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Growing Hands-On Kids

Growing Hands-On Kids

Child Development Tips, Tools, and Strategies

You are here: Home / Gross Motor Skills / 10 Movement Songs for Preschoolers

10 Movement Songs for Preschoolers

July 12, 2016 By Heather Greutman 6 Comments

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White background with 3 children dancing and moving. Green overlay with white text that says "10 movement songs for preschoolers" over it.

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It's no shock that toddlers and preschoolers are busy, busy kiddos. They are constantly moving, exploring, and learning through hands-on play. Movement songs are an excellent way to work on specific gross motor skills such as bilateral coordination, crossing midline plus getting bonus proprioceptive and vestibular input. Here are some fun movement songs for toddlers and preschoolers with some movement suggestions to go along with each song.

White background with 3 children dancing and moving. Green overlay with white text that says "10 movement songs for preschoolers" over it.

10 Movement Songs for Toddlers and Preschoolers

If You're Happy And You Know It – Movements include clapping hands, stomping feet, shouting, and then doing all 3 in a row.

Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes – Movements include using both hands to touch your head, shoulders knees toes, eyes, mouth, ears, and nose. A great activity for body awareness too.

Shake Your Sillies Out (The Wiggles) – Movements include shaking, nodding, clapping, jumping, and then stretching your bodies out as a rest.

The Hokey Pokey – Movements include using both sides of the body and discriminating between the left and right sides of the body.

Silly Dance Contest (Jim Gill) – We love this one because it works of lots of fun bilateral coordination moves and also works on terms like fast and slow.

Down Down Baby (Laurie Berkner) – Working on clapping and rhythm.

Run Baby Run (Caspar Babypants) – Running in place, jumping, spinning and many other fun movements with this song!


The Dinosaur Stomp (Mother Goose Playhouse Kids Song) – Stomping, chomping, crunching, munching and even roaring like a dinosaur. A very fun song!

Rolly Polly (Mother Goose Playhouse Kids Song) – This one is an excellent song for learning about words such as up, down, in, out, left, right and more!


Let's Get Movin' (Lauren Meyer) – Shaking to the side, hoping, turning around, touching the ground, and moving to the beat of the music.

I hope you enjoy these fun songs with your preschoolers.

Songs and Rhymes for Transition Times

My friend Angela has written an amazing song transitions book. It's a great way to help kids transition from one task to another. Grab your copy of Songs & Rhymes for Transitions to use in your preschool classroom or therapy sessions.

Follow Heather | Growing Hands-On Kids's board Bilateral Coordination Activities on Pinterest.

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Filed Under: Gross Motor Skills Tagged With: For Parents, For Teachers, For Therapists, Gross Motor, Sensory, Tot-School

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CONTENT DISCLAIMER: Heather Greutman is a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant. All information on the Website is for informational purposes only and is not a replacement for medical advice from a physician or your pediatrician. Please consult with a medical professional if you suspect any medical or developmental issues with your child. The information on the Websites does not replace the relationship between therapist and client in a one-on-one treatment session with an individualized treatment plan based on their professional evaluation. The information provided on the Website is provided “as is” without any representations or warranties, express or implied. Do not rely on the information on the Website as an alternative to advice from your medical professional or healthcare provider. You should never delay seeking medical advice, disregard medical advice, or discontinue medical treatment as a result of any information provided on the Website. All medical information on the Website is for informational purposes only. All activities outlined on the Website are designed for completion with adult supervision. Please use your own judgment with your child and do not provide objects that could pose a choking hazard to young children. Never leave a child unattended during these activities. Please be aware of and follow all age recommendations on all products used in these activities. Growing Hands-On Kids is not liable for any injury when replicating any of the activities found on this blog. YOUR RESPONSIBILITY The Website was developed strictly for informational purposes. You understand and agree that you are fully responsible for your use of the information provided on the Website. Growing Hands-On Kids makes no representations, warranties or guarantees. You understand that results may vary from person to person. Growing Hands-On Kids assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions that may appear in the Website.

Comments

  1. EJ says

    August 2, 2016 at 6:29 pm

    Thank you so much for this list! I just realized yesterday that preschool is starting a week later than I thought. Our summer sitter has already said goodbye. Two weeks is a looong time to make the most of with 2.75 year old twins. They are going to LOVE these when we start tomorrow!!!

    Reply
    • Heather Greutman says

      August 2, 2016 at 9:20 pm

      Awesome, you’re welcome EJ! Have fun!

      Reply
  2. Vesna says

    January 16, 2017 at 6:09 pm

    Thank you , those are great ides.
    I like and kids toooo The New Zoo Review and Listen And Move by Greg Scelsa
    Best regards and thank you for shering

    Reply
  3. H Green says

    November 6, 2017 at 11:23 pm

    Do you have any of the words to these songs. We do not have screen time for our little ones. The songs are good recommendations, many are new to me so thank you so much for putting them together. The Roly Poly song seems to need the video for the “in” concept.

    Reply
    • Heather Greutman says

      November 7, 2017 at 2:00 pm

      Hi, I don’t. It becomes a copyright issue for me to include them all without permission from each author. I’m glad you found some new ones to include!

      Reply
  4. Sharon says

    December 4, 2018 at 10:57 pm

    Google Nancy Stewart. She has great songs for preschool kids. Lots are movement songs. Dinocars and Dinosaur Dance Floor are some of my favorite. Don’t forget about Looby Loo and London Bridge.

    Reply

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