Playsongs Bounce and RhymeTime 2
Dear Librarians and Baby Song Facilitators,
Here is a second sample session of songs and rhymes, designed especially for librarians, delivering interactive play songs and rhymes for babies and toddlers with their carers.
We hope this collection helps bring even more joy and engagement to your Baby Bounce and Rhymetime sessions, which we know already contribute so much fun to a baby or toddler's first experience of libraries.
How to use this collection
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Flexible structure: feel free to use all or any part of this session. It is designed to fit into a 30-40 minute timeframe.
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Repetition is key: babies thrive on repetition, so we encourage you to sing or say the song or rhyme not once but a number of times. Our songs and rhymes are deliberately chosen for their brevity so they're easy to pick up and lend themselves to repetition. This helps babies and toddlers to absorb the patterns of the actions, words and sounds and to get increasing enjoyment with each repeat.
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Pace yourself: it's better to cover fewer items at a slower pace and repeat them, rather than rushing through the entire collection.
Session flow
This session follows a natural arc of energy and activity, starting with low and slow, building to higher energy and faster pace, and then winding down to a calm and intimate conclusion.
Audio
We've assembled a new album to support this Bounce and Rhymetime session ~ but it's not a replacement for your voice. Use it to familiarise yourself with the material then make the songs your own. Change the words, change the use, and have fun with your own voices.
Welcoming the group
It's time to say Hello
The clock says tick tock,
The clock says tick tock,
The clock says tick tock,
It's time to say HELLO!
.
Hello, babies,
Hello, toddlers,
Hello, everyone,
It's time to say HELLO!
The clock says tick tock,
The clock says tick tock,
The clock says tick tock,
It's time to CLAP YOUR HANDS.
Clap clap clap clap,
Clap clap clap clap,
Clap clap clap clap,
It's time to TAP YOUR KNEES.
Tap tap tap tap…
It's time to BEEP YOUR NOSE.
Beep beep beep beep…
It's time to TICKLE YOUR TOES.
Tickle tickle tickle tickle…
It's time to BE A MOUSE.
Squeak squeak squeak squeak…
It's time to HAVE A HUG!
Words and melody (The Clock Says Tick Tock): Mavis de Mierre
© the Estate of Mavis de Mierre
Invite the grown ups to perform the actions for their babies - tapping their knees, beeping their noses, tickling toes, and so on. Repeat the song with as many variants of the actions as you like: tap, pat, stroke, tickle different parts of baby from head to toe to promote engagement between baby and their grown up right from the start. Toddlers might start to do the actions themselves. Have an eye to who's getting the hang of it, and repeat the same action till more are managing to join in.
Peekaboo play
Where do you think our baby's hiding?
Where do you think our baby's hiding?
Where do you think our baby's hiding?
Where do you think our baby's hiding?
Where can the baby be?
Peekaboo! I can see you,
Peekaboo! I can see you,
Peekaboo! I can see you,
Hiding in your (blanket, cradle, pushchair...)
Words: Sheena Roberts
Melody: adapted from traditional by Sheena Roberts
© Playsongs Publications Ltd.
Peekaboo! This is a game which works really well with a little baby blanket or soft cloth to cover baby's face or yours. Peak out or lift the cloth on each line of the song to give a little baby the reassurance that their grown up is still there. In a group setting, hide faces behind hands, peeking out at the ends of each line and exaggerating the gesture on each 'Peekaboo'. Change the last line to 'You can see me too', to make it work better in the group setting. Invite the grown ups to turn their babies to face them (sitting on the floor facing baby works well) so they can more closely engage. Repeat several times.
Ticklers
Teddybear Teddybear
Teddybear, teddybear, touch the ground,
Teddybear, teddybear, turn around,
Teddybear, teddybear, walk down the street,
Teddybear, teddybear, tickle your feet.
Words: traditional, adapted by Playsongs
Melody: traditional
For those in the group who can, this is best done sitting on the floor with legs apart, and with baby sitting between them, facing outwards. Bigger toddlers can do the actions on their own or can have fun helping their own teddybears to do them.
Pat hands on the floor in front on 'touch the ground', circle hands around each other on 'turn around', march fingers down each of baby's legs on 'down the street' to tickle their feet on the last line.
This is an old playground skipping song, and it's fun to keep the character of the skipping with a strong beat to the words and actions.
Other endings can be added: 'climb up the stair … tickle you under there'; 'climb your clothes … tickle your nose'
Mousey Brown
Up the tall white
candlestick
went
Little Mousey Brown.
He blew the candle
out ~
PUFF!
And then he ran
right
down.
Words: traditional
This is a tickle-puff rhyme. Toddlers might like to stand to be the candle, which little Mousey Brown, their grownups' fingertips, climb. Babies can be cuddled in laps. Tickle baby's hair with a 'FFFFFF' then run fingertips back down to toes.
Slowly Slowly
Slowly slowly, very slowly
Creeps the garden snail,
Slowly slowly, very slowly
Up the wooden rail.
Quickly quickly, very quickly
Runs the little mouse,
Quickly quickly, very quickly
Round about the house.
Words: traditional
Melody (Slowly walks my grandad) by A W I Chitty, © Paxton Music Ltd.
The magic of this rhyme/song is in the contrast between the soothing, slow trace of the garden snail, the grownup's fingertip, moving softly from toes to face, followed by the exciting, speedy tickling of the mouse running all around. Repeat several times to allow the group to join in with more of the words. To begin with, repeat each verse on its own to familiarise them.
Leg walker
One Two Three a-leary
One two three a-leary,
Four five six a-leary,
Seven eight nine a-leary,
Ten a-leary OVER ball.
One two three a-leary…
…BOUNCE the ball.
One two three a-leary…
…JUGGLE the ball.
One two three a-leary…
…DROP the ball.
Adapted from traditional by Playsongs Publications Ltd
Invite everyone to sit with baby on their knee facing outwards. The grown up takes one of baby's ankles in each hand, and crosses one ankle over the other on the beat of the rhyme.
On OVER BALL, the grown up leans backwards, lifting baby's ankles high up in the air, while supporting baby's body against their chest. Roll back to an upright position and start again for lots of repeats of the first verse.
When it's well-established, try some of the different suggested actions: bounce on knee, lift baby from one knee to the other for 'juggle', part knees and slide baby to the floor on 'drop'.
Knee bouncer
Achinaee
Achina-ee, when I was wee
I used to sit on my granny’s knee,
Her apron tore and I fell on the floor,
Achina-ee-na-ee.
Words: traditional
Music: Kevin Graal and Steve Grocott, published by Playsongs Publications Ltd
Invite everyone to hold their baby securely on their knee, facing outwards for this vigorous knee bouncer. 'Drop' baby between knees on the third line, then lift back up for more bouncing. It's fun to start at a slower pace and build up the tempo with each repeat.
Lift
Two Little Bats
Two little bats in the middle of the night
Went a-swooping and a-looping as the moon shone
bright,
One flew up and the other flew around
And they both went to sleep hanging upside down.
Words: Charlie Cavallaro
Music: traditional, arranged by Playsongs Publications Ltd
This can be done while the group bouncily steps in a big circle or moves freely around the space. Invite the grown ups to dance their little babies in their arms, swooping them up and around and above. On 'upside down', they hold baby close against their chest, and turn both of themselves upside down by bending forward from the waist.
Repeat as long as there's energy for it! You could invite the grownups to 'swoop' their baby bat towards another baby bat to say hello as they dance.
Ring dancer
Here we go Baby Bounce ~ Looby Loo
Here we go Baby Bounce,
Here we go Baby Bounce,
We bounce them in and bounce them out,
And bounce them all all about.
We swing the babies in HELLO!
We swing the babies out
.
We swing them in and swing them out
And swing them all about.
'Turn'
Here we go Baby Bounce
…
Words: Sheena Roberts
Melody: Here we go Looby loo
With babes in arms, and holding hands with toddlers, everyone in the group forms a ring and bouncily steps around the circle in a clockwise direction, turning into the centre to 'bounce the baby in' and back to the circle to 'bounce the baby out'. Turn on the spot for the last line.
Swing the babies into the circle to say hello then out again.
Turn to face the other way for the repeat of the first verse.
Ring game
Bob and the Frog
Bob and the Frog went hip hop
,
Bob and the Frog went hip hop,
Bob and the Frog went hip hop, hip hop, STOP!
Bibbety bobbity ~
Bob and the Frog went jump jump
,
Bob and the Frog went jump jump,
Bob and the Frog went jump jump, jump jump, BUMP!
Bibbety bobbity ~
Bob and the Frog went higgledy piggly,
Bob and the Frog went higgledy piggly,
Bob and the Frog went higgledy piggledy, higgledy piggledy HUG!
Bibbety bobbity ~
Bob and the Frog went hip hop,
Bob and the Frog went hip hop,
Bob and the Frog went hip hop, hip hop, STOP!
Words and music: Sheena Roberts, Playsongs Publications
This is a game for moving around the space in a big circle.
With babies and smaller toddlers facing outwards, their grown ups hold them under the arms so they can 'hip hop' them along. Bigger toddlers and little children can take part on their own or holding one hand with their grown up to 'hip hop' side by side.
Move forward in little hops. On STOP, babies can be held in a frozen still hug. Bigger toddlers and little children stand still as statues. Unfreeze and hip hop along again. Use the verses with their different actions in any order and repeat them as often as you like.
Make up your own actions with words to suit.
I can hear my teddybear
I can hear my teddybear, walking down the street,
Tap tap tap tap, listen to his feet.
(tap tap tap tap tap tap tap…)
I can hear a pony jingling up the street,
Jingle jingle jingle jingle listen to the beat.
(jingle jingle jingle jingle…)
I can hear toddlers, running down the street,
Tappa tappa tappa tappa, listen to their feet.
(tappa tappa tappa tappa…)
I can hear a pony jingling in my street…
I can hear a giant, stomping down the street,
Stomp ~ stomp, ~ listen to his feet.
(stomp stomp stomp stomp…)
I can hear a pony down the street…
Words: adapted from I can hear Daniel by Leonora Davies
Melody: Leonora Davies
Distribute jingles to all the babies on one side of the group, and distribute tapping sticks (claves), or wooden tappers to the other side. Keep a set of jingles and claves for yourself.
Give everyone some free play time then lead the tappers in playing the tapping feet verses. Lead the jinglers in playing very quietly first time, loudly the second, and quietly again for the third time, as the pony approaches and departs.
Gathering in the instruments
Please give the instruments back to the teddy,
Thank you very much.
Please give the instruments back to the teddy,
Thank you very much,
Please give the instruments back to the teddy,
Thank you very much…
Say or sing these words as you gather in the instruments. Babies and toddlers can be unwilling to return an instrument they're having fun with, but are often quite willing to give up their instruments to the teddy, or drop them into his box.
Wind down actions, sounds and movement
The Wheels on the Bus
The wheels on the bus go round and round,
Round and round, round and round,
The wheels on the bus go round and round
All day long.
The babies on the the bus sleep side by side,
Side by side, side by side,
The babies on the bus sleep side by side,
Side by side, side by side,
And the wheels on the bus go round and round
And round and round, and round and round,
All day long!
The wipers on the bus go swish swish swash,
Swish swish swash, swish swish swash,
The wipers on the bus go swish swish swash,
Swish swish swash, swish swish swash,
And the babies on the bus sleep side by side,
Side by side, side by side,
And the wheels on the bus go round and round,
And round and round, and round and round,
All day long!
The horn on the bus goes beep beep beep
Beep beep beep, beep beep beep,
The horn on the bus goes beep beep beep,
Beep beep beep, beep beep beep,
And the wipers on the bus go swish swish swash,
Swish swish swash, swish swish swash,
And the babies on the bus sleep side by side,
Side by side, side by side,
And the wheels on the bus go round and round,
And round and round, and round and round,
All day long!
And the driver on the bus just sings this song
Sings this song, sings this song,
The driver on the bus just sings this song,
Sings this song, sings this song,
And the wipers on the bus go swish swish swash,
Swish swish swash, swish swish swash,
And the babies on the bus sleep side by side,
Side by side, side by side,
And the wheels on the bus go round and round,
And round and round, and round and round,
All day long!
Words: traditional (adapted by Sheena Roberts, Playsongs Publications Ltd)
Music: arranged for Playsongs Publications Ltd by Steve Grocott and Stephen Chadwick,
This slowed-down, sleepy, rocking, cumulative version of the Wheels on the bus is a good way to lower the energy and bring everyone's focus back to the ring.
Invite everyone to cradle their baby on their knee, facing outwards or sideways. Invite the grownups to rub their baby's tummy in a circle for 'round and round', rock their baby side to side, take their ankles and swish their feet sleepily to and fro for wipers, beep nose lightly, and rock again for the last verse.
Wind down
Mamma's gone to the mailboat
Group 1
Hush a bye, baby, bye,
Hush a bye, baby, bye… (repeat)
Group 2
Mamma's gone to the mailboat,
Mamma's gone to the mailboat… (repeat)
Leader
Bee-o baby, bye bye,
Bee-o baby, bye bye… (repeat)
All
Bye,
Bye,
Bye,
Bye…
Words and melody based on a traditional lullaby, adapted and arranged as a round by Playsongs Publications Ltd
Invite the grown ups to cradle their babies and toddlers and gently rock them to and fro to the soothing beat of this calming lullaby or croon.
Ask one side of the ring to join you as you lead them in singing Group 1's part. Make sure they are confidently repeating their line and that it's well-established then indicate for them to continue without you. Turn to the other side to bring them in with Group 2's line. Again sing along with them until they are well established. Then if you feel confident, add the solo line, or simply close by bringing everyone together to sing 'Bye bye bye' quieter and quieter into silence.
It's time to say Goodbye
The clock says tick tock,
The clock says tick tock,
The clock says tick tock,
It's time to say goodbye.
Thank you, Babies,
Thank you, Toddlers,
Thank you, Everyone,
It's time to say goodbye.
Goodbye, Babies,
Goodbye, Toddlers,
Goodbye, Everyone,
It's time to say goodbye.
Words and melody (The Clock Says Tick Tock): Mavis de Mierre
© the Estate of Mavis de Mierre
As before, use a set of claves to play the tick tock beat as you sing, and as the grown ups continue to sway their little ones on their knees.
