Welcome to our "Teacher's Workshop!"  This is a sampling of some of our activities, songs, and ideas that you can share at home with your child:

• Wind at Your Back.  Place baby on a soft blanket on her tummy. Billow a light scarf in the air above her and say, “Feel the wind!” Let the scarf gently fall on her back and then slowly pull it off her.  If she likes this activity, try it again but lying on her back this time. The feel of the scarf builds your baby’s tactile and body awareness.    
• Smush and Squeeze, If You Please. Cut little fish shapes from a kitchen sponge. Slide them into a gallon-size re-sealable plastic bag. Fill the bag with water (add a few drops of blue food coloring, if you’d like). Place the bag on your baby’s high chair tray and let her touch and squeeze it. The sensory experience of exploring this squishy, cool object will fascinate her…and enhance her growing sense of touch.    

Some Silly Songs

Hello, Mrs. Monday!
How is Mrs. Tuesday?
Very fine, Mrs. Wednesday!
Tell Mrs. Thursday
To come on Friday
To dance on Saturday
In Sunday's ballroom.
 
 
Bonjour, Madame Lundi!
Comment va Madame Mardi?
Très bien, Madame Mercredi!
Dites à Madame Jeudi,
De venir vendredi
Danser samedi
Dans la salle de dimanche.
 

Forest Songs
Grey Squirrel Original Author Unknown

Grey squirrel, grey squirrel
Swish your bushy tail!
Grey squirrel, grey squirrel
Swish your bushy tail!
Wrinkle up your funny nose
Hold a nut between your toes
Grey squirrel, grey squirrel
Swish your busy tail!
 
Gathering acorns
Sung to: "She'll Be Coming Round the Mountain"
I'll be gathering all the acorns till they're gone.
I'll be gathering all the acorns till they're gone.
I'll be gathering all the acorns, gathering all the acorns,
Gathering all the acorns till they're gone.
(Children make collecting motion with their hands)

Our Little Cherubs classroom is learning about the Spanish Language

"If You're Happy and You Know It"

Si Estás Contento

Pulgarcito, Donde Estas (Sung to the tune of 'Frere Jacques")

Pulgarcito, donde estas?
Hands behind your back
Aqui estoy! Aqui estoy!
One thumb comes out, then the other
Como esta usted? Muy bien, gracias!
Thumbs pretend to talk to each other
Ya me voy. Ya me voy.
One hand and then the other goes behind you back

Thumbkin, where are you?
 
 

Ten Fingers
I have ten fingers (hold up both hands, fingers spread)
And they all belong to me, (point to self)
I can make them do things-
Would you like to see?

I can shut them up tight (make fists)
I can open them wide (open hands)
I can put them together (place palms together)
I can make them all hide (put hands behind back)

I can make them jump high (hands over head)
I can make them jump low (touch floor)
I can fold them up quietly (fold hands in lap)
And hold them just so.

Counting Apples
Five red apples
Hanging on a tree (five fingers held up)
The juiciest apples you ever did see!
The wind came past
And gave an angry frown (shake head and look angry)
And one little apple came tumbling down.
Four red apples, etc.
 

One Little Flower,
One Little Bee

One little flower, one little bee.
One little blue bird, high in the tree.
One little brown bear smiling at me.
One is the number I like,
you see.
 

Turtles
Poem

One baby turtle alone and new.
Finds a friend, and then there are two.
Two baby turtles crawl down to the sea.
They find another, and then there are three.
Three baby turtles crawl along the shore.
They find another, and then there are four.
Four baby turtles go for a dive.
Up swims another, and then there are five. 

Roundabout Wee Mousey
Roundabout, roundabout, little wee mouse (swirl your index finger around palm of child's hand)
Up the tree, up the tree, (walk fingers up child's arm)
Into the housey! (tickle child's underarm)

Oh, it’s time to say hello

Tune: She’ll be coming around the mountain

Oh, it’s time to say hello to our friends (repeat)

Wave your hands and say hello (repeat)

Oh it’s time to say hello to our friends

 Oh, here we are together

Tune: The more we get together

Oh here are together, together, together

Oh here we are together at Safer Start

Here’s _____, and ________, and _________ etc

Oh, here we are together at Safer Start

Sung to Hokey Pokey
You put your right mitten in,
You take your right mitten out.
You put your right mitten in,
And you shake it all about.
You do the winter pokey, [shiver]
And you turn yourself around.
That's what it's all about!
Others Include:
You put your left mitten in....
You put your right boot....
You put your left boot....
You put your winter hat in....

Baby Mice
Where are the baby mice?
(squeak, squeak, squeak)
I do no not see them
(peek, peek, peek)
Here they come out of the wall
One, two, three, four, five. That's all
 
Tick Tock
Tick tock, tick tock
I'm a little cuckoo clock
Tick tock, tick tock
Now it's almost _ o'clock
"Cuckoo, cuckoo!
(lift baby up with each cuckoo)

Hand Baby Games – When your baby is getting strong enough to pull herself up grasping your hands or fingers, pull her up from a lying or sitting position and say “One, Two Three – UP!” She'll soon learn the game and pull herself up when you count, strengthening her arms.

Johnny Game -
Touch each of baby's fingers saying "Johnny" and when you come to the thumb you slide your finger down the pointer finger and the thumb and say "whoops Johnny!"

Movement Baby Games – This is a great game to play with your baby to help them get used to being on their back and stomach. Start baby on her back and chant through this rhythm as you do the motions: “Rub a baby belly – pat, pat, pat. Rub a baby belly – just like that!” Then roll the baby over gently onto her belly. “Rrrooooooll over baby!” “Rub a baby back – pat, pat, pat....” etc. Once your baby learns what is coming next she will anticipate the exaggerated “Rrrooooooll Over!”

Dance little dolly <bear/mouse/other favorite>! Dance! Dance! Dance! Dance little dolly! Dance! Dance! Dance!
Up and down, All around,
Dance little dolly! Dance! Dance! Dance!”
You can adapt this little chant to any toy, “Bear,” “mouse,” etc. Tie a favorite stuffed animal to a colorful ribbon or use a cat toy wand (with baby safe toy). Dance the animal around the room and baby as you chant!

Listening fun | 3-6 months of age
Use rice, pasta or a bell to fill a plastic container - make sure the container is well sealed. Shake to your baby's side or behind baby and see if they can find it.

Alouette song in french

Alouette, gentille alouette
Alouette, je te plumerai
Je te plumerai la tête
Je te plumerai la tête
Et la tête - et la tête
Alouette - alouette
O, o, o, o, o

Alouette, gentille alouette
Alouette, je te plumerai
Je te plumerai le bec (x2)
Et le bec - et le bec
Et la tête - et la tête
Alouette - alouette
O, o, o, o, o

Here is a song in Italian we will be singing for our summer program visit to Italy:

Farfallina
Farfallina bella e bianca
vola vola
mai si stanca
gir qua
e gira la
poi si resta sopra un fiore
e poi si resta spora un fior
 
Butterfly beautiful and white
Fly and fly
never get tired
Turn here and turn there
And she rests upon a flower
And she rests upon a flower

"The more we get together" song
The more we get together, together, together
the more we get together the happier we'll be
cause you're friends are my friends and my friends are your friends
the more we together the happier we'll be
(sing again and faster)

The children love the song "row row your boat" and we hold hands and rock back and forth!
 
A New Game Suggestion for Infants: We place pre-made shamrocks on the floor covered by contact paper for fun floor play and exploring. Or, place an object (ie: a block) in a colorful sock to guess what it may be.

Bowling:

Save soda or water bottles. Use them as pins to play bowling.

Rhyme:

Two little eyes to look around

Two little ears to hear each sound

One little nose to smell what's sweet

One little mouth that likes to eat

Our babies have been enjoying..

Scarf peek-a-boo

Children love when you cover yourself with a scarf or give the scarf to them and they do the peek-a-boo to you. Different colored scarves are helpful to teach colors.

 Puppets:

Of all kinds! Elmo has been very popular and we make our own Elmo with coloring pages. Simply color the pages and glue on paper plates or paper bags.

Rolling Pin Game:

To play this game, lay your baby down on the bed or on a carpeted floor. Gently roll him back and forth. Repeat this motion, telling him he's rolling out the cookies.

Nursery Rhyme:

A Diller, A Dollar

A diller, a dollar,

A ten o'clock scholar,

What makes you come so soon?

You used to come at ten o'clock,

But now you come at noon

More lyrics for "Baa Baa Black Sheep"

Cluck cluck red hen have you any eggs

yes sir yes sir as many as your legs

one for your breakfast

one for your lunch

come back tomorrow, I'll have another bunch

Moo Moo brown cow have you milk for me

yes sir yes sir tasty as can be

churn it into butter

make it into cheese

freeze it for some ice-cream

or drink it if you please

buzz buzz busy bee

is your honey sweet

yes sir yes sir sweet enough to eat

honey on your muffin

honey on your cake

honey by the bag full

as much as I can make

baa baa black sheep have you any wool (sing last line faster to finish)

yes sir yes sir 3 bags full

Popular Spanish Songs We Sing in Class: 

Twinkle twinkle little star in Spanish

Estrellita, donde estás?

Me pregunto que serás.

En el cielo y en el mar,

Un diamante de verdad.

Estrellita, donde estás?

Me pregunto que serás..

Itsy Bitsy Spider in Spanish

Itzi, bitzi araña,

tejió su telaraña.

Vino la lluvia,

y se la llevo.

Salió el sol,    

se seco la lluvia.

Y Itzi, bitzi araña,

otra vez subió

A popular song for our ocean theme:

Song: I’m a little fishy

Sung to: I’m a little teapot

I’m a little fishy

I can swim

Here is my tail and here is my fin

When I want to have fun with my friends

I move my tail and dive right in

A popular song all of the babies love:  Alligator Farm

(Name of child) went down to the alligator farm sat on the fence ‘till the fence broke down, Alligator bit him/her on the seat of the pants, Made him/her do the alligator dance. Dance, Dance, dance (name of child) dance (name of child) dance and then we’ll shout Hooray!

One of our games we play in the Little Cherubs Classroom:

The wonder ball goes round and round

To pass it quickly we are bound

If you’re the one to hold it last

The game for you will quickly pass

And you are out!

A game to enhance knowledge of textures:

Cover an old glove with different textured materials.  Flannel, silk, velvet work well.  Try attaching large buttons also.

A popular song:

(Sung to the tune of "She'll be coming 'round the mountain")

And we'll have chocolate pizza when she comes (eww yuck!).  She'll be riding in a hot rod when she comes (vroom! vroom!).  She'll be riding on a turtle when she comes (plop! plop!).  She'll be riding a giraffe when she comes (lift chin and say "tall necks!").

We are the dinosaurs:

Chorus: We are the dinosaurs, marching marching.  We are the dinosaurs.  What do you think of that.  We are the dinosaurs, marching marching.  We are the dinosaurs, we make the earth flat.  We make the earth flat.  Verse 1: We stop and eat our food when we're in the mood, we stop and eat our food and then we march around cause CHORUS  Verse 2: We stop to take a rest over in our nest, we stop and take a rest at the end of our day cause CHORUS  And then we roar - we are the dinosaurs!

Counting buttons:

Wear a shirt that has three or more buttons. Say the following words:  1 button, 1 button let's touch 1 button.  1 button, 2 buttons, let's touch 2 buttons (and so forth, touch 1 button then go to 2 and 3, etc.)

Red wagon:

Bumping up and down in my little red wagon, 2 more x's, won't you be my darlin' (name) going to fix it with a hammer, 2 more x's, so that we can ride it!

“Black and Brown Horses”

Recite verses repeatedly – beginning with mouths closed and just using hands, next to moving mouth but no sound, whispering, and gradually louder & louder.

Begin and end each round with hands behind back.  Open fingers with each “five were . . .” and both hands up and then down as verse states.

10 horses came galloping into town (bring hands to front)

5 were black (right hand) and 5 were brown (left hand) They galloped UP, they galloped DOWN And then they galloped out of town.

Game Suggestion: Put a picture of something (we used a turkey) onto trucks and play along with your child while moving it around.
 
Song:
The Leaves are Falling Down
(To the tune of "The Farmer in the Dell")
The leaves are falling down
The leaves are falling down
School is here and fall in near
The leaves are falling down.
The leaves are falling down
The leaves are falling down
Some are red and some are brown
The leaves are falling down.

If you have any questions about these games or songs please feel free to email Tamar at Imagine@SaferStart.com or call (401) 334-2626.