Early Words

Children begin to hear and respond to sounds before they are born. Strengthening your child’s communication skills by using rhymes and music can help bring a positive mood to you and your child’s day, while setting the scene for early literacy development.

Try songs and rhymes that are repetitive and that use words with strong consonants in order to help develop early speech. Exaggerate your voice and facial expression and let the learning (and giggles) begin!

Criss Cross Applesauce

"Criss cross, (draw an x on baby/childs back or belly)
Applesauce, (tap their shoulders)
Spiders crawling up your back, (crawl your fingers up their back)
Tight squeeze, (a hug)
Cool breeze, (blow on their neck)
Now you’ve got the shivers!" (tickle time)

Hands on Shoulders
(follow along matching actions and words)

"Hands on shoulders, 
hands on knees.
Hands behind you, 
if you please;
Touch your shoulders, 
now your nose, 
Now your hair and now your toes; 
Hands up high in the air,
Down at your sides, and touch your hair;
Hands up high as before, 
Now clap your hands, one-two-three-four!"

Baa-baa Black Sheep

"Baa baa black sheep have you any wool?
Yes sir, yes sir, three bags full.
One for the farmer and one for the dame,
And one for the little boy who lives down the lane."

A Ram Sam Sam
(see actions at the end)

"A ram sam sam, a ram sam sam
Gooli gooli gooli gooli gooli ram sam sam
A ram sam sam, a ram sam sam
Gooli gooli gooli gooli gooli ram sam sam
A rafi a rafi
Gooli gooli gooli gooli gooli ram sam sam
A rafi a rafi
gooli gooli gooli gooli gooli ram sam sam"

Actions:
Ram sam sam: prop yourself up and bounce your backside on the floor three times
Gooli gooli...: drum your feet on the floor
A rafi: wave arms in the air
With a younger baby they can lay on your lap looking up, for a toddler they can sit on your lap.

Ho, Ho, Watanay: An Iroquois Lullaby

"Ho, ho, Watanay                     
Ho, ho, Watanay                     
Ho, ho, Watanay
Ki-yo-ki-na
Ki-yo-ki-na."

Dodo, Dodo, Mon Tout Petit
(Ho, Ho, Watanay: En Français)

"Dodo, dodo, mon tout petit
Dodo, dodo, mon tout petit
Dodo, dodo, mon tout petit
Maintenant fais dodo,
Fais dodo."

Sleep, sleep, My Little One
( Ho, Ho, Watanay: In English)

"Sleep, Sleep, my little one
Sleep, sleep, my little one
Sleep, sleep, my little one

Sleep now. Sleep now."

Drop us a line to add your favourite songs and rhymes here.