Singing songs over and over again is one way to help children recognize the rhythm and patterns in language. Adding movements or actions to songs can help focus attention as you build repetition. When you personalize the song by adding a child's very own name, you have a captive audience! In this activity, you will do all of the above, while building an awareness of language patterns, syllables and alliteration, which are the first steps to phonological awareness.
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Step 1: Sing the song “Round and Round You Go” to the tune of “Mary Had A Little Lamb.”
Step2: Clap your hands to the beat as you sing. Clapping to the beat will help your child hear the rhythmic pattern to the language and how words are divided into different beats or syllables.
Step 3: Change the name in the song to your child’s name. Each time you start a new verse, add a new movement.
David can jump, jump, jump,
jump, jump, jump,
jump, jump, jump.
David can jump, jump, jump,
Round and round he goes.
(Insert your child’s name) can run, run, run,
run, run, run,
run, run, run.
(Insert your child’s name) can run, run, run,
Round and round she goes.
(Insert your child’s name) can stomp her feet, stomp her feet, stomp her feet,
stomp her feet, stomp her feet, stomp her feet,
stomp her feet, stomp her feet, stomp her feet.
(Insert your child’s name) can stomp her feet, stomp her feet, stomp her feet,
Round and round she goes.
Just sing and have fun. Don’t worry about clapping to the beat until both you and your child have become familiar with the words to the song.
Invite your child to think of a new movement. Add that movement to the song.
