| That precious little person in your life is | | | | JIGGLEFrogs jumpCaterpillars humpWorms |
| definitely the cutest thing on the planet | | | | wiggleBugs jiggleRabbits hopHorses clopSnakes |
| earth, and positively the most intelligent! | | | | slideSeagulls glideMice creepDeer leapPuppies |
| Why, he was born speaking Greek, and you | | | | bounceKittens pounceLions stalk-But-I |
| don't even know any foreign languages!But | | | | walk!~~~by EVELYN BEYER~~~WHISKY FRISKYWhisky |
| seriously, language is one of the first ways | | | | frisky,Hipperty hop,Up he goesTo the tree |
| developmental growth in children is noticed | | | | top!Whirly, twirly,Round and round,Down he |
| by the general population. Mom and Dad and | | | | scampersTo the ground.Furly, curly,What a |
| Grandma and Grandpa know this baby is the | | | | tail,Tall as a feather,Broad as a |
| next Baseball Hall of Famer or Albert | | | | sail.Where's his supper?In the shell.Snappy, |
| Einstein, but the cashier at the supermarket | | | | cracky,Out it fell.ANONTHINKING SKILLS AND |
| won't know diddly squat about that adorable | | | | SELF-CONCEPT BODY AWARENESS FOR |
| big blue eyed baby unless she can speak | | | | TODDLERS:Counting repetitively to two with a |
| intelligently while strapped safely in the | | | | toddler gives him a boost in premath skills. |
| shopping cart.So how can one help promote | | | | Have your child point to his ears, eyes, |
| language skills besides reciting the abc's | | | | hands, feet, legs, knees, cheeks, elbows, |
| and Mary Had a Little Lamb and Twinkle | | | | thumbs, big toes, or heels, and count each |
| Twinkle Little Star over and over | | | | one with him: One, two, one, two, one, |
| again?Starting with finger plays, action | | | | two...Progress to 5 fingers or toes.FUN |
| rhymes, and songs to sing, there will be | | | | HUGGING CUDDLING GIGGLY TIME WITH YOUR |
| numerous activities listed. Each will explain | | | | TODDLER OR CHILD OF ANY AGE:The following |
| the multi purposes of and the age of the | | | | rhyme is a favorite with kids of all |
| child for which the activity is intended. | | | | ages.Round and round the garden runs the |
| More will be added over time as they are | | | | little mouse. (Hold your child's hand palm |
| found.FOR MOTOR SKILLS WITH TODDLERS:Start | | | | up, running your finger in circles very |
| with clapping and tapping your hands and | | | | lightly on his palm.)Up, up, up he scampers, |
| feet. Let your toddler mimic your | | | | (Touch your child's arm on wrist, inside of |
| actions.Read the following rhyme, clapping | | | | elbow, and upper arm on each "up".)Into his |
| and tapping when indicated:I have two little | | | | little HOUSE! (Tickle your child's underarm |
| hands that clap, clap, clap.I have two little | | | | on HOUSE!) This is almost guaranteed to be a |
| feet that tap, tap, tap.Clap, clap, clap.Tap, | | | | favorite of both you and your child!Fun |
| tap, tap.Clap, clap, tap.Encourage your child | | | | TICKLY KNEE Activity:All ages of my daycare |
| to SAY "Clap" and "Tap" as you say the | | | | kids have loved this over the years. Very |
| rhyme.FOR SELF-CONCEPT BODY AWARENESS WITH | | | | simple for people who don't memorize things |
| TODDLERS:Sing the following song to the tune | | | | well, it's a great standby for just about any |
| of "The Farmer In The Dell."Where are your | | | | child! Just tickle the child's knee above and |
| piggy toes?Where are your piggy toes?Oh no, | | | | to the outside of his knee while reciting the |
| where have they gone,(pull off socks)I see | | | | following, and be almost 100% guaranteed that |
| your piggy toes.Pulling off socks is one of | | | | squeals of delight will follow, along with |
| the first skills a toddler learns. Sing this | | | | constant begging for MORE, and DO IT |
| song while pulling off your child's socks, | | | | AGAIN!Tickly knee, tickly knee, if your |
| then let your child pull them off by himself. | | | | laugh, you don't love me! (That's it! See, I |
| Encourage your child to pull off the socks | | | | told you it was simple!)FUN SEASONAL |
| without any help while you sing the | | | | FINGERPLAYS AND ACTIVITIES:Tune-The Mulberry |
| song.SELF-CONCEPT AND MOTOR SKILLS FOR | | | | BushJumping in the pumpkin patch, (jumping |
| TODDLERS:One of the most challenging things a | | | | through the whole verse)Pumpkin patch, |
| toddler is learning is how to dress herself. | | | | pumpkin patch,Jumping in the pumpkin patch,So |
| Somehow it always seems the diapers come off | | | | early in the morning.**Substitute clapping, |
| easier than the shoes go on!Encourage your | | | | stomping, flying, swaying, winking, etc.SIMON |
| child to practice motor skills and begin | | | | SAYS FOR HALLOWEEN:1. Fly like a bat.2. Stomp |
| recognizing opposites by giving her a hat | | | | like a monster.3. Walk like a skeleton.4. Hop |
| that fits easily on her head. Have her put | | | | like a bunny.5. Pounce like a cat.6. Dance |
| the hat on and take it off, saying Hat on, | | | | like a ballerina.7. Roll like a |
| hat off, hat on, hat off as she | | | | pumpkin...COUNTING FIVE LITTLE PUMPKINS:Five |
| does.SELF-CONCEPT AND BODY AWARENESS FOR | | | | little pumpkins sitting on a gate.One fell |
| TODDLERS:Sing the following to the tune of | | | | down and broke his plate.Four little pumpkins |
| "Are You Sleeping?"Head and shoulders,Head | | | | sitting on a gate.One fell down and lost his |
| and shoulders.Knees and toes,Knees and | | | | skate.Three little pumpkins sitting on a |
| toes.Eyes and ears,Eyes and ears.Mouth and | | | | gate.One fell down and lost some weight.Two |
| nose,Mouth and nose.Have your child touch | | | | little pumpkins sitting on a gate.One fell |
| each body part as it is sung, then repeat the | | | | down and said "Don't be late!"The littlest |
| song naming different parts of the | | | | pumpking sitting on a gateFell down and said, |
| body.THINKING SKILLS FOR TODDLERS:Recognizing | | | | "No more pumpkins sitting on the gate!"FIVE |
| that an object is still there though it can't | | | | LITTLE OWLS:The first little owl has great, |
| be seen is a significant milestone for | | | | round eyes. (Point to one finger at a |
| toddlers. Play peek-a-boo often with your | | | | time.)The second little owl is of very small |
| child, and play games where an object is | | | | size.The third little owl can turn her |
| hidden with a blanket, scarf or bandana, or | | | | head.The fourth little owl likes mice, she |
| inside another object.MOTOR SKILLS FOR | | | | said.The fifth little owl flies all |
| TODDLERS:Recite the following rhyme with your | | | | around,And her wings make hardly a single |
| toddler sitting on your knees. Move your | | | | sound.FOUR SEASONS POEM:Spring is showery, |
| knees and toddler up and down following the | | | | bowery, flowery.Summer is hoppy, choppy, |
| lyrics.Marching, marching,Up we go.Marching | | | | poppy.Autumn is wheezy, sneezy, freezy.Winter |
| marching,Nice and slow.Marching, | | | | is slippy, drippy, nippy.ANONMUD poem:Mud is |
| marching,Down, down, down.Marching, | | | | very nice to feelAll squishy-squash between |
| marching,Through the town.Let your child | | | | the toes!I'd rather wade in wiggly mudThan |
| stand and stretch up high and bend down low, | | | | smell a yellow rose.Nobody else but the |
| or be lifted high or put down low as you | | | | rosebush knowsHow nice mud feels between the |
| recite the poem.MOTOR SKILLS, LISTENING, AND | | | | toes.by Polly Chase BoydenThunder Finger |
| EXERCISE FOR TODDLERS:Large motor skills are | | | | Play:Thunder crashes. (Clap hands.)Lightning |
| needed in order to develop as well. Sing the | | | | flashes. (Move hands with zigzag motion.)Rain |
| following song to the tune of "The Farmer In | | | | makes puddles. (Flutter fingers.)So I can |
| The Dell" and let your child giggle and | | | | make splashes. (Jump.)Fun, new words, even if |
| wiggle as you both do the movements to the | | | | they're not real, can be a great way to get a |
| song. Substitute different body parts and | | | | baby or toddler exposed to different sounds. |
| actions.Shake your arms like this,Shake your | | | | The earlier a child is exposed to the sounds |
| arms like this,Clap your hands and turn | | | | of different languages, the easier it will be |
| around,Shake your arms like this.MOTOR & | | | | for him to pick up on them and learn them |
| THINKING SKILLS, EXERCISE FOR TODDLERS AND | | | | more fluently. Here are some fun poems with |
| ALL AGES:This is a great one to do when | | | | silly words to share with your child:The Cow |
| you're super busy, yet your child is | | | | Poem:The cow mainly moos as she chooses to |
| demanding your attention. It is also a great | | | | mooand she chooses to moo as she chooses.She |
| activity to do for transition times such as | | | | furthermore chews as she chooses to chewand |
| after story time getting ready for lunch, | | | | she chooses to chew as she muses.If she |
| after playtime getting ready to go to the | | | | chooses to moo she may moo to amuseor may moo |
| store, and other difficult times when you | | | | just to moo as she chooses.If she chooses to |
| just HAVE to do something else besides hold | | | | chew she may moo as she chewsor may chew just |
| your toddler on your hip.Recite the following | | | | to chew as she muses.by Jack PrelutskyAnd a |
| actions, doing the motions slowly at first, | | | | silly one for an older child, |
| then quickly. The kids will dissolve into | | | | Eletelephony:Once there was an elephant,Who |
| peals of laughter and free you up to get a | | | | tried to use the telephant--No! no! I mean an |
| few things done.Clap, clap, clap your hands | | | | elephoneWho tried to use the telephone--(Dear |
| as slowly as you can.Clap, clap, clap your | | | | me! I am not certain quiteThat even now I've |
| hands as quickly as you can.Rub, rub, rub | | | | got it right.)Howe'er it was, he got his |
| your hands as slowly as you can.Rub, rub, rub | | | | trunkEntangled in the telephunk;The more he |
| your hands as quickly as you can.Roll your | | | | tried to get it free,The more buzzed the |
| hands...Wiggle your fingers...(sometimes I | | | | telephee--(I fear I'd better drop the songof |
| wiggle my fingers accidentally on their | | | | elephop and telephong!)Songs and fingerplays |
| ribs!)Twiddle your thumbs...Stomp your | | | | are so much fun, and are a great bonding |
| feet...Wiggle your body...Wiggle your | | | | activity between a child and her parents, |
| eyebrows...Slap your knees...Blink your | | | | grandparents, and other caregivers.More |
| eyes...ACTION AND LANGUAGE BUILDING POETRY | | | | songs, poetry, and fingerplays will be added |
| FOR THE YOUNG CHILD:Poetry is a clearly | | | | to this guide over time as I run across them |
| delightful way to introduce children to new | | | | and as I myself have time. Thanks for |
| words and language skills. Here are a couple | | | | looking, and be sure to mark this as one of |
| of poems that have not only lots of fun words | | | | your favorites for easy |
| to learn, but to act upon, too!JUMP OR | | | | reference!eviews.ebay. |