Here are a few fingerplays to do with the kids. I will continuously add to this as we go along. I'm starting with my kids' favorite.
Knock, Knock
Knock, knock, (knock on child's forehead)
Peek in, (open child's eyes)
Open the latch, (push up the tip of the nose)
And walk right in, (walk fingers into mouth)
How do you do Mr. Chin, Chin, Chin?! (Wiggle child's chin like shaking hands)
Grandma's Glasses
Here are Grandma's glasses, (fingers around eyes)
Here is Grandma's hat, (hands on head)
This is the way she folds her hands, (fold hands)
And lays them in her lap, (lay folded hands in lap)
Here are Grandpa's glasses, (larger glasses)
Here is Grandpa's hat, (bigger hat)
This is the way he folds his arms, (fold arms across chest)
Just like that. (with emphasis)
Clap Your Hands
1. Clap, clap, clap your hands
As slowly as you can.
Clap, clap, clap your hands
As quickly as you can.
2. Shake...
3. Roll...
4. Rub...
5. Wiggle your fingers...
6. Pound your fists...
Mother's Knives and Forks
These are Mother's knives and forks, (fingers interlaced, tips up)
This is Mother's table, (flatten hands and arms)
This is Mother's looking glass, (palms toward face)
And this is baby's cradle. (palms up, rock arms)
Here Is the Beehive
Here is the beehive, where are the bees? (fist with thumb tucked inside)
Hidden away where nobody sees. (place other hand over "hive")
Watch and you'll see them come out of the hive. (watch closely)
One, two, three, four, five. (very slowly, starting with thumb, fingers come out of hive)
Bzzzzz.......(all fly away)
Itsy Bitsy Spider
The itsy bitsy spider went up the water spout, (index fingertips to opposite thumbtips, climbing "up")
Down came the rain, (wiggle fingers down like rain)
And washed the spider out, (push hands away from each other)
Out came the sun and dried up all the rain (make big arm circle over head)
And the itsy bitsy spider went up the spout again. (fingers climbing up again)
Two Little Blackbirds
Two little blackbirds sitting on a hill, (each pointer finger up)
One named Jack, (one hand forward)
One named Jill, (other hand forward)
Fly away jack, (one hand behind)
Fly away Jill, (other hand behind)
Come back, Jack, (return hand)
Come back, Jill. (return other hand)
Jack and Jill
Jack and Jill went up the hill,
To fetch a pail of water. (thumbs up, alternating upward)
Jack fell down and broke his crown, (wiggle one thumb and wrist down)
And Jill came tumbling after. (wiggle other thumb and wrist down)
Then up got Jack and said to jill, (bring one thumb up, then other)
As in his arms he took her, (cross thumbs)
"Brush off that dirt for you're not hurt, (brush one thumb with the other)
Let's fetch that pail of water." (continue brushing)
So Jack and Jill went up the hill
To fetch that pail of water, (thumbs up again)
And took it home to Mother dea. (brings thumbs slowly down together)
Who thanked her son and daughter. (thumbs meet)
Where Is Thumbkin?
1. Where is thumbkin? Where is thumbkin? (have hands behind back)
Here I am, here I am (show one thumb, then other)
How are you today, sir? (bend one thumb )
Very well, I thank you, (bend other thumb)
Run away, run away. (Wiggle thumbs away, one at a time)
2. Pointer
3. Tall man
4. Ring man
5. Baby
6. All the men
Here Is the Church
Here is the Church, (fold hands, fingers inside)
Here is the steeple, (index fingers up)
Open the doors, (thumbs apart)
And see all the people. (wiggle inside fingers)
Close the doors, (thumbs together)
And hear them pray. (hands to ear)
Open the doors, (thumbs apart)
And they all walk away. (fingers walk away)
Right Hand, Left Hand
This is my right hand,
I'll raise it up high. (right hand up)
This is my left hand,
I'll touch the sky. (left hand up)
Right hand, (show right palm)
Left hand, (show left palm)
Roll them around. (roll hands over and over)
Left hand, (show palm)
Right hand, (show palm)
Pound, pound, pound. (pound fists together)
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Halloween
Jack-O-Lantern (Halloween)
Sometimes big and sometimes small, (arms form large circle, then small)
But always round and yellow, (draw circle in air)
When children make my famous grin, (grin, showing teeth)
Then I'm a scary fellow. (make scary face)
Whisper
Listen, listen. ( Hand behind ear)
Goblins are there. (Point to the door)
Hear them tiptoe To your chair?
Don't speak a word. (Finger to lips)
Don't go "ah-choo!" ( finger under nose)
Don't move about. ( sit very still with arms close to sides)
Or they'll get YOU!!! (Shout "you" and Jump up with arms extended)
(Say it in a quiet, spooky voice and finish with a shout. The kids love it.)
October Time
October time is pumpkin time,
The nicest time of the year.
When all the pumpkins light their eyes
(encircle eyes)
And grin from ear to ear.
(big grin)
Because they know at Halloween
They'll have lots of fun,
Peeking through the windowpanes
(put hands over eyes and look)
Watching children run!
Little Ghost
I saw a little ghost (hold hands over eyes)
And he saw me too! (point to self)
When I said "HI" (wave hand)
He said, "BOO."
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Thanksgiving
Gobble, Gobble (Thanksgiving)
A turkey is a funny bird, (hook thumbs and make turkey tail with fingers)
His head goes wobble, wobble, (shake from side to side)
And he knows just one word, (hold up one finger)
Gobble, gobble, gobble. (shake head, sound like turkey)
Five Little Turkeys
5 little turkeys by the barn door (hold up open hand)
1 saw some corn and then there were 4 (fold down one finger)
4 little turkeys flew up a tree (fly 4 fingers into the air)
1 fell down and then there were 3 (one finger falls to the ground)
3 little turkeys gobbled as they do (hold up 3 fingers)
A dog chased 1 and then there were 2 (left hand chases 1 finger on right hand)
2 little turkeys strutting in the sun (hold up 2 fingers)
The wind came along and then there was 1 (make wind movement with left hand)
1 little turkey began to run (1 finger runs)
For he saw the farmer and now there are none. (left hand grabs right hand)
Turkey Dinner Fingerplay
Up and down, round and round (make circles in the air)
The turkey ran across the ground. (wave hands across the floor)
Over, under, in between (hold hands up, down, and between the legs)
Now the turkey can't be seen.
The farmer looks in front (look in front, holding hand above the eyes)
The farmer looks behind, (look behind, holding hand above the eyes)
Still the turkey can't be found.
There's the turkey (point across the room)
Running right (move hands right)
Running left (move hands left)
Over the hill and out of sight (move hands up and down)
No turkey for dinner tonight!
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Christmas
The Chimney
Here is the chimney, (make fist with thumb inside)
Here is the top, (other hand over fist)
Open the lid, (remove hand)
Out Santa will pop! (pop up thumb)
Christmas Candy
I took a lick of my peppermint stick (Pretend to lick candy)
And it was ever yummy! (lick lips)
It used to be on my Christmas tree. (form tree shape with hands)
Now it's in my tummy! (rub stomach)
Snowflakes
See the snowflakes falling down, (wiggle fingers down slowly)
See the candles glow (index finger like flame)
See the wreaths upon the door (form wreath shape with hands)
It's Christmastime I know!
Christmas Presents
See all the presents by the Christmas tree. (Hands in sweeping motion.)
Some for you (Point to children.)
And some for me. (Point to self.)
Long ones, (Hands spread wide apart.)
Tall ones, (Measure from the floor.)
Short ones, too. (Hands close together.)
And here is a round one (Make circle with arms.)
Wrapped in blue.
Isn't it fun to look and see
All the presents by the Christmas tree? (Nod.)
