Lap Games

Try some of the rhymes below, or follow along with Ita’s Lap Games video.
Substitute your child’s name for “baby” when possible.

Trot, Trot to Boston

Trot, trot to Boston, trot, trot to Lynn.
(bounce child on your knee)
You better watch out or you might fall in!
(lower child between knees)

Trot, trot to London, trot, trot to Dover.
(bounce child on your knee)
You better watch up or you might tip over!
(bend child to front or side)

Trot, trot to Boston to buy a fat pig,
home again, home again jiggity-jig.
(bounce child on your knee)
I bought a fat pig, and I put him in my cart.
I looked in my cart, and the bottom fell out.
(lower child between knees)

Roly-Poly

Roly-poly, roly-poly, out, out, out.
(roll child’s arms around each other, lift child away from you)
Roly-poly, roly-poly, in, in, in.
(roll child’s arms around each other, bring child close)
Roly-poly, roly-poly, high, high, high.
(roll child’s arms around each other, lift child up)
Roly-poly, roly-poly, low, low, low.
(roll child’s arms around each other, lower child down)
Roly-poly, roly-poly, fast, fast, fast.
(roll child’s arms around each other quickly)
Roly-poly, roly-poly, slow, slow, slow.
(roll child’s arms around each other slowly)

Giddy-up Horsey

Giddy-up horsey to the fair.
What shall we buy when we get there?
A penny apple, a penny pear,
giddy-up horsey to the fair.
(bounce child in rhythm)

Little Red Wagon

Bumping up and down in my little red wagon,
bumping up and down in my little red wagon,
bumping up and down in my little red wagon,
won't you be my darling?
(bounce child on lap then give a big hug)

One wheel's off and the axle's broken,
(tilt child to the left)
one wheel's off and the axle's broken,
(tilt child to the right)
one wheel's off and the axle's broken,
(tilt child to the left)
won't you be my darling? (big hug)

Two wheels off and the axle’s dragging,
two wheels off and the axle’s dragging,
two wheels off and the axle’s dragging,
won't you be my darling?
(tilt back in chair on “dragging”)

Bumping up and down in my little black stroller,
bumping up and down in my little black stroller,
bumping up and down in my little back stroller,
won't you be my darling?
(bounce child on lap then give a big hug)

This Is the Way the Lady Rides

This is the way the lady rides,
a clippity-clop, a clippity-clop.
(bounce child gently up and down)
This is the way the gentleman rides,
a clippity-clappity, clippity-clappity.
(bounce child slightly left and right)
This is the way the farmer rides,
a hobble-de-hoy, a hobble-de-hoy.
(bounce child further left and right)
And this is the way my baby rides,
way up high! (lift child up high)

From Wilbbleton to Wobbleton

From Wibbleton to Wobbleton is 15 miles,
(tilt left and right then bounce three times)
from Wobbleton to Wibbleton is 15 miles,
(tilt left and right then bounce three times)
from Wibbleton to Wobbleton,
(tilt left and right)
from Wobbleton to Wibbleton,
(tilt left and right)
from Wibbleton to Wobbleton is 15 miles.
(tilt left and right then bounce three times)

Flying Man, Flying Man

Flying man, flying man, up in the sky,
where are you going to flying so high?
Over the mountains and over the sea,
flying man, flying man, won't you take me?
(lift child and sway through the air)

Icky-Bicky Soda Cracker

Icky-bicky soda cracker, icky-bicky boo
icky-bicky soda cracker, out goes you!
(bounce child and lift away from you on “out”)

Icky-bicky soda cracker, icky-bicky boo
icky-bicky soda cracker, up goes you!
(bounce child and lift on “up”)

Icky-bicky soda cracker, icky-bicky boo
icky-bicky soda cracker, over goes you!
(bounce child and tip to the side on “over”)

Icky-bicky soda cracker, icky-bicky boo
icky-bicky soda cracker, I love you!
(give a big hug)

Here is Baby’s Ball

Here is baby's ball, big and soft and round.
(fingertips form a ball)
Here is baby's hammer, see how it pounds.
(pound a fist on palm of other hand)
Here is baby's trumpet, toodle-toodle-too.
(mime trumpeting)
Here is baby's game, it’s called peekaboo!
(play peekaboo)

Elevator Song

Oh the city is great, and the city is grand.
There are lots of tall buildings on a little piece of land,
and we live up high on the 57th floor.
This is what we do when we go out the door:
we take the elevator up and the elevator down,
the elevator up and the elevator down,
the elevator up and the elevator down,
then we turn around!
(bounce to the rhythm, lift child up and down on cue)

Tickles

Try some of the rhymes below, or follow along with Ita’s Tickle Time video.
Substitute your child’s name for “baby” when possible.

Ring the Bell

Ring the bell.     (gently tug hair)
Knock at the door.           (tap forehead)
Peek inside.       (lift each eyebrow)
Lift the latch.     (lift the tip of the nose)
Open the door. (open the mouth)
Run down the cellar and eat apples! (tickle the tummy)

Slowly, Slowly

Slowly, slowly, very slowly along the garden trail,
slowly, slowly, very slowly goes the garden snail.
(slowly walk fingers up child’s body)
Quickly, quickly, very quickly all around the house,
quickly, quickly, very quickly goes a little mouse.
(quickly walk fingers up and around child’s body)

Pizza, Pickle, Pumpernickel

Pizza, pickle, pumpernickel,
my little baby deserves a tickle.
(bounce or clap to the beat)
One for her nose, one for her toes,
and one for the tummy where the hot dog goes!
(tickle each named body part)

Pickles in the Pot

Pickles in the pot and cookies in the tin,
(pat child’s tummy and chin)
tickles on the tummy and underneath the chin!
(tickle child’s tummy and chin)

These Are Baby’s Fingers

These are baby’s fingers,
these are baby’s toes,
(wiggle child’s fingers and toes)
and this is baby's belly button:
around and around it goes!
(draw circles around the belly button)

Bumblebee

Bumblebee came out of the barn
(walk your finger’s up child’s arm)
carrying bagpipes under his arms
(make a fist)
and went like this: buzzzzzz!
(wave fingers and tickle)

Variation:
Bumblebee was in the barn
carrying his dinner under his arm
and went like this: buzzzzzz!

You Be the Ice Cream

You be the ice cream, and I’ll be the freezer.
You be the lemon, and I’ll be the squeezer.
You be the hot dog, and I’ll be the bun.
You be the baby, and I’ll be the mum.
(point to child, point to yourself, give a hug)

Tic-Tac-Toe

Tic-tac-toe, round I go.
Where I’ll stop, I don't know.
(tap child and tickle all over)

Treasure Hunt

We're going on a treasure hunt, X marks the spot.
(draw squiggles and an X on child’s back)
We go up, we go down, we go all around.
(walk fingers up, down, and around child’s back)
A little pinch, a little squeeze, and a cool breeze.
(gently pinch, hug, and blow on child)

Crawly, Crawly, Crawly

Crawly, crawly, crawly up the wally, wally, wally.
Watch out fly you don't fally, fally, fally.
(walk fingers up and down child’s back)

Slice, Slice

Slice, slice, the bread looks nice.
(run hands across child’s back like a knife)
Spread, spread some butter on the bread.
(rub open hands across child’s back)
Some jam on top to make it sweet,
(pat child’s head)
and now it's good enough to eat.
(pretend to nibble child)

More Tickles

Try some of the rhymes below, or follow along with Ita’s Tickle Time 2 video.
Substitute your child’s name for “baby” when possible.

You Roll It

You roll it, you roll it, you roll it, you roll it,
(with child laying on their back, roll side to side)
and then you put the raisins in.
(poke or tickle child’s tummy)

Wash the Dishes

Wash the dishes, (rub child’s tummy)
wipe the dishes, (wipe child’s hands)
ring the bell for tea. (gently tug child’s ear)
Three good wishes, three good kisses, I will give to thee.
(hold up three fingers, give three kisses)

Wee Willy

Wee Willy,
Poke piggies,
John Gristle,
Tom Whistle,
and oh big gobble, gobble, gobble.
(wiggle each finger in turn)

This Little Piggy

This little piggy went to market.
This little piggy stayed home.
This little piggy had roast beef.
This little piggy had none.
And this little piggy went wee all the way home.
(touch each toe in turn, end with a tickle)

All Around the Garden (and similar)

All around the garden goes the teddy bear.
(draw a circle on child’s palm)
One step, two step, and tickle under there!
(walk fingers up child’s arm, tickle and hug)

Roundabout, roundabout, catch a wee mouse.
(circle palm, grab thumb)
Up a bit, up a bit, in his wee house.
(walk up arm, tickle and hug)

Round and round the haystack, looking for a hare.
(draw a circle on child’s palm)
Where shall we find one? Oh right there!
(walk up arm, tickle and hug)

See the little mousie creeping up the stair,
(walk fingers up child’s arm)
looking for a warm nest—oh right there!
(walk fingers across body and tickle)

I Bounce You

I bounce you here, I bounce you there,
I bounce you, bounce you everywhere!
(bounce child side to side)

I tickle you here, I tickle you there,
I tickle you, tickle you everywhere!
(tickle all over)

I hug you here, I hug you there,
I hug you, hug you everywhere!
(lots of hugs)

Round the Butter Dish

Round and round the butter dish, one, two, three.
(draw circles on child’s tummy)
A little here, a little there, as tasty as can be.
(tickle either side of chin and all over)

Beehive

Here is the beehive. Where are the bees?
(hold up fist)
They're hiding inside, where nobody sees.
(move other hand around fist)
Soon they'll come buzzing out of the hive.
One, two, three, four, five:
(hold fingers up one at a time)
Buzzzzzz!
(wave fingers and tickle)