Diddle Diddle Dumpling and The Blue Danube

These games will help to grow the brains of infants and toddlers. Whether it’s through singing, dancing, cuddling, rocking, talking, smelling, or tasting, you can encourage the brain pathways to make new connections.

MUSIC
Diddle Diddle Dumpling
Poem – Anonymous
Song – by Jackie Silberg

This musical game is fun to sing or say and teaches beginning sounds.
Ask the children to each take off one of their shoes. Now say the following poem or sing the song.
Diddle diddle dumpling, dumpling , dumpling,
Diddle diddle dumpling, my son John.
Went to bed with his stockings, stockings,
Went to bed with his stockings on.
One, one shoe off.
One, one shoe on.
Diddle diddle dumpling
Diddle diddle dumpling,
Diddle diddle dumpling, my son John.
The words “Diddle, Diddle, Dumpling” are fun to say and to sing. “Dumpling” is a term of affection.
What other words are terms of affection? ...sweetie, cutie, honey? There will be a lot of laughing in this discussion.

Sing the song with different beginning sounds. Try a “b” sound: “biddle, biddle, bumpling.” Or a “z” sound: “ziddle, ziddle, zumpling.” 

Ideas for taking this activity to the next level:
For building confidence: Do you wear your shoes when you go to bed? What do you wear on your feet?
For developing the idea: Can you tell me what the boy did with one of his shoes?
For moving forward: The words “diddle diddle dumpling” all start with the same sound. What sound is it? Can you think of others words that start with that same sound?

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Waltzing- The Blue Danube by Johann Strauss

This is a video of the Vienna Philharmonic playing the Blue Danube. The children can see a symphony orchestra, watch a conductor, see dancers and hear the wonderful music.

You will need waltz music or you can play this wonderful YouTube video and use various stuffed animals.
Play waltz music and dance around the room..
Hold the stuffed animals and dance with them....swirling and twirling
When the music is over, fall to the ground and shout “viva le waltz!”

Ideas for taking this activity to the next level:
For building confidence: “That music makes me want to dance.” Let’s dance together.
For developing the idea: “Isn’t dancing fun? It makes me feel good.”
For moving forward: “Would you like to dance to a different kind of music?” "What kind of music do you like? Fast or slow?"

Products from Discount School Supply® that I recommend:Naptime Classics - 4 CDs (LULLABIES)
Happy Hands Farm Puppets - Set of 6  (FIRSTPUP)
Early Childhood Puzzles - Set of 12 (ECPUZ12)