Number action rhymes  

The Rhyme words

The actions

When you can expect the child to initiate/continue the interaction by vocalising or performing an action.

Five Fat Peas

Five fat peas in a pea pod pressed

Child and you hold hands in a fist

To request this song, your child should either hand you a symbol for that song, do a sign or use a word.

To initiate the song you would expect them to hold both their hands up in a fist

·      One grew,

·      two grew,

·      so did all the rest

Put thumb and fingers up one by one

·      Wait for child to put thumb up before saying “one…”,

·      Wait for child to put a finger up before saying “two…”

·      Wait for child to hold up all fingers and thumb before saying “so did…”

They grew and grew

Raise hands in the air very slowly

Wait for child to begin to raise their hands.

And did not stop,

Until one day.

The pod went POP!

You and child clap hands together

Pause just after you say ‘went’ and expect child to clap for you to say “Pop”.

Monkeys On the Bed

Five little monkeys jumping on the bed

Hold up  hand, fingers spread

To request the song, you would expect the child to give you the symbol for that song, do the sign for monkey or use a word.

To initiate the song, you would expect the child to hold their hand up.

·      One fell off and

·       bumped his head

·      Do sign for fall,

·      rub head.

·      To continue the song you would expect them to do the sign for fall.

·      After saying “and” pause.  You would expect child to rub their head for you to carry on with the rhyme.

Mummy called the doctor and the doctor said

Pretend to be on the phone

You would expect your child to pretend to be on the phone for you to carry on with the song.

No more monkeys jumping on the bed!

Wave index finger in air in nagging motion with a cross face.

You would expect the child to wave index finger in the air

Four little monkeys jumping on the bed….

Hold up four spread fingers.

You would expect child to hold hand up in the air.  You may need to show them how many fingers they need to have up in the air.

Five Little Birdies

This is a good song for checking that your child understands colour labels.

Five little birdies, flying around our door. 

Five fingers in the air, or count the birds on the song board

Child requests song by either giving you the symbol for the song, doing the sign for ‘bird song’ or using a word.

Child initiates song by beginning to count or holding five fingers in the air.

The blue bird flew away and then there were four.

Child takes blue bird off the page

Child takes bird from door and puts it away.

Four little birdies, flying around our door. 

Four fingers in the air, or count the four birds

Child holds hand in the air or begins to count

The yellow bird flew away and then there were three.

Child takes the yellow bird off the page

Child takes bird from door and puts it away.

Three little birdies, flying around our door. 

Three fingers in the air or count the number of birds

Child holds hand in the air or begins to count

The red bird flew away and then there were two

Child takes the red bird off the page

Child takes bird from door and puts it away.

Two little birdies, flying around our door. 

Two fingers in the air or count the number of birds

Child holds hand in the air or begins to count

The brown bird flew away and then there was one.

Child takes the brown bird off the page

Child takes bird from door and puts it away.

The little green birdie, sitting all alone. 

One finger in the air, or count the bird.

Child holds hand in the air or begins to count

He flew away and then there were none.

Child takes the green bird off the page.

Child takes bird from door and puts it away.