Playsongs blog ~ where we share songs, news and views

Our Playsongs blog regularly features a favourite baby and toddler song or rhyme. We relate stories from our contributors and followers about their favourite songs, and tell you the stories behind the songs.

Dandelion Clock ~ lullaby and action song

'What shall we do with the dandelion green? We could make a gift for a flower fairy queen..' An action song or lullaby, which tells

Sheena

Ring a ring a roses ~ and daisy chains ~ a baby song for springtime

I made my grand daughter's first daisy chain. At 20 months, she was more interested in making friends with the bigger kids in the park...

Sheena

Hop hop hop ~ Easter knee ride

When it's hot cross bunny time, my 'Easter tree' is full of little chicks and decorated eggs, ready for grandbaby to enjoy. Here's an...

Sheena

One to make ready ~ toddler walking rhyme

One to make ready, two to make steady, three to prepare and AWAY goes the mare!

Sheena

The Gypsy Rover ~ rocking lullaby or gentle knee ride

Don't know the words to songs to sing to your baby? Well, they don't know the words either. But they just love your voice. Hum, sing la,...

Sheena and Charlie

Jack be nimble ~ lively knee bouncer with a high lift

Here comes Jack being nimble and quick. Let's get springy and bouncy and lift the little babies high. Spring's come back with a leap....

Sheena

Daffy-down-dilly ~ springtime baby rocking rhyme or toddler knee ride

Here's a spring-time rocking game to sing to the tune of Baa baa black sheep. Play it at nappy changing, or anytime that baby is lying...

Sheena

A little frog ~ fingerplay or whole body action game.

A fingerplay to tickle a toddler with - A little frog hides in a hole and leaps out to give you a surprise.

Sheena

Wee Wiggie ~ finger play or toe tickler

A finger play from Playsongs: Action Songs and Rhymes for Babies and Toddlers. Performed by Kevin Graal, music accompaniment by Stephen Chad

Sheena

Arthur O'Bower ~ bathtime storm raiser

Here's a Scots children's rhyme with a great whoosh of energy ~ use it to splash up a stormy bath time and make hair washing more fun....

Sheena

Hey, ca' thro' (Robert Burns) ~ lively knee bouncer and dance

It's Burns' Night and I'm away up to Scotland with one of his great songs dancing around ma heid. You can imagine the little ones being...

Sheena

Giro giro tondo ~ Italian circle game

Marco plays this circle game from his childhood with his baby daughter. The words mean: 'Turning round and round, What a beautiful World,...

Sheena

Hands can hold and hands can squeeze ~ sound exploration song

Hands can clap, rub, swish, rustle, click, fingersnap,scrape... explore all the sounds you can make with this little play rhyme.

Sheena

Hedgehogs ~ fingerplay or whole body action song

A gentle little rhyme and song about hedgehogs. Play the fingerplay instructions to hoot like an owl and 'boo' like a ghost - then m

Sheena

Teddies getting ready for big day out

We're going to the London Children's Book Fair this Friday 16th and Saturday 17th. So the teddies have been getting ready ~ preparing...

Sheena