Rhymes and Stories

Rhymes with Energetic Actions

Grand Old Duke of York

For smaller babies, it is fun to hold them in your arms and march around the room while singing. Babies enjoy the action of being held up in the air and then brought down to the floor. Or, if that's a bit energetic, try sitting your baby on your lap facing you, lifting them into the air when the Duke marches up the hill and then bring them back down onto your lap again when the Duke marches back down. For years to come your child will love marching around to this rhyme.

Oh the Grand Old Duke of York, he had ten thousand men.
He marched them up to the top of the hill and he marched them down again.
And when they were up they were up.
And when they were down they were down.
And when they were only halfway up, they were neither up nor down.

Sleeping Bunnies

This is a firm favourite for babies and any older children you may have. Lie your baby down and encourage them to shut their eyes and pretend to be sleeping while you sing the first part of the verse. At "wake up bunnies!" get them up and bouncing around or your lap or the floor. Encourage your baby to stay still like a statue when you say "stop!" Repeat over and over; this never seems to get boring for young children.

See those little bunnies sleeping till it's nearly noon?
Shall we go and gently wake them with our merry tune?
Oh so still. Are they ill?
WAKE UP BUNNIES!
Hop little bunnies, hop, hop, hop!
Hop little bunnies, hop, hop, hop!
Hop little bunnies, hop, hop, hop!
Hop then stop!

Dingle Dangle Scarecrow

Another great rhyme for starting off quietly and ending up energetically using lots of actions. It also teaches babies about different parts of their body. Start off encouraging your baby to lie down and shut their eyes as if sleeping, but then to jump up when the scarecrow does and shake their head, hands and feet.

When all the cows are sleeping and the sun has gone to bed.
Up jumped a scarecrow and this is what he said.
I'm a dingle dangle scarecrow with a flippy floppy hat.
I can shake my hands like this, I can shake my feet like that.

When all the hens are roosting and the moon's behind the clouds.
Up jumped a scarecrow and shouted very loud.
I'm a dingle dangle scarecrow with a flippy floppy hat.
I can shake my hands like this, I can shake my feet like that.

Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes

A song to help babies learn about their body parts, from the top of their head to the tips of their toes. Sit your baby in front of you, or if they are able to, have them standing in front of you. Take their hands and help them touch their heads, shoulders, knees and toes, the side of their eyes, their ears, mouth and nose. Repeat the verse getting faster each time until you can't go any faster!

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.

Humpty Dumpty

For older babies who can hold up their heads, you can hold their hands and have them falling off your lap.

Humpty Dumpty sat on the wall,
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.
All the king's horses and all the king's men,
Couldn't put Humpty together again.

Jack be Nimble

Place an unlit candle on the floor. Babies adore being jumped over it. As babies get older they can learn to jump over it themselves. You can always replace the name Jack with your baby's name too, to make it personal to them.

Jack be nimble,
Jack be quick,
Jack jump over the candlestick.


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