This is the time of year when some days the children are too hot from playing outside to do much moving around, but other days are rainy and stormy and the children are restless and filled with fidgetiness. Then it’s time for a fun action song!
I created this one recently to use the large muscles in the arms. It also requires listening to the pattern of the words, so they know the right time to “take a nap, nap, nap!”
Hold Your Hands Out (tune: Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush)
Children should be standing in a circle with their arms held out in front of them.
Hold your hands out and clap, clap, clap,
Hold your hands out and clap, clap, clap,
Hold your hands out and clap, clap, clap, And then you can take a nap, nap, nap! (Clap when indicated, and on the last line, fold your hands under your tilted head and shut your eyes)
Additional verses:
Hold your hands up and clap, clap, clap… (Hold arms high over head)
Hold your hands low and clap clap, clap… (Hold hands down towards feet)
Hold your hands back and clap, clap, clap… (Hold hands straight out behind your back)
For even more fun, you can do the whole song again, at a faster speed. Young children always love this challenge!
Music (and Science) For Young Children 