Sing Along

As an early childhood educator, songs and circle times are a key factor in running a fun and creative classroom. Although it’s fun to learn and teach new songs, there are a few staples that always find their way back to our group time. There is just something to be said about sharing the same songs, with your child that you shared with your parents, and, they shared with theirs…

Row, Row, Row, Your Boat

1. Sit with your legs stretched out in front of you.

2. Put your baby at your knees facing you.

3. Hold your baby’s hands and, lean back then go forward as you sing.

Lyrics:

“Row, row, row, your boat, gently down the stream Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily Life is but a dream” (And repeat as often as they like!)

Itsy Bitsy Spider

1. Line 1: Touch your left thumb to your right middle finger, then you right middle finger to your left thumb (and repeat, to craft your “spider”).
2. Line 2: Make rain drops with your fingers.
3. Line 3: Draw your fingers together above your head creating a semi circle with your arms.
4. Line 4: Repeat actions from line 1.

Lyrics:

“The itsy bitsy spider went up the water spout Down came the rain and washed the spider out Out came the sun and dried up all the rain And the itsy bitsy spider went up the spout again…”

Nadejda Lekosky is the child services coordinator at The Informed Parent, a pregnancy and parenting center in Toronto. Visit www.theinformedparent.com for a list of their services and workshops.