Need some fun movement songs for kids?
Whether you want to use them as a brain break or just as part of a music and movement activity, these movement songs for toddlers and preschoolers will be a hit at school or at home.
Using movement songs is a wonderful way to get the blood flowing and “reboot” kids, especially when they have been concentrating for a long period of time.
While regular action rhymes are great, these specific songs will get the entire body moving.
These are all popular songs by either The Wiggles or Super Simple Songs, the best go-tos for children’s songs. They also have some old classics sprinkled in (like The Hokey Pokey).
1. Hello Hello!
By Super Simple Songs.
This is a great song to stretch out to and reset the body.
Hello, hello.
Can you clap your hands?
Hello, hello.
Can you clap your hands?
Can you stretch up high?
Can you touch your toes?
Can you turn around?
Can you say, “Hello?”
Hello, hello.
Can you stamp your feet?
Hello, hello.
Can you stamp your feet?
Can you stretch up high?
Can you touch your toes?
Can you turn around?
Can you say, “Hello?”
Hello, hello.
Can you clap your hands?
Hello, hello.
Can you stamp your feet?
Listen to the tune on YouTube.
2. Joannie Works With One Hammer
By The Wiggles.
This is a fun movement song that also builds bilateral coordination.
Joannie works with one hammer
one hammer, one hammer
Joannie works with one hammer
then she works with two.
(Make hammering motion with one fist)
Joannie works with two hammers
two hammers, two hammers
Joannie works with two hammers
then she works with three.
(Make hammering motion with both fists)
Joannie works with three hammers
three hammers, three hammers
Joannie works with three hammers
then she works with four.
(Make hammering motion with both fists and one leg)
Joannie works with four hammers
four hammers, four hammers
Joannie works with four hammers
then she works with five.
(Make hammering motion with both fists and both legs)
Joannie works with five hammers
five hammers, five hammers
Joannie works with five hammers
then she goes to sleep.
(Make hammering motion with both fists and both legs, while nodding head)
Listen to the tune on YouTube.
3. The Hokey Pokey
Try this version of the popular Hokey Pokey song, sung by The Wiggles.
You put one hand in, you put one hand out
You put one hand in and you shake it all about
You do the hokey pokey and you turn around
That’s what it’s all about.
Whoa, the hokey pokey
Hokey pokey
Whoa, the hokey pokey
Hokey pokey
Whoa, the hokey pokey
The hokey pokey
That’s what it’s all about.
In the following verses put:
- two hands in
- one foot in
- two feet in
- one elbow in
- your head in
- and finally, your whole body in.
4. Walking Walking
By Super Simple Songs.
The kids will enjoy following the instructions to walk, run, stop, tiptoe, jump, swim, sleep and hop, especially when they have to speed up the pace at the end.
Walking walking. Walking walking.
Hop hop hop. Hop hop hop.
Running running running. Running running running.
Now let’s stop. Now let’s stop.
Walking walking. Walking walking.
Hop hop hop. Hop hop hop.
Running running running. Running running running.
Now let’s stop. Now let’s stop.
Tiptoe tiptoe. Tiptoe tiptoe.
Jump jump jump. Jump jump jump.
Swimming swimming swimming.
Swimming swimming swimming.
Now let’s sleep. Now let’s sleep.
Wake up!
It’s time to go!
Are you ready to go fast?
Okay!
Walking walking. Walking walking.
Hop hop hop. Hop hop hop.
Running running running. Running running running.
Now let’s stop. Now let’s stop.
Walking walking. Walking walking.
Hop hop hop. Hop hop hop.
Running running running. Running running running.
Now let’s stop. Now let’s stop.
Whew!
Play this version for kids to follow along to.
5. Rock-A-Bye Your Bear
By The Wiggles.
This is just a cute song that young kids love – and it has lots of actions to get them moving too.
Everybody clap
Everybody sing (la la la la la)
Bow to your partner
Then you turn around (Yippee!)
Hands in the air, rock-a-bye your bear
Bears now asleep
Shh shh shh
Bears now asleep
Shh, shh, shh
Repeat verse.
Listen to the tune on YouTube.
6. We All Fall Down
By Super Simple Songs.
This is a fun circle time movement song. Get kids to make a circle or move around the room, following the actions.
Walk around the circle.
Walk around the circle.
Walking, walking.
We all fall down.
Gallop!
Gallop around the circle.
Gallop around the circle.
Galloping, galloping.
We all fall down.
Shhh! Let’s tiptoe!
Tiptoe around the circle.
Tiptoe around the circle.
Tiptoe, tiptoe.
We all fall down.
I’m so sleepy!
Sleepy, sleepy, sleepy.
I’m so sleepy.
Wake up, everybody!
Come on, we’re going to hop!
Hop around the circle.
Hop around the circle.
Hopping, hopping.
We all fall down.
Let’s twirl!
Twirl around the circle.
Twirl around the circle.
Twirling, twirling.
We all fall down.
Let’s hop and twirl!
Hop around the circle.
Twirl around the circle.
Hopping, twirling.
We all fall down.
Listen to the tune on YouTube.
7. Hot Potato
By The Wiggles.
The song has some fun all-body movements for acting out hot potato, cold spaghetti and mashed banana!
Hot potato, hot potato (hot potato, hot potato)
Hot potato, hot potato (hot potato, hot potato)
Hot potato, hot potato (potato), potato (potato)
Potato, potato, potato
Cold spaghetti, cold spaghetti (cold spaghetti, cold spaghetti)
Cold spaghetti, cold spaghetti (cold spaghetti, cold spaghetti)
Cold spaghetti, cold spaghetti (spaghetti), spaghetti (spaghetti)
spaghetti, spaghetti, spaghetti
Whooo, wiggy wiggy wiggy
Whooo, wiggy wiggy wiggy
Gimme that, gimme that, gimme that, hoo
Whooo, wiggy wiggy wiggy
Whooo, wiggy wiggy wiggy
Gimme that, gimme that
Mashed banana, mashed banana (mashed banana, mashed banana)
Mashed banana, mashed banana (mashed banana, mashed banana)
Mashed banana, mashed banana (banana), banana (banana)
Banana, banana, banana
Whooo, wiggy wiggy wiggy
Whooo, wiggy wiggy wiggy
Gimme that, gimme that, gimme that, hoo
Whooo, wiggy wiggy wiggy
Whooo, wiggy wiggy wiggy
Gimme that, gimme that
Hot potato, hot potato (hot potato, hot potato)
Hot potato, hot potato (hot potato, hot potato)
Hot potato, hot potato (potato), potato (potato)
Potato, potato, potato
Whoo
Listen to the tune on YouTube.
8. Move!
By Super Simple Songs.
This song will get kids moving and listening at the same time. Play it and let children move to the instructions.
Move, move, move, move.
Move, move, move, move.
Move, move, move, move.
Move to the left.
Move, move, move, move.
Move, move, move, move.
Move, move, move, move.
Move to the right.
Stop!
Raise your arms.
Turn around.
Wiggle your fingers.
Now touch your…..head!
Repeat all three verses, each time giving a different instruction.
Listen to the tune on YouTube.
9. Do The Propeller
By The Wiggles.
Nothing will stick in your head quite like this song. It’s action-packed, fast-paced and just fun to move to.
Do the propeller
Do the propeller
Do the propeller around and around
Do the propeller
Do the propeller
Do the propeller around and around
We’re going up and up and up and up
We’re going down and down and down and down
We’re going up, up, up, up, up, up, up, up, up
And then we stop
Ahhhhhhhh!
Do the propeller
Do the propeller
Do the propeller around and around
Do the propeller
Do the propeller
Do the propeller around and around
We’re going up, up, up, up, up, up, up, up, up
We’re down da-da down down da down down down
We’re going up, up, up, up, up, up, up, up, up
And then we stop
Oh!
Ahhhhhhh, whoo!
Do the propeller
Do the propeller
Do the propeller around and around
Do the propeller
Do the propeller
Do the propeller around and around
Statue
Statue
Statue
Propeller
Listen to the tune on YouTube.
10. Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes
By The Wiggles.
For this well-known children’s movement song, remember that from the second verse, clap to replace one of the actions, adding in an extra clap in each verse.
Head, shoulders, knees and toes,
knees and toes
Head, shoulders, knees and toes,
knees and toes
And eyes and ears and mouth and nose
Head, shoulders, knees and toes.
knees and toes.
(Clap), shoulders, knees and toes,
knees and toes
(Clap), shoulders, knees and toes,
knees and toes
And eyes and ears and mouth and nose
(Clap), shoulders, knees and toes,
knees and toes.
(Clap), (clap), knees and toes,
knees and toes
(Clap), (clap), knees and toes,
knees and toes
And eyes and ears and mouth and nose
(Clap), (clap), knees and toes,
knees and toes.
(Clap), (clap), (clap) and toes,
(clap) and toes
(Clap), (clap), (clap) and toes,
(clap) and toes
And eyes and ears and mouth and nose
(Clap), (clap), (clap) and toes,
(clap) and toes.
(Clap), (clap), (clap) and (clap),
(clap) and (clap)
(Clap), (clap), (clap) and (clap),
(clap) and (clap)
And eyes and ears and mouth and nose
(Clap), (clap), (clap) and (clap),
(clap) and (clap).
Repeat the first verse.
Listen to the tune on YouTube.
I hope you’ve enjoyed these kids’ movement songs. Here are some music games to try too.
Sources for lyrics:
https://supersimple.com/super-simple-songs/
https://wiggles.fandom.com/wiki/Category:Wiggles_songs
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