Babies naturally love to hear rhyming chants, and this chant helps babies become familiar with common body parts. Face-to-face play also promotes bonding with a baby’s parent or primary caregiver.
Learning Area(s): Language and Communication; Social and Emotional
MATERIALS
- None
LET'S PLAY
As you hold your baby facing you, or place her on her back on a mat or blanket facing you, sing this chant and touch her body parts as you sing:
These are baby’s fingers,
These are baby’s toes,
This is baby’s belly button,
Round and round it goes.
These are baby’s ears,
This is baby’s nose,
This is baby’s belly button,
Round and round it goes.
TIPS
- You can substitute your child’s name for the word “baby” in the chant.
- Toddlers may sit or stand during this chant and point to their body parts with you. They may also mimic the “round and round” motion. You can encourage them to do this and to try saying the chant with you.
- Once children know the above basic body parts, you can add other body parts to the chant (e.g., knees, chin, elbow) and use the same repeated phrase: “This is baby’s belly button, round and round it goes.”