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Fabulous Fingerplays That Educate and Entertain

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December 5, 2017 by Maggie Patrick 1 Comment

Fingerplays for preschoolers are absolutely magical!

There is so much value in fingerplays, and I love using them at the libraries where I do Story Time. These teachable moments help children with fine motor development, pre-writing skills, language development, and so much more! Fingerplays are perfect for circle time, large group learning, small group learning, in musical settings, one-on-one, and even for independent play.

Fingerplays kids love

The Value of Fingerplays

Fingerplays can be:

  • Used as attention getters
  • A way to extend learning after reading a book of a similar theme
  • A tool to promote language skills and vocabulary
  • Used to increase creativity, body awareness, etc.
  • A way to help with listening skills

Not only are children learning tons from them, but they are entertaining too.

As a parent, I use fingerplays on a regular basis in fun and meaningful interactions with my little ones. They have saved us from looming meltdowns and worked magic in waiting rooms and restaurants too.

In the classroom, fingerplays are a great way to start circle time and to transition to a listening activity.

We especially love adding finger puppets to our fingerplays! Fill out the box below to grab a copy of our FREE farm finger puppets!

Plus, we’ve created song posters and cards with song sticks that you can print from your own printer which are purchasable in our store. A lot of great fingerplays are included!

Songs and Song Sticks

A Few of My Favorite Fingerplays

After using fingerplays for years, I have put together the fingerplay songs that are our most favorite. Get those fingers wiggling!

Five Little Hot Dogs by Jbrary

The ladies of Jbrary are a fabulous resource for all kinds of fun interactive rhymes and fingerplays.

Five Little Hot Dogs is a favorite STEM & counting fingerplay. Follow along and count down the hot dogs as they heat up and “pop” while cooking in the pan.

Bubble, Bubble, Pop by Jbrary

Another favorite would be Bubble, Bubble, Pop. Children learn counting, colors, and all about ocean life.

Bubble, Bubble, Pop is a magnificent pairing for books such as Dr. Seuss’ One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish or Deborah Diesen’s The Pout Pout Fish.

Two Little Friends by Alina Celeste

Alina Celeste is an incredibly dynamic children’s musician, and her interpretation of some of the classic fingerplays are absolutely delightful!

Two Little Friends is funny and engaging. It’s also probably one of my top 5 fingerplays and a frequent request of my own kiddos. This song is a great tool for building background knowledge on opposites and vocabulary skills.

Here is the Beehive by Alina Celeste

Alina Celeste’s charming interpretation of Here is the Beehive has also been a hit with little learners both in the library, classroom and at home!

This one can be incorporated into a lesson/theme on bees or counting.

Ball for Baby

Children’s musician Nancy Kopman is extremely popular in our household! I will often find my children singing and acting out the hand motions of her songs unguided.

This particular song has also been popular with caregivers in baby lap sit programs.

Open Shut Them

You cannot have a list of fingerplays without including Open Shut Them! My children are in love with the version sung by Debbie Doo.

This is one that I have also used frequently in the library. It allows babies and children the opportunity to match finger movements to lyrics. It is also a perfect transition fingerplay in the classroom.

Finger Family

Once you have heard Finger Family it is incredibly difficult to get it out of your head! In fact, this particular song became part of our bedtime ritual for months.

Not only are you matching the finger motions to the lyrics, but you are also working on background knowledge about family relationships. This song is perfect for planning social/emotional learning.

Fe Fi Fo Fum

A fantastic fingerplay for building strength and coordination is the pincer grasp promoting Fe Fi Fo Fum.


Baby Shark

There are many versions of the popular fingerplay story and song Baby Shark. I am especially fond of the version sung by Miss Nina.

This is a great song that provides narrative skill building, fine motor skills, and background knowledge.

Fingerplays with Dr. Jean

Last but not least is the amazing Dr. Jean with some quick and fun fingerplays that children find irresistible! Some include Five Little Monkeys and the Alligator, Little Turtle, and more! We especially love Dr. Jean’s explanation of the benefits at the very end.

Additional Resources for Fingerplays

These fingerplays for kids are some of the best way to help children transition to circle time! #preschool #kindergarten #circletime #fingerplay #songs #songsforkids #musictheme #musicandmovement #finemotor

Here are a few more ideas about finger play songs and rhymes. Do you have any favorites you’d like to share?

CLEL Story Blocks http://www.storyblocks.org/

King County Library https://kcls.org/content-category/finger_plays/

Need more songs to use all throughout the day? We’ve got you covered!

Music and Movement Songs

  • Movement and Action Songs
  • Brain Break Dance Songs
  • The Ultimate List of Baby Shark Songs 

Educational Songs

  • Songs that Teach
  • Rhyming Songs for Kids
  • ABC and Alphabet Songs
  • Days of the Week Songs
  • The Ultimate Guide to Preschool Songs
  • Rainbow Songs for Kids
  • Clean Up Songs
  • Color Songs

Start and End your Day with Music!

  • Welcome Songs
  • Goodbye Songs

Circle Time Songs

  • Hello Songs
  • Fingerplays
  • Nursery Rhyme Songs
  • Circle Time Songs that Teach

Seasonal Songs

  • Pumpkin and Halloween Songs for Kids
  • Thanksgiving Songs for Kids
  • Christmas Songs for Kids
  • Winter Songs for Kids
  • Spring Songs for Kids
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Maggie Patrick
Maggie Patrick
Maggie Patrick lives in Arizona with her husband and two small children. Maggie has worked as a literacy expert for over 10 years with the public library. She has also spent two years working in K-6 classrooms. Maggie is a strong advocate of early literacy and childhood development. She enjoys reading, drawing, traveling and spending time with her family.
Maggie Patrick
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Filed Under: Circle Time, Music Tagged With: fine motor, fingerplays, preschool songs

Comments

  1. Holly Merrill says

    April 8, 2019 at 5:10 pm

    This was extremely helpful from one Arizona girl to another!

    Reply

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I'm Katie, and I'm a veteran preschool teacher, child development research junkie, and mom of three who lives on little sleep and turns my kitchen into an art and science laboratory.

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