Finger plays are an incredibly useful thing to have in the repertoire for keeping babies and toddlers entertained. The repetitive and rhythmic nature makes them easily recognisable for small children and they will quickly become first favourites.
Walky Round The Garden
Walky Round The Garden is one of the best known finger plays because even very young babies love a tickle! It’s always a popular one at changing time and can be sung to this simple tune below or just recited.
You trace a little circle in the palm of the child’s hand as you recite the words. Then you take two steps up the arm and right up to the arm pit for the tickle! You can also do it on the babies tummy to great effect.
Walky Round The Garden Lyrics
Walky Round The Garden
Like A Teddy Bear
One step, two steps,
Tickley under there!
Walky Round The Garden Tune
Under Teddy’s Jumper
Under Teddy’s Jumper is such a cute little rhyme and another one that comes in handy at changing time.
Under Teddy’s Jumper Lyrics
Under Teddy’s jumper,
Under Teddy’s vest,
There’s a little button,
Just waiting to be pressed
Lift up Teddy’s Jumper,
Take a little peak,
And press the little button,
It goes squeak! squeak! squeak!
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, Turn Around
This is probably the easiest of the teddy bear songs and is a popular playground skipping game. The tune is so simple and repetitive and the small range is perfect for little ones sing easily. If you have some chime bars or a xylophone, this is such a simple song to play.
It’s also an excellent way to learn the intervals So- Mi-La and Do. The actions of the song can either be mimed by the child or you can make a teddy bear do the actions as you sing the song together.
Check out the video below for some more verses.
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, Turn Around Lyrics
Teddy bear, Teddy bear, turn around,
Teddy bear, Teddy bear, touch the ground.
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Teddy bear, Teddy bear, tie your shoes,
Teddy bear, Teddy bear, that will do!
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Teddy bear, Teddy bear go upstairs,
Teddy Bear, Teddy bear, say your prayers,
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Teddy bear, Teddy bear, turn out the light,
Teddy bear, Teddy bear, say good-night!
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, Turn Around Tune
More Teddy activities
- Add in a bedtime story such as the popular “Can’t You Sleep, Little Bear?” to round off the Teddy theme
- March around to the original Henry Hall recording of The Teddy Bear’s Picnic
- Check out my Bears Lesson Plan for more lovely teddy-bear themed musical activities
What your child will learn from these musical activities
- Developing speech, language and vocabulary skills
- Learning to pitch notes – especially So-Mi
- Listening skills
- Developing memory skills through learning and recognising melodies and lyrics
- Enhancing bonding, security and confidence building
How Does that Song Go?
Do you mean ‘Under Teddy’s Jumper’? This one is traditionally just a rhyme so it’s not sung, just spoken. Although there’s nothing to stop you making your own tune up!