Round and Round the Arctic

This one is an adaptation of one of my favourites! Tried and true, it can work for babies and toddlers too!

Round and round the Arctic
Like a Polar Bear!

One step, two step

                                          Tickle you under there!

Five Little Puppies

This one works well on fingers or on a feltboard! It is a charming counting rhyme for babies and toddlers.


Five Little Puppies


Five little puppies were playing in the snow. Have your fingers extended or all dogs on the board.
This one saw a rabbit, and he decided to go. Bend a finger or remove a dog.
This one saw a butterfly,and he began to race. Bend a finger or remove a dog.
This one saw a cat,and he began to chase. Bend/remove a third dog.
This one tried to catch his tail,and he went round and round. Bend/remove a fourth dog.
This one was so quiet, he never made a sound. All fingers/dogs are now gone.

"Dressing for the Cold" Song

I had a lot of fun writing the words to this song. You can say it as a rhyme, but it was meant to be sung to the tune of "A Bushel and a Peck" from the musical Guys and Dolls. Get the parents/caregivers to touch the area on the child as it is named (or as you do the actions).

I'm dressing for the cold!
I wear a hat upon my head,
A scarf around my neck,
And two mittens that are red!

My snowpants warm my legs
And my jacket makes me glow.
Two boots go on my feet,
Yes they'll help me keep the heat
In the snow!

Spoken -- Oh no! Now that I'm dressed, I know I'll need a rest. Let's sit down for another (story/rhyme/song...)

Mitten Rhyme

I heard this rhyme at a storytelling circle in Toronto last year, and made up the second verse based on the first. Hold up your hands and prepare to wiggle those thumbs and fingers!

Thumbs in the thumb place!

Fingers all together!
That's the rhyme that we all say
Because it's mitten weather!


Heels in the heel place,
Squish your toes together!
That's a song that we all sing
Because it's snow-boot weather!

Rolling Snowballs Song

Another season of story times starts!

This song is sung to the tune "Where is Thumbkin?"

Roll your fists together while singing the word "rolling". Wiggle your fingers while singing the world "melting".

Rolling snowballs!
                         Rolling snowballs!

                         Thick, thick, thick! (hold your hands widely)
                         Thick, thick, thick!

                          Melting, melting snowballs!
                          Melting, melting snowballs!
                          Thin, thin, thin!     (hold your hands together)
                          Thin, thin, thin!

                          Rolling snowballs!
                                                               Rolling snowballs!
                                                               Tall, tall, tall!        (Roll/stretch up high)
                                                               Tall, tall, tall!

                          Melting, melting snowballs!
                          Melting, melting snowballs!
                          Small, small, small!  (Roll/stretch down low)
                          Small, small, small!