Music and Movement Song Ideas

Tana Jimenez, PT, MPT

I know  that a lot of you are finding yourselves in a situation where you need to be providing Telehealth PT services.  To help make your sessions fun and productive and to give some HEP ideas, here is a list of songs to help promote gross and fine motor skils.  They also help with development of imitation skills, following directions, and body awareness.

Gross Motor

• “Animal Action” by Greg and Steve/Kids In Motion
• “Bounce” by the Imagination Movers
• “Can You Do It?” by the Imagination Movers
• “Can You (Point Your Fingers and Do the Twist?)” by the Wiggles
• “Chicken Dance”
• “Clap Your Hands” by Old Town School of Folk Music
• “Dance Kung Fu” by the Imagination Movers
• “Do the Monkey” by the Wiggles
• “Do the Propeller” by the Wiggles
• “Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes” by Super Simple Songs
• “Hot Potato/Fruit Salad” by the Wiggles
• “If You're Happy and You Know It” by Super Simple Songs
• “Mover Music” by the Imagination Movers
• “Say the Dance, Do the Dance” by The Wiggles
• “Shakable You” by the Imaginaion Movers
• “Shake my Sillies Out” by Raffi
• “The Hokey Pokey” by Ray Anthony
• “The Shimmie Shake” by The Wiggles
• “We are the Dinosaurs” by Laurie Berkner

Fine Motor/Fingerplay

• “Baby Shark” by PINKFONG
• “BINGO” (The KidZup Toddler Tunes version is my favorite)

• “Open, Shut Them” by Turtle Interactive
• “Put Your Finger in the Air” by Rainbow Songs
• “Slippery Fish” by Kinder Tunes (please excuse the grammatical error in the song!)
• “The Itsy Bitsy Spider” by Patty Shukla
• “Wheels on the Bus” by Old Town School of Folk Music

To Purchase, please use the following affiliate links to help me earn money to buy therapy supplies for my low-income patients:

• Greg and Steve Kids in Motion
• Imagination Movers In a Big Warehouse
• Imagination Movers Rock-O-Matic
• Kidzup Best Toddler Tunes
• Laurie Berkner The Best of The Laurie Berkner Band
• Old Town School of Folk Music featured on Bloodshot Records: Fun For All Ages Sampler
• Patty Shukla Nursery Rhymes with Patty
• Raffi The Best Of
• Ray Anthony featured on One Hit Wonders of Pop Radio
• The Wiggles The Best Of

2015 Gift Guide

Are you looking for a gift for a child who struggles with gross motor skills?  Look no farther!

Rody

Rody is a fun alternative to a peanut ball for working on balance skills and trunk/leg strengthening.  His legs offer more stability and his ears are a handy place for kids to hold on while they bounce.  Not only is Rody super cute, but they come in all kinds of fun colors. 




Teeter Popper

This toy is similar to a standard rocker or balance board, but with one fun feature -- it's suction cup bottom provides great auditory feedback!  The suction cups also provide a bit more stability for those who struggle with their balance.  WARNING:  This may not be the best choice for those who are sensitive to sound.  For them, try a standard rocker board.

Wobble Deck

For a different type of challenge, try the Wobble Deck.  By playing one of its 3 games, kids' balance is challenged even further.  Because it moves in multiple planes, this toy is more appropriate for kids 4 and up with good balance.

Magic Moves Electronic Wand

Not only does this toy encourage movement, but it also helps kids to follow simple commands.  Kids will move like animals, dance, or freeze -- perfect for motor group activities, as well!

Cat in the Hat "I Can Do That!" Game

This is a quieter option to encourage movement and following directions.  Some of the activities are quite silly, which just makes them more fun!  It also comes in a smaller card game version.

Twister Moves

This is another fun game to encourage gross motor skills, balance, and following directions.  The CD will instruct players to step on the colored circles to dance along with the music.  It's a bit fast-paced, so it may frustrate beginners.  And because the instructions ask the players to step on certain colors, it may be difficult for those with visual impairments.

Hopscotch Rug

This is a way to bring hopscotch indoors during inclement weather and to add some cute decor to your home at the same time.  These are a fun way to learn numbers, sequencing, counting forwards and backwards, jumping, and hopping.

Bean Bags

Bean bags are a painless way to learn throwing and catching.  Throw them into a bucket, play corn hole, throw them into hula hoops laid on the ground or taped to the wall, try to strike a target -- the possibilities are endless.  And as a bonus, they come in really cute colors and shapes that can add to the learning by teaching colors and letters.  "Throw the bean bag with the letter A."  "Catch the green frog!"

Fun Ways to Encourage Tummy Time

Tummy time is important for an infant's development.  Here are fun ways to encourage tummy time with your little one:

1.  Put baby on your chest 

Babies enjoy being held, so lay back and put baby on your chest to enjoy some face time.  Seriously, who can resist their child's sweet face?   If baby can't tolerate being all the way on his or her tummy, lay on an angled surface.

2.  Use a Biddy Belly

I reviewed this nifty toy in a previous post: Products I Love - Biddy Belly

 

3.  Find a fun tummy time mat

When I had my first baby, I questioned the necessity of a tummy time mat.  However, if your child is resistant to tummy time, there are some really neat tummy time mats out there! Some have flat mirrors, while others have different textures.  Some have toys attached and others have a water-filled insert.  Find something that will capture your little one's attention and have some fun!

4.  Sensory Play

Give your little one something fun to do while on his or her tummy that also encourages sensory integration.  Here are some fun ideas:

•  Put a toy that lights up and/or plays music in front of baby to encourage her to push up and reach while on her tummy.
• Put a cookie sheet in front of baby and put some water or whipped cream into it to encourage exploration and splashing.  Supervise your child all all times during this activity!
• Put a mirror or light box in front of baby to encourage visual stimulation and pushing up on his forearms or palms.

5.  Use a therapy/exercise ball

If you have an exercise ball or a peanut ball, lay your baby on the ball on his or her tummy.  Roll baby forward and back toward your face or a mirror to give him or her something interesting to look at.  On a regular ball, you can also rock baby from side to side.  Oftentimes, baby will extend his or her trunk while on the ball, encouraging prone extension for strengthening.  Please hold your child at all times while he or she is on a ball! (unlike the photo below)

photo from http://www.especialneeds.com/straight-roll.html

Part I - Lose Your Mummy Tummy DVD

My last month of pregnancy was more difficult than we anticipated.  Aside from the pain I consistently experience during the 2nd and 3rd trimesters and my diastasis recti, I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes.  My blood sugar was well-controlled and my baby was a good size until week 38, when I was told that baby was measuring at 40 weeks and my sugars were starting to go haywire.  As a result, I had to be induced by 39 weeks.

Fortunately, my baby boy was born perfectly healthy with no signs of hypoglycemia or jaundice.  Unfortunately, mommy suffered some injuries during the birth process and I was just given a clean bill of health and cleared for full activity yesterday. 

Mommy's little angel at 8 weeks

As a result, I will begin my Tupler Technique post-partum exercise program!  I will be watching the Lose Your Mummy Tummy DVD and using Julie Tupler's technique to help correct my diastasis recti and get back into shape.

Along the way, I will share embarrassing photos of myself and keep you informed of my progress.  Wish me luck, as with 4 little boys running around, it's hard to find quiet time to myself!

Here is my mummy tummy before starting the Tupler Technique:

Though this is embarrassing to show publicly, I'm sucking up my pride in trying to help other mamas out there!

Please excuse my topographical roadmap -- when mama is only 4'11", baby has nowhere to grow except straight out!  And after 4 pregnancies, this is what happens.  Hopefully, the next series of photos will look a lot prettier than this...