We see Xavier, clap our hands
Clap for all our friends
Clap and smile for friends we know
Clap up high and way down low
Clap along, you can too
Clap along, that’s what we do
[Repeat or improvise as you wish until three or four toddlers are gathered.]
Let’s sit down on our colored mats. We used our hands to clap! One part of our hand is our thumb.
We can open our hand wide to see our thumb. We can close our fingers and keep our thumb on the side.
[Demonstrate closing your fingers and keeping your thumb out. Give time for toddlers to follow your example.]
Let’s wiggle one of our thumbs.
[Explain that you will sing a song for thumbs! Start the song right away. Encourage toddlers to imitate your action. (Tune: “I’m a Little Tea Pot”)]
Oh, my thumb is up
[Thumb up]
and my thumb is down.
[Thumbs down]
Watch my thumb dance around.
[Move thumb in a big circular motion]
Dancing on my shoulders,
[Thumb moves on opposite shoulder]
dancing on my head,
[Move thumb on top of head]
Dancing on my knees,
[Move thumb on opposite knee]
then tuck it into bed.
[Close hand with thumb hidden]
[Repeat the song and actions if appropriate. Thank toddlers for focusing on the thumb song!
Invite toddlers to stand. Draw attention to the mats or carpet squares. Explain that we can walk around our mats while clapping.
Lead toddlers around the circle of mats/squares one time, saying a simple phrase, such as:
We walk and clap
We walk and clap
All the way around.
Walk and clap
Walk and clap
[Continue the phrase until you
complete one time around the circle]
And then we sit right down.
Now we can clap and walk around the mats with music. Let’s all stand up to walk around the mats and clap. We will stop walking and clapping when the music stops.
[Begin the recorded music. Clap and walk around the circle with toddlers.]
[Widen the circle of mats to create a larger activity space that prevents crowding.
Approach the walk-and-clap activity as a little celebration just for today. Add your own special touch to make the activity fun for toddlers!
Stop the music and remind toddlers to sit down on a mat. Help toddlers get calm with a relaxing song or other calming technique.]
Today we moved in different ways. We clapped for our friends. We danced our thumbs all around. Then we walked around the circle and clapped our hands.
As the Informal Gathering begins, toddlers will be excited to clap as more children join the gathering. At this age you are likely to hear spontaneous exclamations, such as a toddler shouting when a friend is near. Simply respond, by saying “Yes, here is our friend Emmanuel. We clap for Emmanuel.”
If this is an introduction to walking around the gathering area, you might begin by practicing with toddlers simply walking around a circle on colored mats. Add clapping action at a later time.
Being really prepared for the activity will help you create a fun, energetic skill-building experience. With intentional planning, toddlers will gain experience getting excited and calming. The activity supports Self-Regulation.
Extra support
Enrichment
Fine motor development, Gross motor development
Toddlers practice four physical movements repeatedly requested in a song.
Be Prepared: Learn the tune, words, and actions for the “Teddy Bear” song. Arrange carpet squares where toddlers may sit.
Open the session by singing a familiar song or rhyme that invites children to join a gathering. Explain that we will do actions requested in the “Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear” song, such as turn, touch, reach, bend. Demonstrate each action and encourage toddlers to imitate your movements. Some children may be familiar with the actions and rhyme, and would be eager to demonstrate for others.
Say or sing the words and lead toddlers in the actions. Use modified lyrics for the last verse by saying or singing “brush your hair” instead of “say your prayers.”
Close the activity with a favorite song or finger play.
Pay attention to the ease with which toddlers do the actions, so you can pace the song to match skill levels. Toddlers will learn four actions in the song with repeated experience. It is helpful for toddlers to hear the words and see your actions as they participate. Toddlers will enjoy a sense of satisfaction as they complete the four actions.
As a follow-up activity on another day, toddlers may enjoy interacting with you and a teddy bear toy during a play period or other informal gathering. Toddlers may wish to teach the bear what to do by demonstrating the actions.
More teddy bear actions for toddlers to imitate are found in the book Jesse Bear, What Will You Wear by Nancy White Carlstrom. Toddlers may like to demonstrate what Jesse Bear is doing on each page, such as eating, washing hands, and dressing. The book also shows the little bear on his back with legs in the air.
Extra support
Enrichment
Materials Needed: colored mats, rainbow scarves, basket, mirror, paint, soft bear toys
Encourage toddlers to explore uses of the colored mats by placing them in an accessible location. Put rainbow scarves in a basket near a mirror to encourage toddlers to move with the scarves. At a low art table, encourage toddlers to make handprints on paper by painting one thumb and their fingers. Provide soft bear toys in the dramatic play area. Arrange figures of bears or teddy bears with related books.
In addition to the thumb actions in Option 2, children of all ages will enjoy “Where is Thumbkin.” Infants may simply wave their hands as you sing. Preschool and older children will enjoy the challenge of isolating each finger.
For more challenge and fun, encourage children to move toes. Invite children to remove their shoes and put their socks inside the shoes. Sing “If You’re Happy and You Know It” and lead children in the actions. Add a novel verse about toes. Example: “If you’re happy and you know it wiggle your toes.”
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