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You are here: Home / Musical Activities For... / 10 Best Songs for Gross Motor Movement

10 Best Songs for Gross Motor Movement

September 14, 2022 By Sara Mullett 12 Comments

With these 10 Best Songs for Gross Motor Movement, kids can jump, bounce and skip and hop to their hearts delight!  We all know gross motor movement is important for development,  but why is that?

When kids move to music, they are getting so much more than just exercise. They are also developing their coordination, balance, concentration and cognitive abilities.

Benefits for the Brain

By practicing coordinated movement to music, they will develop parts of the brain that will help them to speak, read, write and play instruments. But the best part is that these activities also bring such a great deal of fun and enjoyment!

Gross Motor Movement Songs for Kids

10 Best Songs for Gross Motor Movement

1. Row Row Row Your Boat

This is the perfect action song for toddlers and it’s often one of the first ones that they are able to grasp. The simple rowing action in pairs is great for making friends and possible for even very little ones to enjoy. Every baby enjoys rocking too and fro on your lap!

row row row your boat

2. Rainy Day Rhythm Games

These rainy day rhythm games are a great indoor gross motor movement activity and make sure you can have plenty of fun together on a rainy day! They’re perfect for blowing off some steam when it’s not very nice outside and a great learning opportunity too.

Rainy Day Rhythm Worksheets for Kids

3. I‘ve Got A Body

I’ve Got a Body is a bouncy little action song that offers endless opportunities to improvise with all of the actions we can make with our bodies. Children are always very keen to explore  –  it’s a great way to experiment with different movement and body percussion.

Let's Play Music : I've Got A Body - Action Songs for Kids

4. Here We Go Looby Loo

Here We Go Looby Loo is a lovely little circle game, where everyone does the movements together as a part of the dance. It’s excellent for encouraging everyone to join in and so great for building confidence and social skills.

Here We Go Looby Loo Action Song for Kids

5. Splashing In the Puddles

Another excellent song for preschoolers for blowing off steam on a rainy day! It’s guaranteed to get everyone jumping around – whether in imaginary puddles or real ones!

Let's Play Music : Splashing in the Puddles - Rainy Day Songs

6. All The Little Ducks Go Upside Down

This toddler action song is a lovely one for swimming lessons or bath-time. Of course the kids love all the waddling and waggling and they look so cute too!

Toddler Action Song about Ducks

7. Magic Feet Follow the Beat

Magic Feet Follow the Beat encourages a lot of varied movement as well as introducing the concept of musical note values in a fun and engaging way. Always a guaranteed hit!

Great game to teach kids music note values

8. I Sent A Letter To My Love (A Tisket A Tasket)

This circle dance is a lovely one to play outside during the summer – although it can of course be sung at any time of year as long as you have enough space.

A Tisket A Tasket Summertime Circle Game

9. This Is The Way The Lady Rides

Always a firm favourite with the toddlers, this traditional nursery rhyme is a lovely one to be able to act out together and always gets everyone giggling!

This Is The Way The Lady Rides Actions to accompany toddler song

10. The Dinosaur Stomp

The Dinosaur Stomp is a great song for those children who love pretend play and all kids love stomping and roaring!

A Dinosaur Song for Kids

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Filed Under: 5+, Action songs, Back To School, Musical Activities For..., Preschoolers, Songs, Toddlers Tagged With: Gross Motor Movement, Round-up

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Comments

  1. Catherine Stephenson says

    November 2, 2015 at 6:25 pm

    I love all these song ideas not only for my little one but for my dance studio. Music they recognize helps them move and feel free I believe.

    Reply
    • Mary Alice Long says

      October 15, 2016 at 6:52 pm

      Agreed! Let’s Dance!

      Reply
  2. Cynthia says

    August 17, 2015 at 7:16 am

    This is so important. Children forgot before all this high tech. Simple and easy .

    Reply
    • Sara Mullett says

      August 17, 2015 at 9:33 am

      I completely agree! It’s even more important now to balance out all the tech!

      Reply
  3. Suzanne Holt says

    August 16, 2015 at 2:42 pm

    Wish I had known about these songs when my kids were little. Fun ideas!

    Reply

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