Rhymes designed to get kids up and moving are a staple of any storytime. These aren’t quite Fingerplays (but there may be a lot of overlap). Sometimes they can include Flannel or Magnet pieces. Rhymes are often (but not always) shorter than a song, as they are often used as short breaks to get some wiggles out between longer material. They often develop fine and gross motor skills, practice following directions, and can also connect to any number of other concepts like counting, letter sounds, animal sounds, and more.
I separated Baby Bounce Rhymes, designed for babies in arms or in laps, into a different post. Find those here.
Rhymes with Problematic and Racist Origins
You won’t find many nursery rhymes on this list. The problems with Five Little Monkeys (which derives from Shortin Bread) and Ten Little Indians are talked about fairly frequently. I don’t regularly see Eeny Meeny Miny Moe used in storytimes but, just in case you do use that tune, know that some of the original words were racial slurs. Do You Ears Hang Low has a dark history. You may think differently of Shoo Fly Don’t Bother Me when you read Urban Dictionary’s definition of “fly in the buttermilk.”
Beyond the songs that had racial slurs in their origins–stop and think for a minute about the words in Baa Baa Black Sheep or I’ve Been Working on the Railroad. Goosey Goosey Gander made me pause when I first heard it in a Mother Goose on the Loose storytime–and the suggested origins of that rhyme don’t make me want to teach it to babies and toddlers.
Before I get further into this conversation, check out this wonderful document with many sources cited regarding the history of some of the songs and rhymes mentioned above and more. I’m sure there are more popular tunes I have missed too. Please comment below, and I’m happy to add and adjust.
I understand that there can be value in the rhythm of Mother Goose and other “traditional” nursery rhymes–but frankly, I grew up only learning a handful of these, and I don’t think I lost much of my childhood from not growing up with the Mother Goose canon. There are plenty of other songs that can teach kids how to count or practice identifying body parts–and once you become aware of the origins of certain songs, they are easy enough to avoid.
But what about the familiar tunes (changing those words)? For me, this comes down to the grandmother in one of my in-person Baby Storytimes who proudly sang “Indian” instead of “finger” when we sang “Ten Little Fingers” to the tune of “Ten Little Indians.” She told her little one that she was so excited to sing a song she grew up with–so she sang the words she knew instead of the words on the screen behind me. The short answer is–let these rhymes–and their tunes–go.
I struggle with this just as I am sure some of you do. Put Your Hands Up High is my hardest rhyme to let go of because I love the motions so much, and it is part of my default, go-to storytime routine. But, it is to the tune of Do Your Ears Hang Low. I’m sure that other problematic tunes have slipped through too in my work–on this post and others on this blog. But there are plenty of other rhymes out there–on this blog and many others–that none of us have an excuse for continuing to use these problematic works.
Looking for more storytime tools? Check out our Storytime Resources page for links to more content.
Movement Rhymes
Baby Hokey Pokey
You put your arms up,
You put your arms down,
You put your arms up,
And you wave them all around
You wiggle, wiggle, wiggle,
And you tickle, tickle, tickle
That’s how the baby pokey goes (clap along)
Yeah! (arms in the air)
Continue with: legs, whole baby
Bananas Unite
Bananas unite!
Peel bananas.
Peel, peel bananas.
Peel bananas.
Peel, peel bananas.
Continue with: Chop, Mash, Eat
GOOOOOO BANANAS!
Bubble Bubble Pop
One little red fish
Swimming in the water,
Swimming in the water,
Swimming in the water.
One little red fish
Swimming in the water,
Bubble, bubble, bubble, bubble (roll arms)
POP! (clap)
Bubble, Bubble, Pop: Baby Shark
One yellow baby shark, Swimming in the water,
Swimming in the water, Swimming in the water.
One yellow baby shark, swimming in the water,
Bubble, bubble, bubble, bubble pop!
Continue with:
One blue daddy shark
One pink momma shark
Clap, Clap, Clap Your Hands
Clap, clap, clap your hands,
Clap them now with me.
Clap your hands, let me see!
Clap them now with me.
Continue with:
Tap your knees
Shake your feet
Tickle your tummy
Clap Them
Clap them, clap them, clap them so.
Clap them high!
Clap them low.
Clap them left.
Clap them right.
Clap them, clap them, out of sight!
Continue with: roll them, shake them
Clap Your Feet
Clap, clap, clap your feet.
Clap your feet together.
Clap, clap, clap your feet.
Clap your feet together.
Clap them high!
Clap them low.
Clap them fast!
Clap them slow.
Clap, clap, clap your feet.
Clap your feet together.
Clap, clap, clap your feet.
Clap your feet together.
Cool Cat Boogie
Slide right, shake your tail!
Slide left, shake your tail!
Now clap, clap, clap.
Jump front!
Rock and roll!
Jump back!
Rock and roll!
AIR GUITAR!
Dino Ditty
A hungry dino walking down the street
Singing dino ditty ditty dum ditty do
He’s looking for something good to eat
Singing dino ditty ditty dum ditty do
He’s big! (He’s big!)
He’s strong! (He’s strong!)
Won’t be hungry very long…
Do You Like to Jump Around
Do you like to jump around?
Jump around,
Jump around?
Do you like to jump around?
Jump and now let’s FREEZE!
Continue with:
Roll
Clap
Shake
Jump
Five Little Eggs
Give it a whack, (clap)
Hear it crack, (hand behind ear)
Drop it in the middle, (pat hands on your lap)
One egg frying on the griddle.
Galoomp Went the Little Green Frog
Galoomp (hop) went the little green frog one day
Galoomp (hop) went the little green frog
Galoomp (hop) went the little green frog one day
And his eyes went blink blink blink
Repeat with new line added on each time:
Arms went flop, flop, flop
Feet went splash, splash, splash
Head and Shoulders
Head and shoulders baby 1, 2, 3
Head and shoulders baby 1, 2, 3
Head and shoulders,
Head and shoulders,
Head and shoulders baby 1, 2, 3
Continue with:
Knees and ankles
Tummy and back
Fingers and toes
Shake them all
Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes (audiation)
Head, shoulders, knees, and toes, knees and toes!
Head, shoulders, knees, and toes, knees and toes!
And eyes and ears and mouth and nose!
Head, shoulders, knees, and toes, knees and toes!
Horns and Fangs
Horns and fangs, knees and claws,
Knees and claws, knees and claws,
Horns and fangs, knees and claws,
Eyes, ears, tail, and paws!
I Wake Up My Hands
I wake up my hands with a clap, clap, clap,
Clap, clap, clap,
Clap, clap, clap,
I wake up my hands with a clap, clap, clap,
And I wiggle my wiggles away!
Continue with:
Feet…stomp, stomp, stomp
Belly…beep, beep, beep
Body…wiggle, wiggle, wiggle
If You’re a Pigeon
If you’re a pigeon and you know it, flap your wings!
If you’re a pigeon and you know it, flap your wings!
If you’re a pigeon and you know it,
And you really want to show it!
If you’re a pigeon and you know it, flap your wings!
Shake your tail (shake, shake)
Eat your cookies (nom, nom)
Drive the bus (zoom, zoom)
If You’re Fancy and You Know It
If you’re fancy and you know it give a curtsey!
If you’re fancy and you know it give a curtsey!
If you’re fancy and you know it and you really want to show it,
If you’re fancy and you know it give a curtsey!
Continue with:
Take a Bow
Wave to All Your Fans
Shout Ooh La La!
If You’re Ready for the New Year
If you’re ready for the new year, clap your hands!
If you’re ready for the new year, clap your hands
If you’re ready for the new year,
If you’re ready for the new year,
If you’re ready for the new year, clap your hands!
Continue with:
Stomp Your Feet (Stomp, Stomp)
Wave Bye-Bye (Bye Bye 2020)
Give a Shout (Happy New Year!)
I’m a Little Dump Truck
I’m great big dump truck
Full of rocks.
Here is my engine.
Here is my box.
When the crew is ready,
Here me shout,
“Pull the lever and dump me out!”
Shhhhhhhhh!
Magic Butterflies
Five fuzzy caterpillars spinning cocoons
Hoping spring will come real soon!
With a little bit of magic
And the warm sunshine–
Clap, clap, clap, there’s a butterfly!
Mix a Cake
Mix the batter, stir the batter
Shake some flour in
Mix the batter, stir the batter
Pour it in a tin
Sprinkle in some chocolate chips
Put it in to bake
Then open wide the oven door
And out comes the cake!
Mix a Pancake
Mix a pancake.
Stir a pancake.
Pop it in a pan.
Fry a pancake.
Toss a pancake.
Catch it if you can!
Move Your Arms
Move your arms up and down,
Up and down. Up and down.
Move your arms up and down,
Just like me!
Move your hands and clap, clap, clap.
Clap, clap, clap. Clap, clap, clap.
Move your hands and clap, clap, clap,
Just like me!
Continue with: feet…stomp, body…up and down
My Heart Is A Zoo
Sometimes my heart wants to clap like a seal.
Sometimes my heart wants to hop like a bunny.
Sometimes my heart wants to jump like a frog.
Sometimes my heart wants to roar like a lion.
Sometimes my heart wants to fly like a blue jay.
One, Two, Peek-A-Boo!
One, two, peek-a-boo!
You see me, and I see you.
I see your nose; yes I do!
Time to play peek-a-boo!
Continue with: Hands, Feet, Belly
Open Shut Them
Open, shut them.
Open, shut them.
Let your hands go clap, clap, clap!
Open, shut them.
Opem, shut them.
Drop them in your lap, lap, lap!
Walk them, walk them,
Walk them, walk them,
Right up to your chin, chin, chin!
Open up your little mouth,
But do not let them in!
Pinkalicious Turn Around
Pinkalicious, Pinkalicious turn around.
Pinkalicious, Pinkalicious touch the ground.
Pinkalicious, Pinkalicious jump up high!
Pinkalicious, Pinkalicious touch the sky.
Pinkalicious, Pinkalicious bend down low.
Pinkalicious, Pinkalicious find your nose.
Pinkalicious, Pinkalicious dance to the beat.
Pinkalicious, Pinkalicious take a seat!
Put the Beat On
Put the beat on your toes, on your toes.
Put the beat on your toes, on your toes.
Put the beat on your toes,
Put the beat on your toes,
Put the beat on your toes,
Now we stop!
Continue with:
Tummy
In your hands (clap)
Roll Roll Sugar Babies
Roll roll sugar babies,
Roll roll sugar babies,
Push and pull
And clap, clap, clap!
Roll roll sugar babies,
Roll roll sugar babies,
Push and pull
And clap, clap, clap!
Roll up high!
Roll down low.
Roll real fast!
Roll real slow.
Roll roll sugar babies,
Roll roll sugar babies,
Push and pull
And clap, clap, clap!
Roly, Poly
Roly Poly, Roly Poly,
Up, up, up!
Up, up, up!
Continue with: Down, Out, In, Fast, Slow
Row, Drive, Fly
Row, row, row your boat (sway)
Gently down the stream
Merrily, merrily, merrily
Life is but a dream.
Drive, drive, drive your car
So quickly down the street
Merrily, merrily, merrily
Driving can’t be beat!
Fly, fly, fly your plane
Fly your plane so high
Merrily, merrily, merrily
Way up in the sky!
Chug, chug, chug the train
Goes quickly down the track
Merrily, merrily, merrily
Hear it click click clack!
Slowly, Slowly
Slowly, slowly, very slowly,
Creeped the garden snail.
Slowly, slowly, very slowly
Up the wooden rail.
Quickly, quickly, very quickly
Ran the little mouse.
Quickly, quickly, very quickly,
Round about the house!
Show Me How You Move
Show me how your hands can move,
Your hands can move,
Your hands can move,
Show me how your hands can move,
Now show me how they STOP!
Continue with:
Feet…stomp
Elbows…bend
Body…jump
There Was a Crocodile
There was a crocodile,
An orangutan,
A flying eagle,
And a silvery fish.
A bunny,
A beaver,
A crazy elephant,
Da na na na na na
Da na na na na na
This is Big
This is big big big.
This is small small small.
This is short short short.
This is tall tall tall.
This is fast fast fast.
This is slow slow slow.
This is yes yes yes yes.
This is no no no no.
Tiny Tim
I have a friendly frog.
His name is Tiny Tim!
I put him in the bathtub,
To see if he could swim.
He drank up all the water!
He ate up all the soap!
And now he’s home sick in bed,
With bubbles in his throat!
Bubble bubble bubble
Bubble bubble POP!
Bubble bubble bubble
Bubble bubble POP!
Repeat with tiny frog and giant frog.
Up, Down, Turn Around
Up, down,
Turn around.
Touch the sky!
And touch the ground.
Wiggle fingers,
Wiggle toes,
Wiggle shoulders,
Wave hello!
We Clap and We Clap and We Stop
We clap and we clap and we stop
We clap and we clap and we stop
We clap and we clap and we clap
We clap and we clap and we clap and we STOP!
Continue with: Wave, Jump, Roll
Well Hello Little Baby
Well hello little baby, can you touch your nose,
Touch your nose,
Touch your nose?
Well hello little baby, can you touch your nose?
Touch your nose.
Continue with:
Clap your hands
Stomp your feet
Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle
Where Is Big Toe
Where is big toe? Where is big toe?
Here I am! Here I am!
Wiggle waggle big toe.
Wiggle waggle big toe.
Here I am. Here I am.
Continue with:
bendy, bendy elbow
squishy, squishy tummy
happy, clappy two hands
Where Oh Where
Where oh where are baby’s fingers,
Where oh where are baby’s toes,
Where oh where is baby’s belly button,
Round and round it goes!
(tickle)
Additional verse, not shown:
Where oh where are baby’s eyes,
Where oh where is baby’s nose,
Where oh where is baby’s belly button,
Round and round it goes!
(tickle)
Zoom Zoom Zoom
Zoom, zoom, zoom,
We’re going to the moon.
Zoom, zoom, zoom,
We’ll get there very soon.
If you want to take a trip,
Climb aboard my rocket ship.
Zoom, zoom, zoom,
We’re going to the moon.
In 5, 4, 3, 2, 1…
BLAST OFF!
Zoom, Zoom, Zoom A New Year’s Coming Soon
Zoom, Zoom, Zoom
The year is changing soon.
Zoom zoom zoom
The year is changing soon.
If you want to make a wish,
Hold it tight inside your fist!
Zoom zoom zoom
The year is changing soon.
5, 4, 3, 2, 1, Happy New Year!