Resource Guide: Music & Movement

 

Stop, Slow, Go Movement Game

Create this fun movement game with construction paper & popsicle sticks.

Play as a Red Light, Green Light Game, encouraging your child to run, hop, jump or skip.

Put on music for your child to get moving & shake their sillies out as they play.

Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear

Teddy bear, teddy bear, turn around,
Teddy bear, teddy bear, touch the ground,
Teddy bear, teddy bear, reach up high,
Teddy bear, teddy bear, touch the sky,
Teddy bear, teddy bear, bend down low,
Teddy bear, teddy bear, touch your toes,
Teddy bear, teddy bear, go to bed,
Teddy bear, teddy bear, rest your head,
Teddy bear, teddy bear, turn out the lights,
Teddy bear, teddy bear, say “good night”.

Musical Baskets

Create an interactive musical experience for your child by adding toys or props that are linked with the song.

Musical instruments, along with the toys will keep your child engaged & excited to reach in & find what you are singing about

Tip: The basket shown is set up for Old MacDonald, however, there are endless opportunities for learning with different songs, nursery rhymes or stories.

Encourage your child to practice colours, count & make sounds of all the objects as they are presented

 

If You’re an Elephant and You Know It!

Verse 1:  To the tune – If you’re happy and you know it!

If you’re an elephant and you know it, Stomp your Feet.
If you’re an elephant and you know it, Stomp your Feet.
If you’re an elephant and you know it, and you really want to show it,
If you’re an elephant and you know it, Stomp your Feet!

Verses 2+:  Continue on in the same pattern, changing the lines as you go through the verses.
If you’re a buffalo and you know it, raise your shoulders
If you’re a giraffe and you know it, bend your neck
If you’re a monkey and you know it, wave your arms
If you’re a lion and you know it, give a roar
If you’re a bird and you know it, fly around
If you’re a seal and you know it, clap your hands
If you’re a gorilla and you know it, thump your chest
If you’re a cat and you know it, arch your back
If you’re a camel and you know it, bend your knees
If you’re a donkey and you know it, kick your legs
If you’re you and you know it, wiggle your toes

What’s That Sound?

Create a sensory game by filling plastic eggs with various items from your home. Small toys,
pasta, rice, or stones from the garden all make different & interesting sounds. Secure the eggs with tape or glue so the objects do not fall out.

Have your child shake their eggs to the music or play “What’s that Sound?” a fun guessing game where children identify what is inside the egg making the sound

Tip:  If you don’t have plastic eggs, you can use any small containers.

This is the Way I Move!

To the tune – Mulberry Bush

This is the way I touch my nose,
touch my nose,
touch my nose,
This is the way I touch my nose,
when I’m at Pre-School!

Kitchen Xylophone

Create this interesting musical instrument with water, food colouring & jars/glasses.  Varying the levels of water will provide different tones for your child to explore the science of sound.

A small spoon or wooden dowel can be used to tap on the jar to create a symphony. Play music for your child to strike up a band.

Song Cube

Create a Song Cube from a small recyclable box, tape & construction or wrapping paper. Label the box with your child’s favourite action songs for your child to roll, sing & act out.

For younger children you can make it simple with actions only (clap, dance, stomp foot,
jump, etc.)

  • Head & Shoulders
  • Shake Your Sillies Out
  • 5 Little Monkeys
  • Hokey Pokey
  • I’m a Little Teapot
  • Wheels on the Bus

Homemade Instruments

Have your child work on their fine motor skills by making instruments with recyclables, beans, pasta or rice.  These can be used in directional songs such as The Traffic Light
Song – shake & stop the instruments as the song directs.

Traffic Light Song

To the tune – Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star

Twinkle, twinkle, traffic light
Round the corner, shining bright
Red means STOP
Green means GO
Yellow means very very SLOW
Twinkle, twinkle, traffic light
Round the corner, shining bright

Testimonials

  • My son started daycare at 1 year of age, spending the first year of his life at home during the lockdown.  It wasn’t easy as many other kids, however, staffs at Dawes Road CEL were so helpful and caring he eventually got it easy within the first 3 weeks. The staff members were very supportive and kept me updated with his progress. Especially the himama app helped me be informed of all his activities throughout the day.

    I would like to convey my heartfelt gratitude to the staff and management of the center for taking care of my son.

    Serene

  • The last two and a half years have been wonderful for Asharib. I still remember the 1st day when I dropped him at daycare and how scared we both were. But he had learned so much in the past 2 years & I am glad that I decided to send him to Lori Gardens. Special thanks to all of Asharib’s teachers for taking such good care of him teaching him manners and always trying to make his day fun & exciting. Thank you so much for everything!


  • 45 years of excellence is a great achievement. Congratulations! We will continue to support your growth. Together stronger!

    Kyle & Kendrick’s Family

  • Happy 45th Anniversary to the Dawes Road Center for Early Learning staff team.

    Adonias & Genet

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Centres for Early Learning operates 9 different locations across the GTA, offering subsidized and full fee spaces child care programs for children from infancy to school age. For 44 years, we have been providing high quality care to countless families, many of whom have returned to us with younger siblings, has been both successful and fulfilling. We hope to continue to enrich the lives of children with you!

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