Finger plays: the actions for 15 nursery rhymes
A finger play is a rhyme with moves: fingers that climb like a spider, a bounce on your knee, a tickle at the end. ASHA suggests teaching babies games like peekaboo, clapping and waving bye-bye in the first year. Here are the actions for 15 old favorites, line by line; the full words are on our nursery rhymes list.
Checked October 29, 2026.
How do you do Itsy Bitsy Spider?
From about 6 months; toddlers join in. Sit face to face, or with your baby on your lap where they can see your hands.
- “The itsy bitsy spider”: Touch the thumb of one hand to the first finger of the other, then swap, so your hands "climb" upward.
- “Down came the rain”: Wiggle your fingers as you bring both hands down like falling rain.
- “Washed the spider out”: Sweep both hands out to the sides.
- “Out came the sun”: Make a big circle over your head with your arms.
- “Up the spout again”: Climb your fingers up again, a little faster.
Tip: With a young baby, let your fingers climb gently up their arm or tummy instead.
How do you do Pat-a-Cake?
From the first months, on your lap; later your child claps along. Sit your baby facing you on your lap, or on the floor between your legs.
- “Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake”: Clap your hands together, or hold your baby's hands and clap them gently.
- “Roll it”: Roll your hands over each other.
- “Pat it”: Pat your baby's tummy or your knees.
- “Mark it with a B”: Draw a letter on your baby's tummy or palm with one finger.
- “Put it in the oven”: Push both hands forward, or give a little tickle.
Tip: Use the first letter of your child's name instead of B, and say the name at the end.
How do you do This Little Piggy?
Babies and young toddlers. Your baby lies on their back or sits on your lap with their feet bare.
- “This little piggy went to market”: Hold the big toe and give it a gentle wiggle.
- “This little piggy stayed home”: Move to the next toe.
- “Had roast beef / had none”: Wiggle the third and fourth toes.
- “Wee, wee, wee, all the way home”: On the little toe, walk your fingers up the leg to a tummy tickle.
Tip: Slow down before the last line. The waiting is half the fun, and soon your baby will laugh before you get there.
How do you do Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star?
Any age; a good calm-down song. Sit or lie together, or rock gently while you sing.
- “Twinkle, twinkle”: Open and close your hands, fingers spread, up high.
- “Up above the world so high”: Point up, then reach as high as you can.
- “Like a diamond in the sky”: Touch your thumbs and first fingers together to make a diamond shape.
- “How I wonder what you are”: Twinkle your hands slowly back down.
Tip: Sing it more slowly each time round at bedtime.
How do you do Row, Row, Row Your Boat?
From about 6 months, once your baby sits well with support. Sit on the floor facing each other, holding hands, with your baby's legs on yours.
- “Row, row, row your boat”: Rock gently forward and back together, as if rowing.
- “Gently down the stream”: Sway side to side.
- “Merrily, merrily”: Bounce a little on your knees.
- “Life is but a dream”: Lean back slowly and rest your heads on your hands.
Tip: Older brothers and sisters can be the second rower, with a grown-up holding the baby.
How do you do Hickory Dickory Dock?
Babies on your lap; toddlers on their feet. Hold your baby upright on your knees, facing you, or stand with a toddler.
- “Hickory dickory dock”: Sway side to side like a clock's pendulum.
- “The mouse ran up the clock”: Run your fingers up your child's arm to their chin.
- “The clock struck one”: Clap once, or give one gentle bounce.
- “The mouse ran down”: Run your fingers back down.
Tip: Do it again with "The clock struck two" and two claps, and keep counting.
How do you do Humpty Dumpty?
From about 6 months, with a steady hold. Sit your baby on your knees facing you and hold them firmly under the arms.
- “Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall”: Bounce gently on your knees.
- “Humpty Dumpty had a great fall”: Open your knees a little and let your baby dip down, still held tight.
- “All the king's horses”: Bounce again, like trotting horses.
- “Couldn't put Humpty together again”: Lift your baby back up for a hug.
Tip: Keep the dip small and slow, and hold on firmly the whole time.
How do you do Ring Around the Rosie?
Walking toddlers and up; great with brothers and sisters. Stand in a small circle holding hands. A grown-up can carry a baby round the circle.
- “Ring around the rosie”: Walk round in a circle, holding hands.
- “A pocket full of posies”: Keep walking, or skip if you can.
- “Ashes, ashes”: Slow down, ready.
- “We all fall down”: Everyone sits or drops gently to the floor.
Tip: Play it on carpet or grass, and add "and we all jump up" to get going again.
How do you do Pop Goes the Weasel?
Babies on your lap; toddlers crouching and jumping. Sit your baby on your knees, or crouch down with a toddler.
- “All around the mulberry bush”: Bounce slowly, or walk round in a circle.
- “The monkey chased the weasel”: Bounce a little faster.
- “The monkey thought 'twas all in fun”: Pause and lean in, ready.
- “Pop! goes the weasel”: Lift your baby up high, or jump up together.
Tip: Make the pause before "Pop!" longer each time. Toddlers love the wait.
How do you do Ten in the Bed?
Toddlers and preschoolers; a counting song. Hold up ten fingers, or line up ten soft toys on a pillow.
- “There were ten in the bed”: Hold up all ten fingers.
- “And the little one said, "Roll over!"”: Roll your hands over each other.
- “So they all rolled over and one fell out”: Fold one finger down, or let one toy roll off the pillow.
- “There were nine in the bed”: Count the fingers left together, and keep going.
Tip: Start from five with a younger toddler. End with "Good night!" and a whisper.
How do you do One, Two, Buckle My Shoe?
Toddlers and preschoolers; counting to ten. Stand or sit facing each other.
- “One, two, buckle my shoe”: Hold up one, then two fingers, then pretend to buckle a shoe.
- “Three, four, knock at the door”: Knock on the floor or on a door.
- “Five, six, pick up sticks”: Bend down and pick up pretend sticks.
- “Seven, eight, lay them straight”: Lay the pretend sticks in a line.
- “Nine, ten, a big fat hen”: Flap your arms like a hen.
Tip: Hold up the right number of fingers each time, so counting and words go together.
How do you do Jack Be Nimble?
Toddlers who can jump, from about 2. Lay a book, a block or a rolled towel on the floor as the pretend candlestick.
- “Jack be nimble”: Stand ready by the "candlestick".
- “Jack be quick”: Bend your knees, ready to jump.
- “Jack jump over the candlestick”: Jump over it, holding hands at first.
Tip: Say your child's name instead of Jack.
How do you do Rock-a-Bye Baby?
Newborns and up; a lullaby. Hold your baby in your arms, or cradle a doll with an older child.
- “Rock-a-bye baby, on the treetop”: Rock slowly from side to side.
- “When the wind blows”: Sway a little more, like a branch in the wind.
- “The cradle will rock”: Keep rocking, slow and steady.
- “Down will come baby”: Sink down gently together, and end with a cuddle.
Tip: Hum the tune if the words feel too lively for bedtime.
How do you do Pease Porridge Hot?
Preschoolers; a clapping game with a partner. Sit or stand facing each other.
- “Pease”: Clap your own knees.
- “Porridge”: Clap your own hands.
- “Hot”: Clap both your partner's hands.
- “Pease porridge cold”: Do the same again: knees, hands, partner.
Tip: Go slowly at first. Speed up only when the pattern is easy.
How do you do Old MacDonald Had a Farm?
Any age; toddlers fill in the animal sounds. Gather a few toy animals or picture books with animals in them.
- “Old MacDonald had a farm”: Clap along to the beat.
- “And on that farm he had a cow”: Hold up the toy, or point to the picture.
- “With a moo moo here”: Make the sound, then pause so your child can make it too.
- “Here a moo, there a moo”: Point here and there.
Tip: Let your child pick the next animal. A new animal is a new word.
Sources
- American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA): Communication Milestones, Birth to 1 Year (checked October 29, 2026)