Whether it is a school competition or a talent show, little ones adorably reciting rhymes with their cute actions are show stealers! Looking for some simple and unique action songs for your kid? Here’s a collection of 20 action songs for kids to help you out!
What is an action song?
Action songs are short rhymes that include body movements in singing the song. ‘Ringa ringa roses’ is a good example that many toddlers follow with ease.
Skills in action songs
Research has shown that activities like playing games, group action songs and creative art are far better than worksheets or rote learning.
Exploring different songs enhances these skills in your toddler:
- Rhythm
- Syllables and rhyming
- Memory
- Auditory perception
- Vocabulary
- Counting and other concepts
When you teach your kids the same rhyme with actions, it also helps develop your child’s:
- Listening skills
- Ability to follow instructions
- Balance
- Coordination
- Concentration
- Gross motor skills
20 action songs for kids with movements
- Hokey Pokey
Put your right hand in – (stretch right hand forward and wave; place left hand on hip)
Take your right hand out – (close right hand by bending elbows and fingers touching shoulders)
Put your right hand in – (stretch right hand forward and wiggle the hand)
And you shake it all about – (left hand on hip and right hand wiggling forward, wiggle and do a sit up)
Do the hokey pokey – (fold both hands on sides and flap them like chicken wings while turning left and right)Do the hokey pokey – (same as above)
And you turn yourself around – (turn around)
2. Teddy Bear Teddy Bear
Teddy bear teddy bear turn around – (turn around)
Teddy bear teddy bear touch the ground – (Touch the ground)
Teddy bear teddy bear polish your shoes – (bend over and swipe shoes)
Teddy bear teddy bear off to school – (wave goodbye and march at the same place)
3. If you’re happy
If you’re happy and you know it clap your hands – (point at audience and then clap twice)
If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands – (repeat above)
If you’re happy and you know – (point at audience and then place hands on top of each other on chest)
And you really want to show – (make heart with hands)
If you’re happy and you know it clap your hands – (point at audience and then clap twice)
4. I am a little teapot
I’m a little teapot – (place hand on chest)
Short and stout – (show short by cupping both hands in front of chest; then switch hands)
This is my handle – (left wrist to the hip)
And this is my spout – (Bend right hand at elbows and wrist like a handle)
When the water is boiling – (wiggle fingers, bend forward and raise hands from low to high)
Hear me shout – (place hands around the mouth)
Just lift me up – (back to teapot pose and jump)
And pour me out – (Tip towards the right)
5. Hop a little
Hop a little, jump a little one two three – (hop on each leg once)
Run a little, skip a little tap one knee – (Bend a tap the knees)
Bend a little stretch a little nod your head – (nod)
Yawn a little sleep a little in your bed – (put hands together under the face on one side for sleep)
6. Head Shoulders
Head and shoulders knees and toes knees and toes – (touch the parts with both hands; cross your hands whenever possible)
Head and shoulders knees and toes knees and toes – (repeat)
Eyes and ears – (point at parts without crossing hands)
And mouth and nose – (point at parts with right hand)
Head and shoulders knees and toes knees and toes – (touch parts while crossing hands)
7. Clap your hands
Clap your hands x 2 – (clap)
Listen to the music and clap your hands – (sway side to side and clap)
Pat your knees x 2 – (cross over arms and pat knees)
Listen to the music and pat your knees – (sway and then pat knees)
Stomp your feet x 2 – (both hands on hips, bring foot forward and stomp twice)
Listen to the music and stomp your feet – (sway side to side and stomp)
Turn around x 2 – (turn around twice)
Listen to the music and turn around – (sway and turn around)
Jump up high x 2 – (jump twice)
Listen to the music and jump up high – (sway and jump)
8. Baby Shark
Mommy shark, doo, doo, doo, doo x 3
Mommy shark
Daddy shark, doo, doo, doo, doo, x 3
Daddy shark
Grandma shark, doo, doo, doo, doo, x 3
Grandma shark
Grandpa shark, doo, doo, doo, doo, x 3
Grandpa shark
9. Five Little Monkeys
Five little monkeys jumping on the bed – (show 5 fingers and jump)
One fell off and bumped his head – (show one finger, tilt head to side and swish both hands and then rub head)
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said – (use fist as phone)
“No more monkeys jumping on the bed!” – (left hand on hip, sway right hand index finger and shake head to say no)
And continue counting.
10. Wheels on the bus
The wheels on the bus go round and round – (make circles with both hands)
Round and round x 2 – (make circles)
The wheels on the bus go round and round – (make circles)
All through the town – (make a wavy pattern)
The wipers on the bus go swish, swish, swish – (swish hands)
Swish, swish, swish x 2 – (swish)
The wipers on the bus go swish, swish, swish – (swish)
All through the town – (make a wavy pattern)
11. B-I-N-G-O
There was a farmer who had a dog – (make dog paws with bent wrist in front of chest)
And Bingo was his name-O – (jump with same pose)
B-I-N-G-O! – (clap 5 times)
B-I-N-G-O! – (clap 5 times)
B-I-N-G-O! – (clap 5 times)
And Bingo was his name-O! – (jump with dog pose)
There was a farmer who had a fish – (put palms on each other and wiggle the thumbs out)
And Bingo was his name- O – (Jump with fish pose)
(Clap)-I-N-G-O! – (clap 5 times)
(Clap)-I-N-G-O! – (clap 5 times)
(Clap)-I-N-G-O! – (clap 5 times)
And Bingo was his name-O! – (jump in fish pose)
12. Old McDonald
Old McDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O – (bend hands at elbows and hold in front of stomach; make walking actions)
And on his farm he had a cow, E-I-E-I-O – (hands on hips, then make horns with fingers on head)
With a “moo-moo” here and a “moo-moo” there – (jump twice, with horns)
Here a “moo” there a “moo” – (point horn head to right and left)
Everywhere a “moo-moo” – (rotate head with horns)
Old McDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O – (walking action)
And on his farm he had a duck, E-I-E-I-O – (hands on hips and then put hands together like a beak)
With a “quack-quack” here and a “quack-quack” there – (open and close beak twice on left and right)
Here a ” quack ” there a ” quack ” – ( once left & right)
Everywhere a ” quack – quack ” – (rotate hands and quack)
Old McDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O – (walking action)
13. Row your boat
Row, row, row your boat – (sway and make rowing actions)
Gently down the stream – (make waves with hands)
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily – (skip and hop)
– Life is but a dream – (roll hands together)Row, row, row your boat – (row and sway)
Gently down the stream – (make waves)
If you see a crocodile – (point at audience)
– Don`t forget to scream! – (cross hands to make X)
14. Brush your teeth
Brush brush brush your teeth – (nod & make brushing actions)
Brush them every day – (sway & brushing actions)
Father mother brother sister – (hop and skip with left hand on hip; point audience with right hand)
Brush them every day- (nod & brush)
Comb comb comb your hair – (combing action)
Comb them every day – (sway & comb)
Father mother brother sister – (hop and skip with left hand on hip; point audience with right hand)
Comb them every day – (nod & comb)
Wash wash wash your face – (washing action)
Wash them every day – (sway and wash)
Father mother brother sister- (hop and skip with left hand on hip; point audience with right hand)
Wash them every day – (washing action)
15. Little bird
Once I saw a little bird – (flap hands like wings)
Go hop, hop, hop – (jump)
So I said: – little bird – (hand on chest)
Will you stop, stop, stop? – (stop sign)
Then I was going to the window – (hop and skip)
To say “How do you do?” – (hands on cheek)
But he shook his little tail – (shake)
And a way he flew! – (swish both hands)
16. Ten Little Fingers
Ten little fingers, ten little toes – (hold up and wiggle fingers; point at toes)
Two little ears and one little nose – (point ears and nose)
Two little eyes that shine so bright – (point eyes)
And one little mouth to kiss goodnight – (flying kiss)
17. Star light; star bright
Star light; star bright – (point up with right hand; point up with left hand)
First star I see tonight – (put one finger out)
I wish I may, I wish I might – (hop & skip)
Have the wish I wish tonight – (place hands on chest)
18. Twinkle twinkle little star
Twinkle, twinkle, little star – (sway)
How I wonder what you are – (questioning action)
Up above the world so high – (spread both hands above head)
Like a diamond in the sky – (make a diamond with fingers)
When the blazing sun is gone – (bye action)
When he nothing shines upon – (say bye with both hands)
Then you show your little light – (point up)
Twinkle, twinkle, all the night – (skip and sway)
19. The Mulberry Bush
Here we go round the mulberry bush – (hands on hips, skip)
The mulberry bush, the mulberry bush – (hands on hip, sway)
Here we go round the mulberry bush – (hands on hips, skip)
So early in the morning – (swish both hands)This is the way we brush our teeth – (one hand on hip, brushing action)
Brush our teeth, brush our teeth – (brushing action)
This is the way we brush our teeth – (one hand on hip, brushing action)
So early in the morning – (swish both hands)
20. Humpty Dumpty
Humpty dumpty sat on a wall – (hands on hips, sway)
Humpty dumpty had a great fall – (swish both hands and tip head to left)
All the king’s horses and all the king’s men – (point to left and point to right)
Couldn’t put humpty together again – (swish hands)
How do you teach action rhymes?
The first step to get kids engaged is to expose them to the rhyme, a lot. Sing along to the song or play it generally around them until they are familiar with it. Introduce gestures next and be patient in this phase. It can take a while for toddlers to improve their coordination and time their movements to the lyrics.
How do you explain rhythm to a child?
Rhythm can be hard for younger children to grasp if explained. Actively moving and lots of repetition are key to internalizing rhythm. Also tools like drum beats, maracas or counts like one-two, one-two-three can be really useful in following a rhythm.
How do you increase your rhythm?
After the selected action songs for kids are well practiced, play the song faster in the middle, and move back to normal. Speeding and slowing a few times randomly helps kids get the hang of rhythm better.
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