Two Little Birds
What you need
- a rug or floor cushions to sit on, side by side
How to do it
- Sit side by side and hold up a pointing finger on each hand: your two birds. See what they do with theirs.
- Say "Two little birds sitting on a wall, one named Peter, one named Paul", wiggling each as it is named.
- Fly Peter away round to your back, then Paul, then bring both back, theirs too.
- Start again whenever their fingers go up.
Why it matters
Two fingers, two names and a fly away and back: a short rhyme that is easy to do side by side.
What they're learning
- Finger actions
- One pointing finger up on each hand, then away and back.
- One hand at a time
- Moving one hand while the other stays still.
- Rhythm of a rhyme
- The words tell each bird when to fly.
What to look for
Notice their hand flying off to their back as the bird's name is said.
A tip
Say it slowly and make the flying a big, swooping arm. Once they know it, it is a good one to keep for waiting rooms and queues.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: fly both birds away and back together
Harder: let them fly the birds while you say the words, and give the birds new names
