I wrote a post way back in 2017 called Survival Songs for Storytimes, where I shared a few storytime movement songs that are perfect for when your audience is zoning out or getting restless and you need to shift gears.
That original post included Zoom Zoom Zoom, The Elevator Song, Sleeping Bunnies, and Toast in the Toaster, all of which I still recommend whenever you need to get your wiggly kiddos up and moving!
But it’s been a few years since that original post, so here are a few more movement songs that can shake things up a bit when your story times are losing steam.
London Bridge is Falling Down – You can’t go wrong with this classic that will have kids dropping to the floor and jumping back up on their feet!
Tick Tock, Tick Tock – Let’s practice counting to five while pretending to be little clocks! Kids can sway or swing their arms side to side, then jump up in the air again and again!
Jump If You Want To – This is a lovely jumping song that I discovered through the Maribyrnong Library’s Online Storytimes. I simplify the original song a bit, like this:
Jump, jump, jump, if you feel you want to.
Jump, jump, jump, if you feel you can.
Jump, jump, jump, if you feel you want to.
Jump, jump, jump, if you feel you can.
Options: Stomp, clap, turn, flap, march…..
If You’re Happy and You Know It – A classic for a reason, it can be adapted to include expressions of different emotions, to support SEL.
Let’s Go to the Zoo – Let’s move like the animals do, with this fun movement song from Super Simple Songs.
Wag Your Tail With Me – Another fun animal movement song from Super Simple Songs, this is sung to the familiar tune of Row Row Row Your Boat, and can easily be adapted with different animal movements.
What movement songs do you love to include in your storytimes or circle times?