A group of children sit down in a circle some distance apart, a child is chosen to carry the ‘letter’ (an envelope). The child then runs around the outside of the group (circle) as everyone sitting down closes their eyes and sings:

On finishing the song the children sitting down all look behind them whoever has the letter picks it up and tries to catch the person who dropped the letter before they get back to the vacated seat. If the person who has the letter gets to the seat she gets to be in again, if she gets caught then the other person has a go at dropping off the letter. For younger children (under 5) it is best to just take turns anyway.

5 little monkeys jumping on the bed,
One fell off and bumped their head,
Mama called the doctor,
And the doctor said ‘No more monkeys jumping on the bed’

Keep reapeating song counting down to 1 little monkey.

Oh, what do you think my name is?,
I wonder if you know,
My name is ……. Rebecca,
‘Hello, hello, hello, hello, hello, hello, hello’

Then point to the child you want to say their name or say for them.

Five little ducks went out one day,
Over the hills and far away,
Mother duck said ‘Quack quack quack quack’,
But only four little ducks came back…..

repeat with
Four little ducks….
Three little ducks……
Two little ducks……..
One little duck…….
then when none of the five little ducks come back

Old Mother duck went out one day,
Over the hills and far away,
Mother duck said ‘Quack quack quack quack’,
And all of the five little ducks came back.

Wibbley wobbley woo,
An elephant sat on you,
Wibbley wobbley wee,
An elephant sat on me,

Wibbley wobbley wames
An elephant sat on ……. James.
Wibbley wobbley wella
An elephant sat on …. Bella.
Wibbley wobbley wucas
An elephant sat on …… Lucas.

Repeat about 3-5 times using a child’s name, then go back to the start.

You may like to let the children guess who you are going to say if they are developmentally ready.

Beetles in the basin in the bathroom,
Yellow, purple, red and blue,
Beetles in the basin in the bathroom,
Jack, Bella, Jason and James too.

Start with holding your hands behind your back; with thumbs out,

Run A-way (put one thumb back behind your back)
Run A-way (put the other thumb back behind your back)

Down in the meadow in a little bitty pool
Swam three little fishies and a mama fishie too
“Swim” said the mama fishie, “Swim if you can”
And they swam and they swam all over the dam

Boop boop dit-tem dat-tem what-tem Chu!
Boop boop dit-tem dat-tem what-tem Chu!
Boop boop dit-tem dat-tem what-tem Chu!
And they swam and they swam back over the dam.

I’m bringing home my baby bumble bee
Won’t my Mommy be so proud of me
I’m bringing home my baby bumble bee -
OUCH!! It stung me!!

I’m wringin’ out my baby bumble bee
Won’t my Mommy be so proud of me
I’m wringing out my baby bumble bee -
Bye-Bye baby bumble bee!!

There was an old lady who swallowed a fly.
I don’t know why she swallowed the fly,
I guess she’ll die.

There was an old lady who swallowed a bird.
How absurd to swallow a bird.
She swallowed the bird to catch the spider,
that wiggled and wiggled and tickled inside her.
She swallowed the spider to catch the fly.
I don’t know why she swallowed the fly.
I guess she’ll die.

She’s dead of course!!!