Autumn Leaves -( finger play)

This autumn, I look forward to long walks in the woods with the boys, listening to their little feet swish through the leaves. While I wait for the leaves to fall, I will teach them our new finger play.

Autumn Leaves - sung to the tune of" Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star"

Red leaves,

Orange leaves,

Yellow ones too.

Float hands from high above your head slowly to the ground.

I like autumn.

Point to self

How about you?

Point away from self

Leaves fall softly to the ground.

Gently pat the ground around you

Crisp wind blows them all around.

Twirl hands in the air as leaves blowing

Red leaves,

Orange leaves,

Yellow ones too.

Float hands from high above your head slowly to the ground.

I like autumn.

Point to self

How about you?

Point away from self

Busy Little Bee finger play

Fingerplays serve several purposes in the lives of young children. Not only are they fun for little ones who first reach out to the world with their fingers, fingerplays encourage both manual dexterity and cognitive activity. While the child manipulates their fingers, hands, and body movement through imitation and repeated movement, thereby improving fine motor skills, they are also learning to observe rhythm of language, develop listening skills and increase vocabulary.

For both the parent and child, fingerplays can ease transitions within the daily rhythm, by providing a repetitious end of one activity and beginning of a new activity. Fingerplays can also prepare a child for a new adventure or remind them of fun times past. Here is one we used with our sons last summer:

Busy Little Bee

As I was walking, I saw a little bee

(Move pointer finger to resemble a flying bee.)

He was flying from flower to flower in front of me.

(Bring fingers of one hand together & touch one side of your nose then the other – the ASL sign for “flower”)

He was making golden honey on this sunny summer day.

(Hold arms above head with fingers touching to resemble the sun.)

I watched him fly and buzz until he flew away.

(Move pointer finger in zigzags away from you.)

I'm a little choo-choo (finger play)

Choo-Choo

I’m a little choo-choo,

(Extend 2 fingers in a V-shape on both hands move one set of fingers across the other – the ASL sign for train.)

I puff down my track.

(Bend elbows & move arms back & forth like train wheels chugging.)

See me go forward,

(Take 3 steps forward while chugging.)

See me go back.

(Take 3 steps backward while chugging.)

Hear my bell ring,

(Pretend to hold the string of a bell pulling up & down.)

Here my whistle blow.

(Hold fist up to mouth & pretend to blow a whistle.)

I make great noise wherever I go.

(Cover ears with hands.)

Little Bluebird fingerplay

Little Bluebird

(Begin with one hand palm up for the tree branch and other fist on top for the nest & bluebird.)

Little bluebird rests in a tree.

(Thumb stick out of fist as a bluebird.)

Little bluebird looks at me.

(Nod thumb.)

Little bluebird chirps, “Hello.”

(Tap thumb and index finger together to chirp.- the ASL sign for “bird”)

Spread your wings and away you go!

(Cross hands, hook thumbs and wave fingers to “fly away.”)

Sleepy Caterpillars

During the summer months, we find ourselves outdoors for most of the day. This is a wonderful opportunity to use fingerplays to relate to nature. As we observe the natural world, our little ones, who feel akin to nature and are deeply rooted in their bodies, can fully engage the world around them with nature-based fingerplay. We can make them up on the spot, or memorize a few favorites to have ready during our daily walks or outdoor adventures. Here is a simple one to get you started:

Sleepy Caterpillars

Let’s go to sleep the caterpillars said…

(Wiggle fingers)

As they tuck themselves into their beds.

(Make a fist)

They will awaken by and by,

(Open hand one finger at a time)

And each one will be a lovely butterfly.

(Cross hands, link thumbs & wave fingers like wings)

At the Beach - fingerplay

My boys have always enjoyed fingerplays so I thought I would share some of our favorites with you every Sunday. (They are a fun way to develop a child's fine motor skills and imagination at the same time.)

Seeing as it is summer and we all enjoy vacations at the beach,  I will start with At the Beach, found in A Child's Seasonal Treasury

At the Beach

Build a sandcastle to the sky,                  

(Pat air, move hands upward.)

Make a moat so when waves roll by,

(Make a big circle with arms in front of body.)

The castle will stand with its sandy wall

(Hold arms upright with fingertips touching.)

'Til high tide comes and then it will fall.

(Fingers flutter at rooftop, and slowly flutter downward to lap.)