Jingle Bells Knee Bounce

What you need

• a comfy chair or the sofa

How to do it

1. Once your toddler is up and changed for the day, sit on a comfy chair with them on your knees, facing you.
2. Sing "Jingle Bells" and bounce them gently on your knees in time.
3. On "one horse open sleigh", lean them back a little, holding them under the arms, then bring them up again with a smile.
4. Sing it slow, then fast, and stop to see if they bounce to ask for more.

Why it matters

A bouncy song first thing gets them moving and laughing with you, and waiting for the lean back is a game they soon learn.

What they're learning

Moving to music

Bouncing in time is the start of feeling a beat.

Waiting for the bit they know

Knowing the lean back is coming, and waiting for it, is early listening.

Asking for more

Bouncing or saying "more" to start again is them telling you what they want.

What to look for

Watch for them bouncing on your knee to ask for more when the song stops.

A tip

Hold them firmly under the arms or round the tummy, and keep the lean back small and slow.

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