When we sing “Itsy Bitsy Spider” or “This Little Piggie” (we actually use a vegetarian version in our home, where the piggy has apples instead of roast beef; feel free to use that version if you like!), we might just think that we’re having a grand old time with our children just for the fun of it. But what we’re actually doing is fostering very important skills as they develop during their crucial first few years of life.

Here are just a few benefits of fingerplays and songs:

• Acquiring and using rhythm and often rhyme
• Learning animal names and sounds, new words/ vocabulary
• Helps to foster Counting skills
• Helps to develop memory skills
• Verbal communication skills
• Helps develop eye-hand coordination
• Use of pincer grasp and fine motor skills
• Use of gross motor skills
• Helps to develop muscle control
• Helps to increase the attention span
• Development of body awareness and ability to use the body for self-expression
• Ordering and sequencing skills
• Helps children develop their sense of humor and understanding of language, which can also aid in reading comprehension down the road
• Helps in developing listening skills
• Fingerplays help to expand the imagination and encourage creativity
• Relaxation and fun while learning!

Interested in doing fingerplays with your children? Here are some popular ones you might want to use. (You can also look up others online or ask your child’s preschool teacher, if applicable.)

“Itsy Bitsy Spider”

“Pat-a-Cake”

“This Little Piggie”

“One Little, Two Little” (The traditional version of this song is “Little Indians,” which my husband and I find inappropriate. Instead, we sing “fairies,” “mermaids,” or whatever animal our daughter is into that day—doggies, kitties, whatever you can make into two syllables. Then we end it with “One little fairy girl… and her name is __!” with her name.)

“Where is Thumbkin?”

Rock/ Paper/ Scissors Game (Here is a unique variation that I’ve never heard of before.)

“Thumb War” Game (This is one of our daughter’s favorites; she enjoys trying to tackle our thumb down, although when we tackle hers instead, she laughs quite a bit, too.)

“Open, Shut Them” (This one is great for the littlest kids. Our developmental/ occupational therapist did this activity with our daughter during every visit to help encourage her fine motor skills.)

“Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes” (This song is great for gross motor movements and stretching before physical activity.)