Wednesday 25 February 2009

Dabbling ducks

Feeding the ducks today. They were pretty obliging, paddling their way across the water to wherever the bread landed. Their tails didn't waggle but we sang this anyway.

All the little ducks go up and down, (turn palms up and down)
Up and down, up and down,
All the little ducks go up and down,
As they dabble at the bottom of the pond.

All their little tails go wiggle waggle wiggle, (hands together as if praying, and waggle from side to side)
Wiggle waggle wiggle, wiggle waggle wiggle,
All their little tails go wiggle waggle wiggle,
As they dabble at the bottom of the pond.

All their little beaks go quack quack quack, (you can guess this one)
Quack quack quack, quack quack quack,
All their little beaks go quack quack quack,
As they dabble at the bottom of the pond.

Saturday 21 February 2009

Half-term baking- yum..........


Lots of buns at the baker's shop

Nice and round with a cherry (raisin, banana, tractor, spider) on the top

Along came Tom with a penny one day

Bought a little bun and took it away


This was such a hit when I did my small Rhymetime sessions at the Natural Nursery, especially with the three year olds. Over time they would gain confidence to come into the middle of the group and take the imaginary bun from me and then rejoin the circle. It's fun substituting the cherry for all sorts of silly things- a plane? a welly? and mummy?!

Wednesday 18 February 2009

We're listening to.......

There's such a lot of good music in the world that it just isn't necessary to listen to children's music. My lot clamour for The Kinks, Bebel Gilberto and Beck, and enjoy numerous repetitions in the car. But just because it isn't necessary is a poor excuse for not exploring original children's sings. It seems to be a boom industry, especially in the States, and there's some wonderful cds.

Our musical find of last year was a kids' cd by Barenaked Ladies (who are Canadian). This is a CD of original and witty songs for children of about 3yrs plus. Definitely good for adults too- it's the musical equivalent of those children's films where there are just as many jokes for the adults as the children.

On the US Amazon you can listen to samples- our favourites are Raisins, Allergies, My Big Sister and... well, most of them actually!

http://www.amazon.com/Snack-Time-Barenaked-Ladies/dp/B0015YGUR2

Be brave- dip your toes into the world of Snacktime!

Sunday 15 February 2009

A bus stop song


 We often get quite fidgety and cold waiting for the bus so I've been thinking about how to channel that nervous energy instead of nagging. We used to sing this at primary school, many many years ago- I expect you remember it. I think it this will work with older toddlers just as well as The Wheels on the Bus.

Start slowly as it gets quite complicated if you're only little.

One finger one thumb keep moving wriggle your forefinger and thumb
One finger one thumb keep moving
One finger one thumb keep moving
We'll all be merry and bright  twirl around if standing or do 'bobbin' action if sitting

One finger one thumb one arm keep moving  wriggle your finger, thumb and lift your arm in the air
One finger one thumb one arm keep moving
One finger one thumb one arm keep moving
We'll all be merry and bright twirl as before

...... and continue, adding in turn: a leg; stand up; sit down and turn around!

Tuesday 10 February 2009

Nice mice?

We've just had a mouse in the house. Luckily we seem to have only had ONE lone ranger, who has now been caught (and dispatched). It's made me feel uncomfortable in the room we found it. I know it's tiny and not in any way a threat, but there's something about the speed they move and the unpredictability of their habits. 

When singing this week though, I noticed just how many rhymes have mice in them- nice mice too! Think about Three Blind Mice (though they come to a grizzly end), Hickory Dickory Dock and squeaking mice in Old MacDonald. I suppose it's only relatively recently that we have been able to live separately from mice, and they used to be a part of everyday life for most people. My little boy, who's four, has been imagining mice families all over the house, and creating little lego houses for them to live in. For him, they hold no fear.

There was a little mouse Hold forefinger and thumb a mouse length apart
Who sat in a chair Place fingers in palm of other hand
And when the cat went 'Miaaaaaaow' 
He ran right up the chair. Tickle all the way up to the armpit

If a mouse runs up my arm, I will NOT be laughing.

Sunday 8 February 2009

The North wind doth blow.....

It's been a while since I've done this... life has a way of keeping you busy. But I'm back, and now snow has come to Bristol! They say it's the worst snow in 18 years.... we say it's the best. We were out in the garden at 7.15am, finding 'polar bear tracks' right across the lawn, and making snowmen.

The north wind doth blow, and we shall have snow,
And what will poor robin do then, poor thing.
He'll sit in the barn, and keep himself warm,
And hide his head under his wing, poor thing.