Enhancing Child Development Skills Through Music

Christmas is the perfect time to enhance child development skills through the use music. I am repeating a column from earlier years, as I believe music is a great tool for learning, and the songs of the holiday season are quiet catching to children of all ages. These songs are helpful in the development of language, articulation, motor and educational skills. Here are a few of my favorites.

Five Little Turkeys

Five little turkeys standing at the door,
One waddled off, and then there were four.

Four little turkeys sitting near a tree,
One waddled off, and then there were three.

Three little turkeys with nothing to do,
One waddled off, and then there were two.

Two little turkeys in the morning sun,
One waddled off, and then there was one.

One little turkey better run away,
For soon it will be Thanksgiving Day.

Reindeer Pokey (Sung to: “The Hokey Pokey”)
You put your antlers in. You put your antlers out.
You put you antlers in and you shake them all about.
You do the Reindeer Pokey and you turn yourself around.
That’s what it’s all about!

Christmas Finger play
I am a Christmas tree growing up tall, (stretch)
But when I first started, I was this small. (crouch)
Then I grew bigger and had branches this wide, (stand slowly, arms out)
And I made pine cones with seeds hiding inside. (hands for pine cone)
The wind shakes my branches, (shake arms)
And down those seeds fall, (flutter fingers downward)
To make new little pine trees for tinsel and balls. (point hands together for tree, opening slowly to form ball shape)

There’s A Little Elf (Sung to: “If You’re Happy & You Know It”)
There’s a little elf that’s sitting on my nose,
There’s a little elf that’s sitting on my nose.
He is sitting on my nose,
Then off away he goes.
Now there’s no little elf on my nose.

There’s a little elf that’s sitting on my knee,
There’s a little elf that’s sitting on my knee.
He is sitting on my knee,
Just watch and he will flee.
Now there’s no little elf on my knee.

There’s a little elf that’s sitting on my head,
There’s a little elf that’s sitting on my head.
He is sitting on my head,
Then away he goes to bed.
Now there’s no little elf on my head.

Let’s All (Sung to: “We Wish You A Merry Christmas”)
Let’s all do a little clapping,
Let’s all do a little clapping,
Let’s all do a little clapping,
& spread Christmas cheer.

Old St. Nicholas (Sung to: “Old McDonald Had a Farm”)
Old St. Nicholas had a tree (form tree with arms) – continue…. lights——-flash flash
Ho, ho ho ho ho! – candy canes——-yum-yum
And on that tree he had some horns (blow horns) – drums——-boom-boom
Ho ho ho ho ho – bells———ring ring
With a toot toot here and a toot toot there – birds——peep peep
Here a toot There a toot – stars——twinkle twinkle
Every where a toot toot – snowflakes——-flutter flutter

Toys on the Christmas Tree (Sung to: “This Old Man”)
This little drum–on the tree
Santa put it there for me
With a boom-boom, rat-a-tat
Rummy-tummy-tum
Christmas Day is so much fun!
This little train–on the tree
Santa put it there for me
With a chug-chug, chew-choo
Rummy-tummy-tum
Christmas Day is so much fun!
This little doll–on the tree
Santa put it there for me
With a Ma-ma, Ma-ma
Rummy-tummy-tum
Christmas Day is so much fun!