Month: October 2015

More Good Reasons to Do Finger Plays with Kids

Finger Plays, Nursery Rhymes and songs may seen silly to some, but they are really great teaching tools for young children. By the way, college students use silly songs to help them memorize for tests.

This post will share 3 more good reasons WHY early childhood educators teach rhyming songs and fingerplays to young children; 3 more fingerplays; and links to 5 more of the Best finger play PINs on Pinterest; 4 links to kids favorite theme finger puppets.

Good reasons why early childhood education teachers use rhymes, silly sons and finger plays to teach young children http://nonon-centsnanna.com/more-good-reasons-to-do-finger-plays-with-kids/

Continuing on from my last few No Non-cents Nanna blog posts I have been sharing good reasons to do finger plays with the kids, besides the fact that kids love to chat those rhymming words and use their little fingers to make motions. Add a few finger puppets even more fun.

Finger Plays also encourage:

listening skills
large motor muscles like squating or jumping
fine motor movement
counting forwards and back wards, too.

Troll Hair Inspired Finger Puppets and Poppy Pink Troll Inspired Headband Set

Using the fingers in finger plays help develop small motor muscles.

Does your child know this finger play:

I HAD A LITTLE RED BALLOON

author unknown

(You may substitue any color of balloon.)

I had a little red balloon

(Pretend to hold a balloon in between your two hands.)

And I blew, and I blew, and I blew.

(Pretend to blow up the balloon.)

And it grew, and it grew, and it grew.

(Spread your two hands further and further apart.)

I tossed it up in the air,

(Pretend to toss the balloon up with your two hands.)

And didn’t let it drop.

I bounced it on the ground,

(Pretend to bounce the balloon on the ground with your two hands.)

And didn’t let it drop.

I bounced it on the ground,

(Pretend to bounce the balloon on the ground with your two hands.)

And it went “Pop!”

(Clap your two hands together as you shout the word “Pop!”)

Five little popcorn seeds sitting in a pot

author unknown

(Children squat down low to the ground.)

Five little popcorn seeds sitting in a pot

One got hot and it went “Pop!”

Jump when they say, “Pop!”

Repeat with Four, three, two, one, and no more popcorn seeds sitting in the pot. For variation you may want to count all the children in the class room to start from that number instead of just 5.

Or, do the finger play in divided sets: for example if there are 20 children do 4 times in groups of 5.)

Note from No Non-cents Nanna:

LOL! I had a 4 year old student who ~~loved~~ was obessed with the next finger play, Johnny Works with One Hammer. After he and his parents returned on a road trip hi mother asked me if I had taought the kdis any other songs beside Johnny and the Hammers. I replied, “Yes I had.”

Apparentenly, the boy only channted one song on the 2,000 mile trip.

YIKES!

At that point I realized I needed to type up all the songs and finger plays for the parents so they could “sing” along with their children. At that time in my early childhood education carreer I was teaching 20 children from 7 different countries who first language was NOT English. I used many songs, finger plays and rhymes to teach.

Here is a supporting article: https://www.eslbase.com/teaching/using-songs-to-teach-efl

JOHNNY WORKS WITH ONE HAMMER

author unknown

Johnny works with one hammer,

(1 hammer – 1 fist pounding on knee)

one hammer, one hammer
Johnny works with one hammer

Then he works with two

(2 hammers -=2 fists )

(3 hammers =2 fists and one foot pounding/ stomping.)

(4 hammers = 2 fists 2 feet)
(5 hammers = 2 fists, 2 feet and head)
-after 5 sing

Then he goes to sleep. Z-Z-Z-Z!

Note from No Non-cents Nanna:

( I always snore really loud at the end.

The kids howl with laughter as I pretended to sleep with my snore. Allowing myself to be somewhat vulnerable lets the children see that I am human; perhaps not so intimidating as a grown up.)

I would love to hear your endearing stories about kids and finger plays.

Where to find finger puppets sets? Click links below.

Finger Puppets Set of 5 Bumble BEES

Finger Puppets Set of 5: Rainforest

Finger Puppets: Set of 5 Cats n Dogs Set

Finger Puppets Set of 5: Woodland Critters

3 More Reasons that Finger Plays are Good Ideas for Little Kids

Felt Dinosuars are Alive and Well: Finger Plays and Games

Starting to Learn Finger Plays with Felt Shapes.

Early Childhood Development and Finger Plays Go Hand in Hand

Copy right images by Malika Bourne

3 More Reasons that Finger Plays are Good Ideas for Little Kids

Learning experiences are enhanced when as many senses are incorporated in that lesson. This is especially true with young children who are learning basic concepts about the world around them.

The use of Finger Plays involves a number of the senses. This post is a continuation of a previous post: Working in Early Childhood Development and Finger Plays go Hand in Hand

Finger Plays have many benefits in early childhood learning.

Have your little one taught you this poem, yet?

Ten Little Fingers
(Poem)
I have ten little fingers
They all belong to me
I can make them do things
Would you like to see?
I can close them up tight.
I can open them wide
I can press them together
I can make them all hide!
I can hold them up high
I can hold them down low
I can fold them together
And hold them just so!

(This poem is great to do silently when keeping a wiggely chiild quiely busyt in church.)

Three more reasons Finger Plays help children learn.

3. Finger Plays help small children with gasping the concept of number relevance. Numbers can be added or taken away as easily as pointing one finger or hiding another one or 2.

How many bees are hiding in the bee hive? No Non-cents Nanna doesn’t sell this sharp version of a bee.

We can count numbers forwards and backwards for ‘more’ or ‘less’. This is important concept for adding and subracting in a fun way the children can relate to. ( Hopefully not real bee stings! OUCH!)
When counting monkeys in a tree or bees in bee hive it is especially important to a 4 year old how many bees their 5 or 10 fingers can represent!

5 Little Monkeys in this set can swing from a tree to tease a crodile or Jump on the Bed.Lyrics to finger play included. Tree sold seprately.

4. Finger Plays give opportunities to increase vocabulary with in context of situations using words with different meanings.

( Example: In Wee Willie Winkie a ‘cry’ can also mean to ‘call out’. ‘Rap’ could me to knock on something as a door versus a Rapper Rapping a verse.)

Personally, when I taught Englsih as a 2nd language to pre-school children,from a number of foreign countries, Finger Plays helped to draw the interests of all children even if they did not understand a word I spoke – at first.

With reptition, over time, those rhyming words were memorized than incorporated into speaking English with great deal of enthusiasm.

5. Introduces and reinforces concepts as:

over/ under
above/ below
night/ day
front/ back
before/ after
on/ off
names of animals
emotions
..and more…

…to be continued.

What kids doesn’t like the 3 or 5 Little Monkeys who Jump on the Bed? What concepts does the popular Finger Play teach?

Three Little Monkeys

author unknown

Three little monkeys jumping on the bed,

(Hold up three fingers and dance them on your hand)

One fell off and bumped his head! the back of your other hand.)
(Mommy/Daddy/ Teacher) called the Doctor

(Have one “fall off”, and shake finger)

…and the Doctor said:
NO MORE MONKEYS JUMPING ON THE BED!

Note from No Non-cents Nanna:I have more of my favorite finger Plays to share in up coming blog posts along with more good s to teach Finger Plays to young children.

Do you need a typed up copy of finger plays?

PM No Non-cents Nanna/ Colorado Srpings on Facebook to request a draft of finger plays I have in files.

TEOE.com

No Non-cents Nanna’s website is powered by The Edge of Eternity Networks.

No Non-cent Nanna’s Heart Felt Play Store Spring Cleaning to Stocking Stuffers

Early Childhood Development and Finger Plays Go Hand in Hand

For the love of finger plays this post shares 10 links to dozens of the best fingerplays shared on Pinterest and 8 more reasons why great pre-school teachers use finger plays to teach in the class room.

Why teach kids fingerplays and rhymes according to the No Non-cents Nanna

Those of us who teach kids finger plays understand the value of rhythm and rhyme in the learning process.
Finger plays can go every where when a child uses his/ her hands and fingers.
For increased sensory involvement add cut out felt shapes; coloring book pages; or store bought finger puppets.
No Non-cents Nanna’s HEART FELT PLAY STORE creates sets of sensory play items with your child in mind.
Kids can memorizes a nursery poem or finger play then when they read that poem in a book they can begin picking out the word on the page.

6. Children feel the sense of a happy community when chanting familiar words with peers.

7.Memorizing rhyms and finger play words are the building blocks of the foundation to early reading skills.

8. Memorized rhymes help child remeber what teachers/ parents expect them to do. When children know what we want them to do they feel more safe/ secure and very confident. (Examples: line up; clean up: get ready to transition form one activity to another task.)

.More good reasons to do finger plays with kids…to be continued…http://nonon-centsnanna.com/more-good-reasons-to-do-finger-plays-with-kids/

Five little Pumpkins

After memorizing every nursery rhyme my father knew 5 Little Pumpkins was the first fingerplay I learned in Kindergarten.

Sample of my little pumpkins in felt.

Five little pumpkins sitting on a gate,
First one said “Oh my, it’s getting late!”
Second one said “There ~~are witches~~ is a chill in the air,”
Third one said ” we don’t care!”
Fourth one said “oh it’s just Halloween fun.”
Fifth one said “let’s run and run!”
Ooo ooo went the wind, and out went the lights,
And the five little pumpkins rolled out of sight.

Updated October 2017.No Non-cents Nanna was too tired to typ-o the words, so, here are links to lovely teachers blogs who can type much better. Please be sure to thank them.

20 Seasonal Finger Plays & Action Songs: Spring and Autumn

2. 12 Christmas Action Songs & Finger Plays for Preschool & Kindergarten

3. Free Printable Rhymes, Songs, Chants and Fingerplays

4. Preschool Fingerplays, Action Poems, Nursery Rhymes, and Songs

5. 10+ OF THE BEST RHYMING SONGS FOR PRESCHOOL

6. FINGERPLAYS FROM A-Z

7. Classroom Management » 5 Quick Hallway Transitions {Printable}

8. THE COMPLETE BOOK OF RHYMES SONGS $34.95 No Non-cents Nanna is not an affilate. Just sharing a good resource.

9. Sunflower Story Time

10. favorite preschool fingerplays

Have you been wondering where to purchase sets of Finger Puppets?

Finger puppets enhance sensory learning as children can feel child size animals and see friendly versions what different animals etc look like.

Check out No Non-cents Nanna’s ( blog author) Heart Felt Play Store.

……………………………

Finger Puppets: Set of 5 Cats n Dogs Set

Finger Puppets Set of 5 Jungle Animals

Finger Puppets set of 4 HORSES

Finger Puppets Set of 5: Woodland Critters

Finger Puppets Set of 5 Bumble BEES

Finger Puppets: 5 Pirates

Dress-up Clothes for Kid Love to Pretend to be Animals

Troll Hair Inspired Finger Puppets and Poppy Pink Troll Inspired Headband Set

LIKE No Non-cents Nanna on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NoNonCentsNannaColoradoSprings/

Out dated post but still inspiring

Felt hand puppet turtle

This 2 toned green turtle finger puppet can hide it’s head inside its felt shell.

Felt finger puppet owl

Felt owl with google eyes is a finger puppet who-o-o has a secret pocket in the felt tree.

Felt owl with google eyes is a finger puppet who-o-o has a secret pocket in an optional felt tree..

Felt apples are perfect for counting acitivites.

Do you know the poem The Apple Tree?

6 red felt apples are great for finger plays and counting.

What finger plays or poems does your child know about apples?

6 Reasons to Encourage Children to Help with Housework

I know some folks would rather do things themselves to get things done quickly to avoid a kids making a mess. But, if you always do everything, when will they learn?

Allow kids to prepare food. Sure the cookie decorating is messy, AND that’s OK!

If that is in your thinking, please allow me to give you 6 good reasons why kids need to learn how to “cook” , “clean”, “sew” , yard work at an early age.

So what if they gets frosting all over?

So what if a child spills milk?

Simply hand them a cleaning cloth for them to clean up the mess all by themselves. (If you need to go back later to finish the clean-up that is OK.)

Kids can have fun helping with yard work.

When kids are under foot in the kitchen you know where they are and what they are doing.
You can demonstrate and supervise safe usage of your household tools.
Teaches MATH concepts like: counting; more/ less; measuring amounts etc
Teaches science basics: liquid, solid, gas; hot and cold: chemical changes; order in a process.
Encourages children to try new things. It is a fact when kids help cut up fruits and vegetables they are more willing to make the choice to taste a new food.
Prepares our children for eventual independence with confidence.

Apply the 6 points above to cleaning, laundry and mending.

I am Malika Bourne the No Non-cents Nanna saying, “Let give kids a chance to make good choices.”

…………………………….

Now it’s your turn:

What other chores can a child learn to do at an early age?

Do Not like Your Life? Change It: Rearrange It.

At times life can be like a box of puzzle pieces:puzzling!

Life is life a box of puzzle pieces.

We have many choices when we are so mixed up the pieces don’t fit right.

Whine and complain.
Stay passive or silent.
Blame someone else for the problem
Wait for someone (enabler)to fix it for us
Problem solve to do something different.

In the image below I gave the 2 year old a homemade puzzle made from a piece of card board. She thought it was cool, but did not have a clue as to what she should do with it.

She had a knowledge deficit. And, that’s OK because she lacked experience as a two year old.
If I, myself, had a knowledge deficit as a new parent or caregiver I might have been judgmental and have gotten upset with her for being”lazy or stupid”. Now that would not ever be appropriate. But, some ill-informed adult do react poorly thus needing some guidance.
I could slap her around for not putting the puzzle together. I would NOT do that, either. From experience I know two year old kids have to be taught from good examples over time.

Unfortunately many adults have their own knowledge-deficits about realistic expectations for children.

They may get angry. This poor knowledge base often leads to child abuse.
As the adult/ parents maybe unwilling to help teach the child age appropriate problem solving s skills in a patient manner.
Perhaps the adult or parent gets frustrated, not knowing how to change to or not willing to make some changes.

I spent time watching my grand daughter figure out the puzzle in the photo. She spent some time rearranging the pieces until she felt she had the shape she wanted.

The child’s version of the puzzle did not end up like the way I cut the pieces and arranged it. And that’s OK.

There were no tears as she reshuffled the cardboard.
She did not just sit passively and stare out of fear of failing.
Nor did she throw the pieces all over in a fit because it was too hard.

Why did the puzzle come together happily ever after?

I helped to problem solve by asking “what if” questions as she chose where to move the pieces -this way and that way. That is what parents are for; support.
That is what leaders are for: to demonstrate and challenge each of us to try things in our lives in a new way. Much like what I did with the child.

To sum up; If you do not like the way something is is your life, you have choices.

Whine and complain until you get your own way like a two year old might do. ( Come on now. You are too old to at like a 2 year old.)
Sit on your butt and do nothing, helplessly. Getting depressed all alone.
Make some changes by watching someone else’s successful lead.
Rearrange what was not successful at first then look at the available pieces from a different angle.

I am Malika Bourne the No No-cents Nanna saying, “Make good choices.”

Now it’s your turn: What are some other positive changes your can make?

No Non-cents Nanna

Month: October 2015

More Good Reasons to Do Finger Plays with Kids

Troll Hair Inspired Finger Puppets and Poppy Pink Troll Inspired Headband Set

More Links with the Words to the Best Finger Plays on Pinerest.

Where to find finger puppets sets? Click links below.

Finger Puppets Set of 5 Bumble BEES

Finger Puppets Set of 5: Rainforest

Finger Puppets: Set of 5 Cats n Dogs Set

Finger Puppets Set of 5: Woodland Critters

Related Posts:

3 More Reasons that Finger Plays are Good Ideas for Little Kids

Related Posts:

Early Childhood Development and Finger Plays Go Hand in Hand

For the love of finger plays this post shares 10 links to dozens of the best fingerplays shared on Pinterest and 8 more reasons why great pre-school teachers use finger plays to teach in the class room.

Five little Pumpkins

Finger Puppets set of 4 HORSES

Finger Puppets Set of 5: Woodland Critters

Finger Puppets Set of 5 Bumble BEES

Finger Puppets: 5 Pirates

Dress-up Clothes for Kid Love to Pretend to be Animals

Troll Hair Inspired Finger Puppets and Poppy Pink Troll Inspired Headband Set

Out dated post but still inspiring

Related Posts:

6 Reasons to Encourage Children to Help with Housework

Related Posts:

Do Not like Your Life? Change It: Rearrange It.

At times life can be like a box of puzzle pieces:puzzling!

Related Posts: