More nursery favourites

Hickory dickory dock

I’m a little teapot

Incy Wincy spider

Little Arabella Miller

Pat-a-cake

Ride a cock horse

Last updated: 2/21/2015 3:03 PM

The songs below are part of ‘Away we go’ Round and about

compiled, adapted and illustrated by Dany Rosevear

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To listen to music from these songs click on O

To watch the author sing a song click on the title at:

© Dany Rosevear 2008 All rights reserved

You are free to copy, distribute, display and perform these works under the following conditions:

· you must give the original author credit

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Your fair use and other rights are no way affected by the above.

Hickory dickory dock O

Keep to the steady beat of a grandfather clock.

This can be simply played as a finger rhyme on a baby or toddler’s arm. Move up one side and down the other. In the second verse get hold of the pig’s tail and dramatically pull it down.

Hickory dickory dock,

The mouse ran up the clock.

The clock struck one,

The mouse ran down,

Hickory dickory dock.

TICK, TOCK, TICK, TOCK!

Hickory dickory dare,

The pig flew up in the air.

The man in brown,

Soon bought him down,

Hickory dickory dare.

TICK, TOCK, TICK, TOCK!!

I’m a little teapot O

There are many variations of this American song originally written in 1939 (Wikipedia); the version below is the one I learnt as a child, though I picked up the second verse while teacher training in the 1960s.

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I’m a little teapot, short and stout, Here’s my handle and here’s my spout. When the kettle’s boiling, hear me shout, ‘Tip me up and pour me out.’ I’m a clever teapot, yes it’s true, Here’s an example of what I can do. I can change my handle and my spout, ‘Tip me up and pour me out.’

Bend knees. Place one hand on the hip and the other bent into a spout. Lean over towards the spout to pour out the tea. Same as above but swap handle and spout and bend in the opposite direction.

Incy Wincy Spider O

This is also familiar in other parts of the world as Itsy Bitsy Spider.

Look out Incy Wincy here comes the rain.

Incy Wincy Spider climbed up the water spout. Down came the rain and washed poor Incy out. Out came the sunshine and dried up all the rain. And Incy Wincy Spider climbed up the spout again.

Everyone stands in a circle as close as. Gently (!) bump hips against each other for each ‘BOOM!’ Chant numbers slowly bobbing knees

Little Arabella MillerO

Not everyone enjoys creepy crawly minibeasts especially on their body,

but this song might perhaps encourage an ‘I’m not scared!’ attitude.

Little Arabella Miller, Found a furry caterpillar. First she put it on her mother, Then upon her baby brother. All said, “Arabella Miller, Take away that caterpillar.”

Mime picking up a caterpillar. Make one finger crawl up one arm and then up the other. Throw caterpillar away.

Pat-a-cake O

A clapping game for a baby or a toddler. Substitute child’s name for ‘baby’ especially once a child reaches a certain age and does not wish to be regarded as a baby anymore!

Sit baby on your lap and help it clap hands. Older children can clap hands by themselves or play a simple clapping sequence with a partner.

Pat-cake, pat-a-cake, baker’s man, Bake me a cake as fast as you can. Pat it and prick it and mark it with B, Put it in the oven for Baby and me, For baby and me, for Baby and me, Put it in the oven for Baby and me!

Pat-cake, pat-a-cake, baker’s man, Bake me a cake as fast as you can. Pat it and prick it and mark it with E, Put it in the oven for Ethan and me, For Ethan and me, for Ethan and me, Put it in the oven for Ethan and me!

Ride a cock horse O

A traditional lap song for a toddler or a baby.

Ride a cock horse to Banbury Cross, To see a fine lady, Ride on a cock horse. With rings on her fingers, And bells on her toes, She shall have music, Wherever she goes.

Gallop around the room holding imaginary reins

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