Playsongs blog ~ where we share songs, news and views 

Three young hedgehogs come out on a dark starry night. But what are those scary sounds?

Mouse barley! That smooth-rough grass. Do children still put a seed head up their sleeve and let it magically climb all the way up to the top all on its own? Here's another little game to play for a toddler. Rest a head of mouse barley in the palm of your hand, smooth surface pointing away from you. As you say the rhyme, stroke your finger along the 'mouse', which will start to work its way towards your fingertips. When the 'cat' says 'meow', use your thumb and forefinger to

Here are the candles, red, white and blue, to put on a birthday cake for you.... play this tickle-puff rhyme whenever you have a toddler&#39

Sing this little finger play when Christmas is approaching. Sing it very quietly and count one finger for each day that's left. On the 24th, wake up Santa as loudly as you like! Sing to the tune of Frere Jacques: Santa's sleeping, (close eyes and put hands to cheek) Santa's sleeping, Hear him snore (snore), Hear him snore (snore), Count the days to Christmas, (touch the tip of each finger on each beat) Count the days to Christmas, Just 10 more, (waggle all fingers) Just 10 m

A finger play for toddlers or a lift for a little baby. Here's how. Five little peas in a pea pod pressed (hold up one fist tightly closed) First one grew (uncurl thumb) Then another (uncurl index finger) Then all the rest! (uncurl all other fingers) They grew bigger (hold hands, palms together, and gradually separate them) And bigger (spread hands wider apart) And bigger (and wider...) Till POP! (CLAP!.)` The pea pod burst! With little babies, hug them to you and rise to st

There was a little mouse who sat in a chair, When the cat said 'Meow' he ran right up there!'

A fingerplay to tickle a toddler with - A little frog hides in a hole and leaps out to give you a surprise.

A finger play from Playsongs: Action Songs and Rhymes for Babies and Toddlers. Performed by Kevin Graal, music accompaniment by Stephen Chad

Hands can clap, rub, swish, rustle, click, fingersnap,scrape... explore all the sounds you can make with this little play rhyme.

A gentle little rhyme and song about hedgehogs. Play the fingerplay instructions to hoot like an owl and 'boo' like a ghost - then m

Sit with baby or toddler facing you resting on your raised knees. Walk your fingers up from his toes to his knees and fly your hands like seagulls in the air. Climb your fingers down to his tummy, and wriggle them in the 'waves' or 'wash' the flats of your hands back and forth. Slowly and tiredly climb your fingers back up to his knees and run them quickly back down to cuddle his feet to finish. Sing it to the tune of 'What shall we do with the drunken sailor'. A finger walk,

A favourite traditional finger play, action rhyme. With very little children, play it very, very slowly to help them manage the actions, and with even littler ones, stroke their individual fingers and draw their hands apart to clap them between yours on POP! ​ Five little peas in a pea pod pressed, (hold fist tightly closed) First one grew, (raise thumb) then another, (uncurl index finger) Then all the rest. (open up all fingers) They got bigger and bigger and bigger, (place