Teaching Your Little One to Recognize Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes

With my first two children, I had to work full time, but with my last too I am finally at a place to stay home with them. With the first two, they would come home from daycare or preschool and sing me songs they had learned or surprise me with new words or actions. This time, I get to be the one teaching my children and it is so much fun! This weeks' topic is "body parts." Stay at home moms and infant/toddler teachers alike may enjoy the activities that I have been using to teach the girls all about their body.

We sing together, Head and Shoulders, Knees and Toes. Yes, most mommies probably already do this, and to your toddler it is something familiar. In some instances, the more familiar the better, especially if you are introducing new activities into the routine. Mommy does the motions, touching head and shoulders, knees and toes. While the toddler does it for herself, Mommy touches head, shoulders, knees and toes for the baby. Eyes, ears, mouth and nose are all thing that make my daughters giggle because we make a little game of it similar to the faces of the monkeys who "see and hear no evil." The little one enjoys having her toes tickled when we get to the toe part. If you children are patient enough to do another chorus, try out the ankles, elbows, feet and seat, feat and seat, feat and seat, round.

Another great song was just introduced to us this week at story time at the library. Baby and toddler alike can do this one. It is "Put Your Little Foot." In this song you point your right foot to a spot in front of you; saying put your little foot, put your little foot, put your little foot right there, and then repeat the chorus with your left foot. We take our shoes off and do this barefoot and my toddler just thinks it is too funny for some reason when she is pointing her little foot. Or maybe she is laughing at her mommy, who isn't exactly doing a ballet move when she puts her little foot right there.