3.+Finger+Games

Below are five original finger plays. The first three are to help children get some wiggles out and get settled down to start a session. The last two are just for fun. 1. Wiggle your fingers and wiggle your toes, Blink your eyes and scrunch your nose. Clap your hands and pat your cheeks, Breathe in deep and have a seat. 2. Clap, clap, wiggle, stomp. Do just what I do. Whoosh like the wind, bunny hop. Now we're almost through. Give a hug //(can just hug yourself here),// blow a kiss. Sit down on the floor. Listen quietly, just like this //(model sitting cross-legged with hands folded in lap).// It's story time once more. 3. Hands are for clapping. //(clap)// Toes are for tapping. //(tap your toes)// <span style="color: #000080; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Arms are for hugging. //(hug yourself)// <span style="color: #000080; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Shoulders are for shrugging. //(shrug a time or two)// <span style="color: #000080; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Feet are for stomping. //(stomp)// <span style="color: #000080; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Legs are for hopping. //(hop)// <span style="color: #000080; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Bottoms are for sitting. //(sit down)// <span style="color: #000080; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Ears are for listening. //(cup hand to ear)// <span style="color: #000080; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif;">(Okay, so that last part doesn't quite rhyme, but it achieves the goal of having the children get some wiggles out and then sit quietly to listen.)

<span style="color: #000080; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif;">4. Show your paws and make some claws. <span style="color: #000080; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Growl like a bear. <span style="color: #000080; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Eat some honey //(pretend to shovel food into your mouth),// then take a nap //(put hands to cheek and close eyes)// <span style="color: #000080; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif;">All winter in your lair. <span style="color: #000080; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif;">5. Fish swim //(pretend to swim)// <span style="color: #000080; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Birds fly //(flap your arms)// <span style="color: #000080; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Lions pounce //(hold up lion claws and roar)// <span style="color: #000080; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Monkeys climb //(pretend to climb, as you would up a tree or a ladder)// <span style="color: #000080; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Butterflies flutter //(cross your hands at the wrists with your palms facing you, hook thumbs together, flutter your fingers)// <span style="color: #000080; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Elephants sway //(clasp your hands with your arms straight down, lean forward slightly, and sway your arms like an elephant's trunk)// <span style="color: #000080; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif;">But we like to run <span style="color: #000080; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif;">and jump and play! //(jump around)//