I don’t know about your toddler, but mine definitely needs to get moving each day!
Guidelines for toddlers suggest they should be active throughout the day. Some recommendations I found suggest they get at least 30 minutes of adult-led activity and 60 minutes of independent activity each day.
There are many benefits to getting your toddler to be active each day. It helps them stay healthy, improves motor skills, and reduces the risk of depression as kids get older.
Lately, my daughter has been loving active songs!
Active songs are a great way to get her moving on those gloomy, rainy days or when it’s just too cold to go outside. Since my mother-in-law is a preschool teacher, she has shared tons of songs with us. They’ve been filling our house with music and fun this past month.
Here are 10 songs to get your toddler moving this week.
Click the song name fore a link to a YouTube video.
The Goldfish Song by Laurie Berkner
My daughter’s current favorite! There’s nothing sillier than fish brushing their teeth or riding bicycles. You can follow the YouTube video for movements to the song. I love that it alternates from calm moments to moving quickly.
The Freeze Dance by Greg and Steve
According to my mother-in-law, this is a great one to help promote self-regulation. Your child dances as the music plays and then freezes when it says to stop. You could also dance along and instruct your child to follow your movements or freeze the same way you do.
We Are the Dinosaurs by Laurie Berkner
Another good one by Laurie Berkner. (She has lots of movement songs!) In this one, you stomp around like a dinosaur, eat food, and take a rest in a nest. If your kiddo is into dinosaurs, this is perfect for them.
Shake My Sillies Out by Raffi
We found this one at the public library during their storytime. There are so many fun actions. This one will have your toddler moving and grooving.
These Are My Glasses by Laurie Berkner
This one is a bit more low-key. I like to do it at the end of a few songs to wind down. You sit on the floor and pretend to put on glasses and read a book. It’s really simple and a good one to finish with after a good movement session.
Tip: Make sure to do the songs and movements with them! They love it!
Slippery Fish by PreK Autism
This is a fun one to have your child make up the movements to while listening. Ask them how the different animals move. Then follow along with their movements.
Drivin’ in My Car by Ralph’s World
A great choice for kids who love to make noises! Your toddler can make different noises that a car makes, such as the horn or the swish of the windshield wipers. Pair the noises with physical movements to get your child’s body moving.
The Airplane Song by Laurie Berkner
At the risk of adding too many Laurie Berkner songs . . . I’m adding another. Do this one where you have plenty of room to move around. Fly around like an airplane and follow the movements when you “land” in different places.
Tip: Change up the movements! Have your child come up with new motions to flex their creative muscles.
Head Shoulders Knees and Toes by Super Simple Songs
I had to throw in a classic or two. This version is fun because it speeds up as the song goes on. Having varying speeds is always silly for kids, and it helps keep their attention longer.
Bumpin’ Up and Down by Raffi
This one doesn’t have official movements to it. We’ve sung it in library storytimes and the librarians had all made motions of their own. Have your child make up motions or make them up yourself.
All of these are great to get your kiddo up and moving!
What are some of your favorite kids’ songs?
Give us more ideas in the comments below!
Originally published February 2020.
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