There were ten in the bed, and the little one said, “Roll over! Roll over!”
So they all rolled over and one fell out!
There were nine in the bed, and the little one said, “Roll over! Roll over!”
…
Continue counting down until …
There was one in the bed and the little one said, “Good night!”
Add gestures when you say this together: Clap on the first line and then roll your hands every time you say, “Roll over.” Hold up one finger when “one fell out.”
On the very last line, fold your hands together and lay your cheek on them.
This classic children’s song is great fun to act out with your child. First, ask your child what was in the bed – ten rabbits, ten bears, ten stuffies? Carry the theme throughout the day – see if you can count ten birds outside your window, ten books on the shelf, ten coins in your purse or piggy bank, ten buttons on your shirt. Doing this will help your child with vocabulary and help develop mathematical thinking. With things like pennies, try grouping them in patterns that make it easy to estimate – your child won’t realize that this is happening but it will develop those visual discrimination skills anyway.
Take “counting breaks” from whatever you’re doing and say, “Let’s see how many we have here,” and count whatever you see: spoons in a drawer, plastic container lids, napkins, socks, toy trucks …”
Here is another counting rhyme that’s fun to act out:
One, two, buckle my shoe
Three, four, shut the door
Five, six, pick up sticks
Seven, eight, lay them straight
Nine, ten, a big fat hen.
On a nice day, take a walk in the yard or at the park and pick up sticks and lay them straight and then count them. Compare them by size, shape, texture, or type.
Most of all, have fun! Your little one is learning every day and everything you do is helping.
